A Revelation Invitation

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ...
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.’” (Revelation 2:8a,9-10 ESV)

The church in Smyrna should not have been poor. As a port city on the Aegean Sea north of Ephesus, Smyrna was an important, prosperous trading hub connecting the inland regions with the Mediterranean Sea. The Christians there should also have prospered except that the pagans and leading Jews excluded them from the guilds and thus from most commerce. When Jesus tells them that he knows of their tribulation, their poverty and the slander leveled against them, he is not merely saying that he is aware of their trials. He is expressing how intimately he knows their afflictions because of his own lived experience. Whatever suffering we endure, Jesus has experienced the same and worse.

When Jesus said, “I know your tribulation,” he wanted the church in Smyrna to understand that he had experienced similar tribulations. The chief Jews in Smyrna and their Roman allies were treating the church in the same way that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and their Roman collaborators had treated Jesus. Jesus’ tribulations even ended in death. He really did know what it was like to walk in their shoes warning them of more trials to come.

When Jesus said, “I know … your poverty,” he wanted the church in Smyrna to understand that he too had lived in poverty. The one who had left the riches of heaven had told his followers, “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20 ESV). The church in Smyrna were poor people in a prosperous city. Their refusal to acknowledge Caesar as Lord invited this unfair treatment. While their neighbors prospered materially, they were denied economic opportunities. How easily they could have compromised their devotion to Christ to get their fair share. Having himself accepted poverty knowing that he had eternal riches awaiting him, Jesus could assure the church that “you are rich.” Despite their poverty they had treasures that exceeded anything the world offered.

When Jesus said, “I know … the slander”, he wanted the church in Smyrna to understand that he had been slandered, too. At times Jews persecuted Christians even more fiercely than the pagans did earning the Jews the epithet a synagogue of Satan. Justin Martyr, an early Christian teacher and writer, wrote (c. 160), “Now, you [Jews] reject those who hope in him, … cursing in your synagogues those who believe on Christ. … For other nations have not inflicted on us and on Christ this wrong to such an extent as you have.” At his trial Jesus was slandered and falsely accused by those who claimed to be defending Torah and honoring the prophets. He had been slandered like the church in Smyrna was being slandered. Jesus encouraged them not to shrink from the slander as they looked forward to the crown of life.

Everyone in the world suffers—death, illness, accidents, natural disasters, war, etc. However, the kinds of suffering Jesus addresses above are avoidable. We are subject to them only because of our allegiance to Christ. We can choose an easier path and prosper like people around us. Jesus deliberately chose a path that subjected him to tribulation, poverty and slander. He chose that difficult, painful path because he knew it was necessary to save the world. If we remain faithful as Christ was faithful, many more will come to share with us the crown of life. It will be worth it.

Lord Jesus, you suffered much when you walked the earth. You know what it is like to face the opposition that I face for you and the gospel. You suffered that I might be saved. I pray for the faith and the strength to endure to the end whatever tribulation I may suffer because of my obedience to you. After your enemies killed you, you rose from the dead. I am comforted in your assurance of eternal life. Amen.