Revelation 2, Part Two

To the church in Smyrna (vs. 8-11)—Smyrna was a city on the coast of the Aegean Sea, about 40 miles north of Ephesus. It still exists and has perhaps 200,000 people. It was founded by Alexander the Great. The city seems to have been a center of some pagan mystery cults, and that is perhaps alluded to in Christ’s letter to them. We know nothing about the founding of this church.

The author (v. 8)—"These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.” Jesus says these things in chapter 1, and it had to be comforting to know that He rose from the dead. Their faith wasn’t in vain.

The good (vs. 9)—Smyrna was apparently a poor congregation materially, “but you are rich” (v. 9)--spiritually, which is what really counts. They had worked for the Lord and endured tribulation, from “those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (v. 9). This may be a figurative reference to the pagans of the city and their temple, or more likely, it was truly a bunch of false Jews whose synagogue rejected the true teachings of the Lord. The church was “about to suffer” (v. 10), “indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.” But Jesus exhorted them not to fear, and to ”be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (v. 10). The “ten days” of tribulation is almost surely figurative; they will be persecuted until the time is complete, then they will have no more.

The bad—There is nothing negative said about this church.

The blessing (v. 11)—“He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."  Each of the blessings that end the letters begins “he who overcomes.” In this case, no eternal punishment.

This is one of two congregation to which the Lord had nothing to censure. There will be one church for which He has nothing good to say.

The church in Pergamos (vs. 12-17)—Pergamos was the chief city of the region of Mycia in Asia Minor. It still exists under the name of Bergama, and has a few thousand inhabitants. In John’s time, it was known for its wickedness—“Satan’s throne” was there. As we shall see, the church there struggled with the paganism and idolatry of the city.

The author (v. 12)—“He who has the sharp two-edged sword”—cutting both ways. This is probably a reference to the word of God.

The good (v. 13)—Jesus recognized that they lived in a very wicked city—“Satan’s throne” (or “seat”) was there. It could be simply that Satan ruled in that town or that a pagan temple existed. The church there had held fast to Christianity, did not deny the faith, and even lost a member, “Antipas, my faithful martyr, who was killed among you” (v. 13). So in the face of tremendous iniquity, the church had not caved.

The bad (vs. 14-15)—Yet paganism had influenced the church somewhat. “You have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (v. 14). This is not necessarily idolatry, just a fleshly influence from the world getting into the church. Some Nicolaitans were also being tolerated in Pergamos, and for this Jesus told them to “repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (v. 17).

The blessing (v. 17)—“To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” This is very obscure. Manna, of course, was what the Israelites ate in the wilderness. Some of it was put into the ark of the covenant, thus hidden. It was very holy and thus a holy blessing is promised here. It is suggested, among other things, that the white stone symbolizes pardon or acquittal. The Roman writer Ovid has some concomitant reference to this.