The Church at Smyrna : Seven Churches of Asia

CHURCH ARTICLE | Mark Roberts | Irving, Texas

You’ve Got Mail: Smyrna
A Persecuted Church
(Revelation 2:8-11)
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When Jesus evaluates a church, what kind of grade does He give? If your congregation received a divine inspection report, what evaluation would it receive? In Revelation 2, we find Jesus giving Smyrna an A+. In a world filled with trials, their unwavering commitment to Christ remains a powerful model for the Lord’s people today. Let’s open this divine correspondence and learn what made Smyrna so exceptional.

A Church Jesus Knows

At the time John wrote Revelation, Smyrna—modern-day Izmir in Turkey—was an important city with deep ties to Rome. In A.D. 23, it won a competition for the privilege of building a temple to Augustus and his mother. It was also one of four cities, alongside Ephesus, Sardis, and Pergamum, chosen to host the provincial assembly, a clear sign of its importance to Rome. Famed as well for its beauty (Strabo, writing around the time of Augustus and Tiberius, called Smyrna “the most beautiful city of all”), some claimed it even surpassed the great Roman cultural centers of Ephesus to the south and Pergamum to the north, each about 40 miles away. However, its devotion to Rome meant Smyrna was not an easy place to be a disciple of Jesus. (sources: ISBE, Lexham Bible Dictionary, New Bible Dictionary, Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary).

And Jesus knew that. Jesus begins His message with a solemn reassurance: “I know.” He sees. He understands. Then He identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, who died and came to life.” This introduction is rich with meaning. It recalls Isaiah’s descriptions of Jehovah (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12), affirming Christ’s eternal nature and divine authority. It also reminds suffering saints that their Savior has triumphed over death—an especially powerful comfort for those facing affliction.

What Jesus Praises

Jesus tells the church in Smyrna, “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)” (2:9).

What a paradox! The impoverishment of Smyrna’s Christians probably resulted from refusing to worship Caesar. But spiritually, Jesus sees true wealth. Their treasure wasn’t measured in denarii, but in devotion. These saints had stored up riches in heaven (Luke 6:20), and Jesus praises them for it.

This passage challenges our modern-day assumptions. Many assume that faithfulness should lead to material blessing. But Smyrna’s poverty, far from indicating failure, was the very context in which their spiritual wealth shone most brightly. The Lord offers no promise of financial relief—only the recognition that they are already rich in what truly matters.

We would do well to reflect on this. In a society that idolizes prosperity, Smyrna forces us to ask how we gauge “success” in a local church. Buildings, budgets, and numbers can be suitable tools in kingdom work—but they’re not the measure of a church’s worth in the eyes of Christ. Faithfulness, endurance, and devotion are what He values.

What Jesus Warns

Though Smyrna receives no rebuke, the Lord does not shield them from the truth about their situation. Their suffering is not over. Jesus warns, “The devil is about to throw some of you into prison… and you will have tribulation ten days” (v. 10).

This is sobering. Jesus doesn’t promise to remove the trial. Instead, He tells them to be faithful through it. The reference to “ten days” likely signifies a limited, though intense, period of suffering. And while the details of that persecution aren’t spelled out, church history tells us that Smyrna became one of the bloodiest theaters of martyrdom. In 156 AD the famous church father Polycarp was burned at the stake. The Martyrdom of Polycarp further records that Jews brought wood for his pyre even though it was a sabbath!

Jesus’ words—“Do not fear what you are about to suffer”—must have been deeply meaningful to these brethren. The call is not to escape, but to endure. Not to panic, but to persevere. “Be faithful until death,” He says, “and I will give you the crown of life.”

The crown He promises is not a temporary reward, but eternal life itself. This is the victor’s wreath that far outshines any Roman laurel. Smyrna’s future, though marked by suffering, would culminate in glory.

What Jesus Condemns

While Smyrna receives no rebuke directly, Jesus does condemn those attacking His church. “I know … the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

Jesus clarifies that being ethnically Jewish does not make one part of God’s covenant people under the new covenant. True membership in God’s family now comes through faith in Christ, not race (Romans 2:28–29; Colossians 2:11–12).

What Jesus Promises

Smyrna had every reason to fear—but Jesus offers the greatest hope: “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death” (v. 11).

The “second death” refers to eternal separation from God—the final judgment of the wicked (Revelation 20:14). Jesus doesn’t guarantee these Christians won’t die physically. Many did. But He promises that their spiritual life is secure. That’s the heart of the gospel: through Jesus, death doesn’t get the last word.

This promise reframes the question of suffering. The worst Rome could do was kill their bodies. But Jesus had already conquered the grave. And with that victory, He assures His people that they will overcome as well.

A Church Worth Emulating

What kind of church gets an A+ from Jesus? The church in Smyrna wasn’t wealthy, popular, or influential. But they were faithful. They loved the Lord more than their lives, and that made them rich in what mattered most.

Today, we may not face same intense persecution (yet!), but we still need the courage of Smyrna. We must resist the temptation to measure our success by worldly standards, especially as we evaluate the local church. We must live with the same eternal perspective, investing in the treasures that do not rust or fade. And we must prepare our hearts for whatever challenges may come, confident that the crown of life awaits those who remain faithful.

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July 2025 | GROW magazine
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