“The Letter to the Church at Smyrna: No Fear!” Revelation Greg WendschlagBackgroundStill exists today as Ismir. Third largest city in Turkey. 300,000 pop.Known as “Beauty of Asia” “The City of Life and Strength”A seaport city 35 miles North of Ephesus.Loyal to Rome, erected the temple to the Goddess of Rome.Polycarp was the young (20-30 yrs.) Bishop of Smyrna.Polycarp was martyred during the Christian persecution.The Church suffered intense persecution from the first century – 313 A.D.Major theme of death in the Letter to Smyrna.Smyrna – Hebrew root: myrrh.Primary purpose – embalming.Gives off its fragrance from being crushed.Gift of the Magi to Jesus – Mt. Gold – royaltyFrankincense – deity, priesthoodMyrrh – suffering, death.In the millennium gold and frankincense given but no myrrh will be offered to Jesus. Is. Who Jesus is – Verse 8Angel - messenger. Literal angel of the church.I am the first and the last who died and came to life again. Rev. What Jesus Knows - Verse 91. He knows about your afflictions: pressure from outside the church. Satanic affliction.2. He knows about your poverty: one who has lost property and possessions because they were a believer. ”Yet you are rich!” 2 Cor. 3. He knows the slanderous talk spoken about you: the Judaisers 1 Pet What Jesus Commands - Verse 101. Do not fear: 2 Tim. The Devil is behind this testing: Rev. 2. Be faithful unto death: Rev. 12 - The overcomers will be faithful even unto death.What is the meaning of “ten days”?Ten years?Ten waves of Roman persecution?Nero - 54-68Domitian - 95-96Trajan - 104-117Marcus Aurelius - 161-180Septimus Severus - 100-211Maziminus - 235-237Decius - 249-251Valerian - 257-260Aurelian - 270-275Diocletion - 303-313 the worst of all.According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs 5,000,000 people died over 250 years.Tied to Daniel What Jesus Promises - Verse 10-111. A crown of life: the victors crown. The crown is the symbol. Life is the promise.2. Second Death will not touch you: Rev. How does this letter, with a theme of persecution apply to us today?Rev. 12 - we will overcome by the blood of the lamb, by the word of our testimony, that we did not fear death as to shrink back from it. Do we fear death?