Comfort to the Suffering Church

Facts on Smyrna

-          The “crown of Smyrna”

-          Commercial metropolis

-          Center of science and medicine

-          Long time ally to Rome and self-governing

-          As many as 250,000 inhabitants in first century

-          Persecution of Christians was intense from Rome and non-Christian Jews

-          The Hittite meaning of Smyrna is “city of the mother goddess.”

-          This was a city known for the worship of many gods and was among first to worship the Emperor of Rome

Revelation 2:8-11

Jesus’ Comfort to His Suffering Church

Seven Comforts:

The comfort of Jesus’ eternality (vs. 8)

The comfort of Jesus’ victory over the grave (vs. 8)

The comfort of Jesus’ knowledge of us and our suffering (vs. 9).

"You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. Why are you waiting? Come do what you will."  Polycarp prior to his execution

Seven Comforts Continued:

The comfort of spiritual wealth (vs. 9).

-          The Greek word penea, means you have nothing excessive.

-          The Greek word used here is ptochos, which means you have nothing at all.

The comfort of purpose in our suffering (vs. 10).

The comfort of temporary suffering for the Christian (vs. 10)

The comfort of eternal life (vs. 11)

There has never been a day in human history where so many Christians have been persecuted as today.

 
“Many of our leaders have been under constant police guard, and many members have been summoned to the police station…Some have been forced out of their homes, while others have had their door locks filled with glue, their water and electricity cut off, their tires slashed, and so on…But we still regard worshipping God as the most important form of service in our lives, and we are all the more eager to study the Word of God.”  

Early Rain Covenant Church Member