The Historical Significance of Smyrna and its Early Christian Church
We are going to see the national monument of Smyrna; effigies, potential signs and landmarks of the city that received one of the seven letters. Smyrna was a city in Asia that existed before the middle ages in ancient times. It had a long history and was founded before Christ as a Greek colony.
Founded 11th century B C by the Aeolians, a Greek people, the city was seized by the Ionians before 688 b c. Later in the 7th century bc, the Lydians, a people of Asia Minor, devastated Smyrna. Antigonus I, king of Macedonia, restored the city in the 4th century bc, and subsequently it was fortified and improved by Lysimachus, a general in the service of Alexander the Great. Smyrna was conquered later by the Romans and subsequently became an early center of Christianity, referred to as one of the “seven churches” (see Revelation 1:11).
Smyrna regained its Greek characteristics in the third century B.C. Because of its excellent harbor, Smyrna retained its importance and it is today a large commercial city, through which they trade to and from the interior of Asia Minor passes. Later, Jesus would write to the church in Smyrna –
‘…I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea’ (Revelation 1:11).
‘And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive’ (Revelation 2:8).
The Persecution of the Smyrna Church and the Trials of Faith
At the time Christ sent this message to the angels of the church in Smyrna, the city was the center for Emperor’s Worship. Smyrna was a pagan society with idols hung on every side of the road as electric poles would line up along the road. Idolatry was commercialized and anyone who was not an idol worshipper was seen as a strange person. At that time, believers were under persecution, in fierce and profound hardship enduring untold trials and tribulations.
‘I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life’ (Revelation 2:9-10).
‘If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you’ (John 15:18-19).
The church in Smyrna was a suffering church, filled with poor members, pastors and ministers. Their persecutors were motivated by the devil who recruited evil men to destroy their faith in Christ. Most religious people in the city of Smyrna who called ‘God or Lord’ were also involved in cultism. Religious Jews who claimed to observe Mosaic laws were devil incarnates, witches and wizards, just like many evil godfathers in many churches today. So many religious leaders like bishops, reverends, priests and archbishops who claimed to worship God are all devil incarnates, evil principalities and synagogue of Satan those days. Most religious leaders, church founders, general overseers and prophets who controlled big crowds, except few, blasphemed against God.
An encounter with some famous religious leaders in today’s churches will prove to you that most of them have direct contact with the devil. Leaving them and their so-called churches is more difficult than leaving local Ogboni cult in Nigeria. They are very dangerous and destructive. Jesus wrote to the church in Smyrna that He knows their works; tribulations, poverty and all that they were going through.
Lessons from Smyrna: Remaining Faithful in the Face of Opposition
Many people in churches today have had their business, marriage, health and ministry suffer enormously because of their encounters with occult ministers who operate synagogues of devil. Others are poor, weak, sick, and unable to pay house rents, train their children, live comfortable lives and enjoy the Christian life because of these evil ministers. So many gatherings in many so-called churches today are worse than the gathering of witches.
Each day in fellowship, we are reminded of recurring incidences of members losing parts of their destinies, joy and peace in churches. Yet they cannot leave because of fear of attacks from evil ministers of such churches. When Christ saw what believers in Smyrna were going through, He wrote and encouraged them not to be afraid anymore.
Today, I decree and declare that your fears will begin to fear you. This is the time to break out from every yoke of limitation, bondage and satanic blockades. They may have bewitched others, destroyed peoples’ lives, marriages, businesses and wasted destinies, but that was yesterday, last week, last month and yester years. Today, as you read this letter from Christ, the failure of your enemies will start and your deliverance will begin. The church in Smyrna was attacked by devil through his agents who rendered many of them poor and wretched while imprisoning their joy, peace, success and breakthroughs. It will not continue after going through this deliverance. You will be delivered from the devil and all his agents, in the mighty name of Jesus.
The persecution you are experiencing now may increase but do not be afraid. Remain faithful to God. You may need to suffer a little but never give up. Do not backslide or compromise. Rejections, hatred and attacks may increase, but do not surrender. God is working out your deliverance and complete freedom from the devil and all his agents. Be encouraged by these verses –
‘Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God’ (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
‘But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against’ (Acts 28:22).
The letter you are reading today, sent to the church in Smyrna says, ‘Fear not!’ It is but for a short while. Strongmen, witches and wizards around you may be posing as moving altars, but fear them not. Every other person you know may be entering into one evil group or the other to avoid being attacked, but do not be moved. Do not join them but remain faithful to Christ and serve God. Do not touch any money or gift that is offered to idols no matter how needy you may be. If you must go to any gathering, occasion or family meeting and you are led to drink, eat and dine with them, you are free to do so but be wise.
Whatever you do, do it to the glory of God and not against your conscience. Learn how to pray, bless with strong mind. Eat if the Spirit leads you. Almost everything sold in Smyrna at that time was first offered unto idols before they took them to the market. Our world today is not different. Therefore, you cannot avoid everything and everyone. Better to learn how to bless and commit everything to God especially what is going into your belly. Read this:
A poor woman once called a Christian radio station asking for assistance. A Satanist listening to the radio program decided to shame the woman and make her to realize that good things do not come from GOD. He called his secretary to buy food and take to the woman that called for assistance. He said to his secretary, ‘If she asks who sent the food, tell her it’s from the devil.’
The woman was so happy to receive the food. The secretary then asked, ‘Wouldn’t you want to know who sent you the food?’ The woman answered, ‘No my dear, it does not matter. When God orders even the devil obeys.’
May God order even your enemies to obey and serve you forever, in the name of Jesus. Wherever you are whether in the office, home, market, school and public places, always be confident to take a stand for Christ. Before the world pulls you over, pull the world to Christ. If you cannot convince anyone, convince yourself and stay with Christ. Believers and the church in Smyrna took their stand and Christ commended them. Let Christ commend you today, in your school, community, office, market and everywhere you are now.
The world may call you old fashion or outdated brother or sister, but that should not be a problem because what Christ calls you is much better than what the world calls you. They may despise you, victimize you, tease you or persecute you, but do not be afraid. They also called Paul a pestilent fellow and mover of sedition, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
‘For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes’ (Acts 24:5).
‘But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts’ (Acts 13:50).
Any name they call you for Christ’s sake is better than any name the world would call you. The world may expel you, persecute you, avoid and deny you of your rights, benefits and entitlements, pray to God and report them to Him. Take the case file to the Almighty God. He will deliver you from devil and his agents.
‘But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren’ (Acts 14:2).
‘And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them’ (Acts 14:5).
‘And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead’ (Acts 14:19).
‘But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people’ (Acts 17:5).
‘And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’ (Acts 21:11).
Fellow believers or workers in the church may oppose you for loving Jesus so much. Do not give up on your love for Christ. They may even accuse you falsely, talk bad about you or try to take your position in the church, but do not be bothered for no man can take away your name from the book of life.