Letter to the Seven Churches

Smyrna’s Suffering Saints

1.   Their COUNSELOR and CONFIDENCE (cf Isaiah 9:6)

      a.   The FIRST and the LAST (cf 1:11)

      b.  John 6:68 – “Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the WORDS of ETERNAL LIFE.”

      c.   He who was DEAD and LIVED (cf 1:18)

            i.   This may have reference to the four-century absence of Smyrna from Greek culture.

            ii.  Some believe it refers to Jesus’ RESURRECTION

            iii. Others that death does not NEGATE life. Life continues in and beyond death (cf Luke 9:31).

2.   The CONCERN

      a.   “I know thy TRIBULATION”

            i.   Literally, applied PRESSURE (cf 2 Corinthians 7:5)

            ii.  Same word as found in Matthew 24, but to a lesser extent. However, similar tribulation would soon come (v 10).

      b.  I know thy POVERTY, but thou art RICH

            i.   2 Corinthians 6:10

            ii.  2 Corinthians 8:9

            iii. James 2:5 - we should be rich in FAITH

      c.   I know of the BLASPHEMERS

            i.   Romans 2:28-29

            ii.  Colossians 2:10-12

3.   The CAUTION

      a.   “Fear not those things which thou SHALT suffer.”

      b.  “The devil SHALL cast some of you into prison, that ye may be TRIED.”

      c.   “Ye SHALL have TRIBULATION ten days.”

      d.  Hebrews 12:4 - “for ye have not YET resisted unto blood in striving against sin.”

      e.   (See excerpts from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs on page 2.)

4.   The CROWN

      a.   “Be thou FAITHFUL until DEATH

      b.  “I will give thee a CROWN of LIFE.”

            i.   1 Cor 9:25 – we run to receive an incorruptible CROWN.

            ii.  2 Timothy 4:6-8 – henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

5.   The CONSOLATION – “He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death” (cf Revelation 20:14-15)

The First Persecution, Under Nero, A.D. 67

      Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for the Christians that the most infernal imagination could design. In particular, he had some sewed up in skins of wild beasts, and then chased by dogs until they expired; and others were dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to trees and set on fire in his gardens, in order to illuminate them.

      This persecution was general throughout the whole Roman Empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity.

The Second Persecution, Under Domitian, A.D. 81

      “No Christian, once brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment without renouncing his religion.”

      Forms of punishment included scourging, crucifixion, boiling in oil, beating with clubs. Sometimes Christians were tied to horses and dragged to death, literally until their bodies were torn to pieces.

The Third Persecution, Under Trajan, A.D. 108

      Ignatius- "Now I begin to be a disciple. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Christ Jesus!" And even when he was sentenced to be thrown to the beasts, such as the burning desire that he had to suffer, that he spake, what time he heard the lions roaring, saying: "I am the wheat of Christ: I am going to be ground with the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread."

      In Mount Ararat many were crucified, crowned with thorns, and spears run into their sides, in imitation of Christ.

The Fourth Persecution, Under Marcus Aurelius, A.D. 162

     The cruelties used in this persecution were such that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the intrepidity of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells, etc. upon their points, others were scourged until their sinews and veins lay bare, and after suffering the most excruciating tortures that could be devised, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.

      Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, was carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market place.

      The proconsul then urged him, saying, "Swear, and I will release thee;--reproach Christ."

      Polycarp answered, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?"

      Felicitatis, an illustrious Roman lady, of a considerable family, and the most shining virtues, was a devout Christian. She had seven sons, whom she had educated with the most exemplary piety. Januarius, the eldest, was scourged, and pressed to death with weights; Felix and Philip, the two next had their brains dashed out with clubs; Silvanus, the fourth, was murdered by being thrown from a cliff; and the three younger sons, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial, were beheaded. The mother was beheaded with the same sword as the three latter.

The Fifth Persecution, Commencing With Severus, A.D. 192

      Perpetua and Felicitus (great with child) gore by a bull after running the gauntlet.

      Cecilia, a young lady of good family in Rome, was married to a gentleman named Valerian. She converted her husband and brother, who were beheaded; and the officer who led them to execution, becoming a convert, suffered the same fate. The lady was placed naked in a scalding bath, and having continued there a considerable time, her head was struck off with a sword, A.D. 222.