Revelation Part 09
Though materially poor, the Smyrna believers were rich in faith and character—wealth that money cannot buy, developed through enduring hardship.
The second Church that Christ addresses is the Church of Smyrna. Smyrna was a large and beautiful city of about 200,000 people, located 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was an important seaport and a wealthy center of culture, especially known for its advancements in science and medicine. As a free, self-governed city, Smyrna held the title of a “crown city,” with its acropolis adorned by temples and grand buildings. It had several temples dedicated to various Greek gods and became a major center of emperor worship, having been chosen by the Roman Senate to build the first temple in honor of Emperor Tiberius. Under Emperor Domitian (A.D.81–96), worship of the emperor became mandatory for Roman citizens under threat of death.
The Church in Smyrna faced intense opposition from two major sources: a hostile Jewish population and a non-Jewish population fiercely loyal to Rome. Once a year, every citizen was required to burn incense before the image of Caesar and declare “Caesar is Lord” in front of imperial officials. Most Christians refused to participate in this act of idolatry, resulting in many being imprisoned or executed. About 60 years later, Polycarp (a disciple of the apostle John) was martyred in Smyrna, burned alive at the age of 86, becoming the 12th known Christian martyr there. The Church also likely endured poverty, possibly due to economic sanctions placed on believers who would not conform to emperor worship.
In Christ’s letter to the Church of Smyrna, He offers both encouragement and a sobering warning,
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer” (Revelation 2:10).
Believers in Smyrna may have found it difficult to fully participate in the system, especially when it required compromise on beliefs. There is always a system in place, and this context points prophetically to the mark of the beast, the symbolic mark on the head and hand, representing one’s way of thinking and doing.
In Revelation 2:9, Christ says, “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich).” Though materially poor, the Smyrna believers were rich in faith and character—wealth hat money cannot buy, developed through enduring hardship. Satan would test them, and some would be thrown into prison. Yet Christ’s instruction is clear,
“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).
This echoes the message of Hebrews 12:1–11, which calls believers to endure discipline and suffering as part of their spiritual growth. Like the apostles in Acts 5:29 who said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” even after being beaten, believers are reminded that faithfulness matters most in the face of pressure and persecution.
Jesus reminds them in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” The example of the scattered believers in Acts 8 shows that persecution may come to us as well. Ultimately, the message is to hold fast until Christ returns, to remain faithful even unto death, and to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
