Revelation of Jesus - Church of Smyrna

The book of Revelation holds the most important message for Christians and Christian Churches. It is the only book in the bible that holds a blessing to those who read it. So, please - read it! Rev1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." I am focusing on Revelation chapters two and three, on the character of the churches.

The message to the churches follows a specific form:

1. Jesus presents himself in a certain way
2. Jesus states what makes the church unique
3. Jesus criticizes the church for something its doing wrong
4. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches"
5. Jesus promises a unique gift to some of the churches

It is a ritual that repeats seven times with minor variation that Jesus is preforming as High-priest. We need to understand every part in order to understand the meaning of the whole message.

Smyrna
Rev2:8-11

Smyrna was a prosperous city 50 miles north of Ephesus. It had deep political ties with Rome that it granted Smyrna's request to build a temple to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, making it a "temple-warden" of the imperial cult. Because of this emperor-worship it ended up persecuting the christian church. Smyrna is now a ruin under the Turkish city of Izmir. Smyrna gets its name from Myrrh which is a fragrant resin often made into an essential oil and used in embalming dead bodies. Myrrh was always associated with death. The word Myrrh in Arabic means "bitter" similar to the Hebrew - marah. Before Jesus was crucified they offered him wine mixed with myrrh but he didn't take it. In this form it was probably used as a narcotic, to dull the pain and induce unconsciousness. Check Mark 15:23.

To the church of Smyrna Jesus presents as "the first and the last, which was dead and is alive". Jesus presents himself to this church as the LORD, King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts - "the first and the last" Isaiah 44:6 and the prodigal son "which was dead and is alive" Luke 15:24. From the parable of the prodigal son, I'm guessing that Smyrna is the church that repents and from Isaiah I'd guess it is Israel that repents.

The church of Smyrna is described as going through tribulation, an impoverished church but rich in Spirit. The synagogue of Satan is blaspheming against it. When the Jews rejected the Messiah they became rebels to the word of God and to God himself, embracing the lying spirit of Satan. The rabbis placed a curse to all who calculate the date from the prophecies in Daniel about the coming of the Messiah because they point to Jesus. Jews who believed in Christ formed the first churches and it was believed that salvation was only for the Jews, until Paul started evangelizing gentiles and the apostles realized that the Holy Spirit comes to both circumcised and uncircumcised individuals which was God's plan of salvation from the beginning- to save all who are living from death. Adam knew this plan from the beginning and named his wife Havah - life-giver. But will everyone get saved?

Blasphemy is confusing God with Satan, basically believing that Satan is God is blasphemy and vice-versa. We see this with the Pharisees in Matthew 12:22-37 where Jesus cures a man possessed by demons but the Pharisees believe that Jesus cures him by the power of Beelzebub not the power of God. The church of Smyrna is attacked by Satanists but "Synagogue of Satan" is outdated terminology. What if Smyrna is attacked by the Church of Satan? What if believers are put in prison and put to death because they hold true to their belief in God? Satan translated means accuser or enemy. From the beginning it was Satan's goal to be God, to replace him. It is not unimaginable that a Satanist presents himself as a devout Christian but his true goal is to destroy the Church - just as Judas was an apostle before his sin was revealed, just as Satan was the covering angel before iniquity was found in him. Satan is the father of lies, that's why he always covers his ass.

The parable of the prodigal son is a heart-wrenching tale - "And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." The Father in the parable can just as well be our Father in heaven. The son that died was a spoiled, reckless, wasteful kid who ended up surviving on pig food. The son who came back to life was a humble, truth loving and God-fearing man. Sometimes a little tribulation is needed to bring us back to our senses, to uncover our true self to our own self.

Smyrna receives no scolding because the pressures from the world are so strong and its life so grim that God doesn't need to add anything to its bitterness. Smyrna receives two promises - those who remain faithful through all their suffering and keep the faith even unto death will receive a crown of life, and those who overcome will not be hurt of the second death. The second death once again brings us to the resurrection and the day of Judgement. God will resurrect all people who ever lived. John 5:28,29: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation". Damnation is a poor translation, the word in Greek is "krisis" which implies selection or separation through judgement, sifting through the grain. In English - critique is an adequate substitute as is crisis since usually under pressure we reveal our true selves. So, I'm guessing the second bunch of resurrectees will have to prove they deserve life or go to the second death. Rev21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." It is my belief that this is the death of souls and after this there is no more coming back.

Please post your comments below, I'd like to hear your take on this.