Revelation 2:8-11 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things said the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;… I. ITS TEMPORAL CONDITION. The letter indicates that it was a condition of great trial. It refers to "tribulation," "poverty," "prison." 1. Its present trial. There was "tribulation." This is a term which represents trials of all kinds. But the special trial mentioned is "poverty." "I know thy poverty." Christ notices the secular condition of Churches. (1) Though their city was rich, they were poor. (2) Though they were distinguished by great spiritual excellence — for Christ Himself said, "Thou art rich," that is, spiritually rich — they were secularly poor. In this world man's secular condition is not always determined by his moral character. Character, and not condition, is everything to man. As compared to this, poverty is nothing. It is the man that gives worth to the condition, not the condition to the man. The gospel is for man as man, and the less man is artificialised the more open is he to its influence. 2. Its prospective trial. The letter indicates that great persecution awaited them. Several things are referred to as to the coming persecution. (1) Its instruments. Jews by birth but not by character, not circumcised in the heart. The old religion has ever hated the new. How can it be otherwise? for the new examines the character, history, and pretensions of the old, and refuses submission to its authority and influence. (2) Its instigator. "The devil." He worketh in the children of disobedience — inspires them, raises their antagonism to the cause of purity, freedom, and happiness. (3) Its form. "Cast into prison." Incarceration in some respects is worse than martyrdom. Better die than to live without light, freedom, fellowship. (4) Its duration. "Ye shall have tribulation ten days." II. ITS SPIRITUAL OBLIGATION. The letter inculcates two duties. 1. Courage. "Fear none of these things." Why fear? "Thou art rich" in faith and hope; in Divine promise, succour, and fellowship; therefore, fear not! 2. Fidelity. "Be thou faithful unto death." When Christ left the world, He put His disciples in possession not of money, or land, or titles, or honours. These He had not to bestow. But He gave them His ideas, His purposes, His character, incomparably the most precious things. He did not write these things in books, and leave them in libraries. He trusted them to living souls, and said, take care of them. What a rare thing it is, alas! to find a man worthy of truth — worthy of the quantity and quality of truth which has been put into his possession. Notice here two things — (1) The extent of this faithfulness. "Unto death." Fidelity must not give way at any future point of life. No event can justify its suspension for a moment. It must stand even the fiery test of martyrdom. (2) The reward of faithfulness. "I will give thee a crown of life." Let thy faithfulness be strong enough to die for Me. (Caleb Morris.) Parallel Verses KJV: And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; |
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