The seven churches of Revelation - Smyrna
Much could be said of Smyrna
Smyrna comes from the Greek word Myrrh, which derives from the Hebrew word ‘mor’ the word for bitterness.
What was a fragrant perfume:
Psalm 45:8
Prov 7:17
Song of Solomon 1:13; 5:5
was also a bitter resin.
Myrrh was a bitter tasting perfume, both bitter and fragrant, herein is the paradox of Smyrna!
Smyrna is a faithful church that suffers!
- Tribulation (v9)
- Poverty (v9)
- Suffer (v10)
- Trial (v10)
- Tribulation (v10)
- Death (v10)
One aspect of Smyrna perhaps not so often considered is the importance or value of understanding, insight, ‘philosophy,’ the importance of a right outlook on life, the right perspective on life.
The power of the mind
‘Man’s search for meaning’ – Viktor Frankyl
Survival not only dependant on physical strength or endurance but also dependant on the mindset of the person; eg Christmas 1944 – many died.
“everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms – to choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances, to chose one’s own way.”
“Ever more people today have the means to live but no meaning to live for”
“Those who have a why to live can bear with almost any how” (Nietzsche)
“But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a man had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer”
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances but only by lack of meaning and purpose”
“If there is meaning in life at all then there must be meaning in suffering”
“we who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
The ministry to Smyrna, highlights the importance of ministry.
The importance of right thinking and of Bible teaching.
The importance of looking behind the immediate set of circumstances and experiences.
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances but only by lack of meaning and purpose”
“If there is meaning in life at all then there must be meaning in suffering” (V Frankyl)
One of the great issues to which Smyrna introduces us is that subject of suffering; the problem of pain.
Herein lies one of the great arguments against God, a problem that discourages men from faith in God and discourages the faith of those who trust in God.
An argument formulated by Greek philosopher Epicurus:
“Is God willing to prevent evil but not able – He is not omnipotent.
If He is able but not willing then He is malevolent
If He is both able and willing then whence cometh evil?
If He is neither able nor willing then why call Him God?”
although perhaps most succinctly put by CS Lewis:
If God is good He ought to desire His people to be happy.
If God is all powerful He ought to be able to make His people happy
If His people are not happy then:
God is not good
God is not all powerful
God is not
On the surface a fairly straightforward and robust argument but one which suffers from at least 5 failings:
It is a moral argument – if there is no God as the argument suggests you are going to have a difficult time in shoring up your idea of morality! You are going to flounder to prove that unhappiness is bad, bad for you but maybe good for me. Cutting lives short for example may well reduce the sum total suffering of that life and the effect of that life on others.
It is a logical argument – what makes you think that a random universe can throw together a brain of atoms, undesigned and unchecked against any standard that results in being able to draw any reasonable conclusion about anything?
The solution lies in the argument that happiness is dependent on goodness – herein is the simplest point! The argument presumes that a good God desires happiness, ie happiness is dependant on goodness; thus absolute happiness is dependent on absolute goodness; a condition we do not have. We cannot have a square circle! A square circle remains absurd even if we prefix it with the term ‘God’ or not. A fallen world is the consequence of free choice, to have no fall is to have no choice, to have no choice is to have no humanity. You cannot have it both ways.
It limits the sovereignty of God restricting God to act in a way and using means which only ever act to result in happiness, immediate pleasure. What makes you assume that God is so small that He cannot work all things according to His own will, even the rebellion of men?
It is these later 2 points that we see at Smyrna.
That God is able to use the trials and the tears, the suffering and pain, sorrow and the sadness for our good and His Glory and that from the deep and difficult experiences of life there does and can emerge meaning and purpose and Glory.
The view of God that others have of Him is at times way too small; your trials and afflictions are ordered, defined and determined cf Daniel 9:24-27
They are all bookended within the purposes and plans of He who is the first and the last.
The idea that suggests that if evil happens then God is not in control is wrong on so many levels; one of which is that God is so omnipotent, so in control that He is able to work the purposes of men into the fabric of sovereign purposes to bring about the fulfilment of His will!
They have the ministry of a Person
Their Suffering is Defined
‘first and last’ – setting the boundaries
There is nothing so difficult to cope with than a trial which seems to:
Have no real meaning / origin, no definite course / beginning, no purpose, pointless.
No prospect of an end in view
Christ sets the limits
There is purpose
There is a prospect
Time and experience are defined by the boundary conditions I set for it!
A Person, pre-eminent and in control
Purpose and Presidency
A ministry of empathy
He understands
He ‘was dead and is alive’
He has been there!
Suffering destroyed by victory! Destiny - In this there is the promise of victory!
Death is not the end
Suffering is not final
“was dead and is alive”
Suffering Discerned : “I Know”
Define, redefine, reframe what you mean by ‘rich’ by success, don’t just judge your life by the material.
Discouragement – don’t get discouraged by the opinion of others, take a step back and consider God’s opinion of them; what does God think about those who think about you (v9)?
This trial is defined and limited to 10 days – 10 years of intense persecution? 10 persecuting emperors? 10 specific days for Smyrna?
Results – from affliction comes fruitfulness (v10); from faithfulness, a crown of life,
Do not fear the suffering (v10) – the fear can be greater than the reality!
The story is not over until it is over (v11); “should not be hurt of the 2nd death”
There is the prospect and promise of victory.
Here is the antedote to despair – a correct perspective
‘good things happen to good people’
What’s the point – I’ve done everything correct and now look at the mess that I’m in!
The perspective that difficult circumstances are evidence of Divine displeasure brings despair and defeat.
That perspective is of course not necessarily correct as is evidenced in the life of Christ.
Let’s look a little deeper, take a glimpse behind the veil, looking behind the appearance to reality.
This is the path the Saviour trod (v8)
There is material poverty (v9) but spiritual wealth (v9). Behind the appearance of the material lies the eternal and the spiritual! It is a great error to conflate the two!
Might is not right (v9) just because they are powerful does not mean that they are right.
Satan is behind the attack (v10)
Purpose
Perspective
From an expository bible teaching series on Revelation and the seven churches preached at New Cumnock.
Yours by Grace in Christ
Dr J Stewart Gillespie