Coffeeville First Baptist Church By Craig Baker, Pastor 10/3/24
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Historians estimate that from the founding of the church in the mid first century until Constantine issued an edict of tolerance in 313A.D, roughly 5 million Christians were brutally executed by the Roman government and its agents, most were killed for sport in arenas and banquet halls. From its beginnings the church was persecuted by the Jews, but initially it was generally tolerated throughout the Roman Empire. However, by the 60’s A.D. public opinion across the land had turned against Christians and the church. The public outcry against Christians provided a great opportunity for governors throughout the Roman empire to please and entertain their subjects, so Christians were brought into arenas and banquet halls and executed using all sorts of methods. Perhaps the crowd favorite was for Christians to be thrown into the arenas with lions where they would be torn to pieces and eaten as the crowds cheered on the beasts. February 23, 155A.D. was no different. History tells us that on that day, the cry went up for Bishop Polycarp to be brought for execution. As a young man, Polycarp had been a disciple of the Apostle John in Ephesus, but those days were long passed. Polycarp was now eighty-six years old. The story goes that when the Roman soldiers arrived at the Polycarp’s home, he asked them to allow him to pray for an hour before being taken away to his death. While he prayed, Polycarp asked that the soldiers be fed the best meal available. The Roman soldiers were so moved by this gesture that they pleaded with Polycarp to hail Ceasar and be spared from execution. Polycarp refused and was led into the arena where a massive crowd had gathered. As Polycarp was brought before the Roman governor, the governor was unsure of what to do with the elderly man before him. It did not seem right to feed him to the lions, so Polycarp was again offered a reprieve. Once again he refused to deny Jesus and hail Caesar as lord saying, “Eighty and six years have I served Christ, nor has He ever done me any harm. How, then, could I blaspheme my King who saved Me?” The governor threatened to throw Polycarp to the beast, but seeing Polycarp did not fear that punishment, the governor sentenced Polycarp to be burned at the stake. When the executioners approached Polycarp with the hammer and nails to secure him to the stake so that he did not try to escape once the fire started, Polycarp responded, “Let me be as I am; for he who makes it possible for me to endure the fire will also make it possible for me to remain unmoved without the security of nails.” And remain he did. Though the fire engulfed his body, it seemed to have no effect on him, so the executioner pierced him with a dagger. With that, on Feb. 23, 155A.D., Bishop Polycarp died a martyr for Christ. You may be wondering, “What does that have to do with our study of Revelation?” Well, Polycarp was not the bishop of just any church. He was the bishop of the church at Smyrna. The church that is the focus of our study this week. In fact, some believe Polycarp was the star or angel of the church in Smyrna held in the right hand of the Lord when John wrote Revelation and would have been the one to read the Revelation to the church. When John received his vision of Revelation, Smyrna was already an ancient city. It was founded around 2000B.C. by the Hittites. With a population approaching 200,000, Smyrna was second only to Ephesus in grandeur and beauty. Smyrna stood about 35 miles north of Ephesus on the major trade routes to the Far East of Asia Minor. Like Ephesus, Smyrna also had a major port off the Aegean Sea making it one of the wealthiest trade centers in the ancient world. Smyrna, the city of great beauty and wealthy, was also a center for pagan worship. One historian noted that the city was surrounded by hills on three sides and that every hill was crowned with a temple to some pagan god. The city also contained the temple of the goddess Roma and the spirit of Rome. That temple was the center of the imperial cult of Rome and emperor worship. Emperor worship had been around for a couple of centuries, but Smyrna was one of the first cities to fully embrace the practice and require its citizens to annually pledge allegiance to the emperor. Each year, every person was expected to go the temple to pledge their allegiance to the emperor. Upon doing so, they were given a certificate or badge as proof of their pledge. That certificate or badge of allegiance indicated they were a citizen in good standing and allowed them membership in the city’s trade guilds and to conduct business in and around the city. Refusing to pledge allegiance to the emperor and proclaim “Caesar as lord” meant that at the very least a person would struggle to find work and make a living. At worst it meant the person was in danger of having their possession seized, being imprisoned, and possibly being put to death. Their refusal to hail Caesar as lord would have made life in Smyrna extremely difficult for the Christians living there. In Revelation 2:8-11, Jesus specifically stated that He was aware of the struggles and afflictions the church faced and would face in the future. In Revelation 2:9, Jesus told the church, “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Like the church at Ephesus, Jesus told the church at Smyrna, “I know your works.” No doubt like the church at Ephesus, the church at Smyrna had labored for the Lord’s sake not growing weary in standing against false teachings and teachers and not bearing evil and liars. However, the main focus of Jesus’ message to Smyrna was on the tribulation, poverty, and blasphemy they faced. Jesus told the church, “I know your tribulation.” The word tribulation means to be crushed under an affliction, trial, or persecution that is at the most severe level imaginable. As I mentioned already, the penalty for refusing to hail Caesar as Lord and pledge your allegiance to him could range from rejection by your family and friends to being put to death. The believers in Smyrna stood for Jesus and had lost everything, so we understand why Jesus also said to the church, “I know your poverty.” Despite living in one of the wealthiest cities, if not the wealthiest city, in Asia Minor, the Christians in Smyrna were physically poor. The word used here indicates one who is utterly destitute and in abject poverty. Despite suffering hardships and being poor in material things, Jesus reminded the church that they were spiritually rich. Their treasure was in Heaven safe from moths and rust and thieves. Jesus then said, “I know the blasphemy” spoken against you. Note that the blasphemy, the slander, against the church came from the Jews in the city, and Jesus directed some harsh words toward them. The Jews in Smyrna were obviously an influential group who stirred up strife against the church by spreading lies, rumors, and accusations. The Jews claimed to be followers of God, but their actions proved they were actually instruments of Satan. As difficult as life was for the church, Jesus encouraged them to remain faithful and fearless because things would get worse, at least for a time (Rev. 2:10). The “ten days” mentioned in verse 10 may imply that the opposition will not last very long. It also coincides with the 10 seasons of persecution. History tells us the persecution of the church continued under 10 rulers of Rome until Constantine put out his decree of tolerance towards Christians in 313A.D. For those who resist the pressure to swear allegiance to Caesar, to those who remain faithful amid opposition, Jesus said there was the reward of “the crown of life,” and though they may die a physical death, the second death will not touch them. The “second death” is a term for the eternal judgment and separation from God that awaits the wicked. Later in Revelation the second death is identified with the “lake of fire” (20:14). If you visit the area of Turkey where the city of Smyrna once stood, you will find the port city of Izmir. In the middle of that city is a church that can trace its roots all the way back to about 70 A.D., when the church of Smyrna was first formed. How did this church make it when so many other failed? They remembered the words of Jesus, “be faithful, and fear not.”
