Title: Faith of the Church of Smyrna
Contents
December 4 Revelation 2:8-11
Subject : Faith in Smyrna Church
The book of Revelation is a symbolic chapter of writing, and also a chapter of hope, expectation, and hope.
★Rev 1:3 Blessed are those who read and hear the words of Yewon, and those who keep what is written. said
★ Chapters 2-4 of Revelation are also the chapters that record the 7 churches in Asia Minor.
Smyrna is the only city that has survived to this day under the name of Izmir. In particular, Smyrna is well-known as a center of emperor worship. A temple was built for the first time in 195 BC for a Roman goddess, and 26 years before A.D., a temple was built for the emperor Tiberius because of his long-standing loyalty to Rome. Furthermore, all parts of Smyrna were related to the worship of the emperor due to the character of the city, which had the function of overseeing the temples for the worship of the emperor in the surrounding area. Thanks to the revitalization of this system of imperial worship, Smyrna not only saw a significant economic revival, but also the priests in charge of imperial worship here were able to amass a particularly large amount of wealth. This situation was common to most cities in Asia Minor.
However, among the Jews in this city, the Jews, who had a sense of crisis because of those who became Christians, told Roman officials that Christians were different from those who followed Judaism, that they were destroying the world peace that Rome sought and that they were refusing to worship the emperor started suing. Because they believed only Jesus Christ is the King of kings and accused him of being a pagan and traitor who refused to worship the emperor, and that the Roman Empire accepted the charges of the Jews means that it leads to persecution of Christians.
The church of Smyrna means the church of the martyrs, which means myrrh, and it is a spice used for funerals.
At that time, the church in Smyrna suffered the most severe persecution under the rule of Rome, and the Roman emperor who persecuted Christianity the most was Diocletian. It was one of the churches where we were able to keep our unchanging faith.
If I could describe the church in Smyrna in two ways: 1. Tribulation 2. It is divided into poverty.
1. Tribulation - crushed by a large stone (endured by suffering and pain)
2. Poverty - Penia - Having nothing left after I used it
Procus - a state in which survival itself is impossible
The reason the Smyrna church suffered tribulation and deprivation was because it did not worship the Roman emperor. At that time, in order to engage in economic activities in Smyrna, it was necessary to join a guild called a guild. had no choice but to do
The Apostle John had no choice but to praise the Smyrna Church because it was the Church of Smyrna who lived such a life of faith.
How could you choose the invisible wealth? Because he experienced Jesus.
We suffer for self-eating, but not for lack of faith.
Like the church in Smyrna, who does not follow the visible but the invisible
Let's also get used to visible wealth and not let everything stand up (let's not be hung up on temporary benefits)
In Roman times, if the visible Roman emperor was God, in the future, the invisible economy will be God.
Col 2:3 Treasures and treasures of wisdom and knowledge must be found
Acts 3:6 Peter said to them, "Silver and gold I do not have, but this (the Holy Spirit) that I have I give to you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.
“Polycarp” (Disciple of the Apostle John)
↘ Caught while delivering the week. The jailer is going to kill you, what will you do? tell me your wish What is your wish?
Polycarp begged for two hours -> prayed for two hours
①Jesus is the Christ and Savior
② You must believe in Jesus Christ
③If you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you will go to hell.
After praying, the Roman jailer said that he would not kill the Roman emperor if he shouted long live the Roman emperor, but Polycarp chose death because it was denying God.
So how will the jailer die?
Two ways ① Hwayoung ② When the lion ate, Polycarp chooses Hwayoung to die (only those who stand before the confession of faith can stand before God)
What is success by God's standards? When tribulation and suffering come, you see if you can endure it.
Now, 2000 years later, I ask myself a question. Do I have such a belief in myself?
We are living in the last days. When we live in this world, the world tells us to follow the values and standards of the world. However, just as the church in Smyrna endured hardship and persecution without change because it knew the riches of Jesus, let us pray that our faith will become children of faith who taste the amazing miracles of Jesus Christ and become a church that gives joy to others.