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Letter to Smyrna

Letter to Smyrna. Smyrna was similar to Ephesus in being an important and large port city with thriving trade and commerce. Smyrna was renown for its famous perfumes. Size . The paganism of Smyrna.

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Letter to Smyrna

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  1. Letter to Smyrna • Smyrna was similar to Ephesus in being an important and large port city with thriving trade and commerce. • Smyrna was renown for its famous perfumes.

  2. Size

  3. The paganism of Smyrna • Smyrna celebrated Dionysus. The god of indulgence – hubris. Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. Smyrna took the Dionysus legend one step further. They taught that one day Dionysus was killed but his party lust brought him back to life to party another day.

  4. The paganism of Smyrna • Cybele was also celebrated and worshipped. She was Mother Earth. The most ecstatic followers who were males attempted to become more effeminent with castration, mutilation, and dress (sex changes of their day).

  5. The paganism of Smyrna • Zeus had a temple in Smyrna. Zeus was seen as powerful but limited in might.

  6. Letter to Smyrna • Church history tells us that the Jewish synagogue went to the Roman authorities in Smyrna and told them how the growing church denied temple pagan worship and the Olympic games (which involved brutal violence). The Jewish synagogue left out the fact that they themselves did not support these Roman vices also.

  7. Letter to Smyrna • The synagogue pointed out that Smyrna’s official religion was being mocked because the Christians said their Lord died and came to life, not Dionysus.

  8. Letter to Smyrna • This is a prime example of the secular and religious powers rising up together against the church.

  9. Letter to Smyrna • The city of Smyrna was outraged. How would they ever be taken seriously, as a leading city in the Roman world, if they lost their city trademarks?

  10. Letter to Smyrna • There is no accident with God’s Spirit. John lived a long life so he could instruct a new generation of pastors, not apostles, who would faithfully teach. • Polycarp (ca. 69 – ca. 155) was one of the star pupils of John, the Apostle. Polycarp went on to become an excellent pastor and teacher at Smyrna.

  11. Letter to Smyrna • When Smyrna executed Polycarp, the synagogue asked for the privilege to carry the wood. As the wood was set at his feet, Polycarp was asked to denounce his faith. He replied: • “For eight-six years, I have been a Christian. I will not blaspheme my King and my Savior now!”

  12. Letter to Smyrna • Romans did not use ropes because they sometimes burned and frayed allowing the condemned to jump out to escape the agony of the flames. The Romans nailed victims to a stake to keep them in the fire.

  13. Letter to Smyrna • When they went to nail him to the stake, Polycarp said, “Let me be. I shall endure. He empowers me to endure the flames. Nails need not hold me back in the flame.” • The authorities were curious to see if Polycarp would denounce his faith. They ordered that his request be honored and that he would not be nailed. Would Polycarp leap from the flames or suffer to the end for Christ?

  14. Letter to Smyrna • As the wood was lit, Polycarp prayed aloud for all to hear. • “O Father, of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we know You, I bless You for this day and hour, that I may with the martyrs share in the cup of Christ for the resurrection to eternal life for both the soul and immortal body from the Holy Spirit.

  15. Letter to Smyrna • I pray to be received among them today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice according to Your divine providence.

  16. Letter to Smyrna • For this reason, I praise You for everything. I bless and glorify You through the everlasting high priest, Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, through whom all glory comes to You and the Holy Spirit, both now and in the countless ages to come. Amen.”

  17. Letter to Smyrna • Some in the crowd were moved by this speech. The Romans admired those who died without fear. No fear was found in Polycarp. • Christians evangelized with his death, “For all the perfume that Smyrna produce, none smelled better than this offering to God.”

  18. Letter to Smyrna • When the fire cooled, the city witnessed Christians solemnly and reverently picking up every bone they could find of their beloved pastor. Still stunned and in admiration for Polycarp’s courage in the face of a horrific death, none tried to stop them.

  19. Letter to Smyrna • Early church records state that the Smyrnan Christians considered the remains more precious than gold or treasure as the resurrection would raise them into a glorious splendor.

  20. Letter to Smyrna • As you read what John wrote to the congregation at Smyrna, think about the zeal his student (Pastor Polycarp of Smyrna) and of this faithful assembly of believers.

  21. Letter to Smyrna • NIV Revelation 2:8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

  22. Letter to Smyrna • Who is Christ asserting as the true God, not Dionysus.

  23. Letter to Smyrna • 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty-- yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

  24. Carpe Deum • Dionysus was the celebration to live “for the moment”. • Christians are “celebrating the moment” to suffer for Christ and “for the moment” to live forever in delight.

  25. Letter to Smyrna • 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

  26. Letter to Smyrna • Ten days of suffering? • A short and appointed time of suffering in God’s providential care. • Ten is number of completion. • Crowns are visible. The eternal life that is theirs will be evident to all very soon. • Crowns are a sign of authority.

  27. Letter to Smyrna • 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

  28. The Second Death? Hades. • Eternal damnation. • NIV Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

  29. Application • How can this letter apply to the Christian living in America? • How are we empowered to love God more than His blessings?

  30. Application • Who are the eternally powerful and celebrated?

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