Patmos

Smyrna: • Address - “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:”•Identification - “These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.”✴ First and the Last - (Ref. 1:17) Suggests both the pre-existence and the eternity of Christ. No matter what circumstances life may hold he is acquainted with them and presides over them.✴ Who died and came to life again - (Ref. 1:18)✴Death and Resurrection - Their Expected Fate✴History of the city - Destroyed by Lydians in 627 B.C. it was little more than a village for 300 years. Rebuilt by Lysimachus on of Alexander the Great’s Generals

Smyrna: • Account: “I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” ✴ Afflictions - Carries connotation of extensive tribulation✴poverty - understated, lack of basic needs✴Rich - Spiritually - no negative assessment✴Slander - Cannibals, Love Feasts, Atheists, etc✴Synagog of Satan - Rom. 9:6-8, Spiritual

Smyrna: • Assessment: “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, an you will suffer persecution for ten days.”✴ Don’t be afraid...I will give you the crown of life✴ Persecution - Very real “The Dilemma”✴ Ten Days?✴ Short Duration✴ Unknown duration✴10 distinctive persecutions✴10 days of preparation or imprisonment for gladitorial combat.

Smyrna: •Exhortation: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”✴ Faithful - faithful witness✴Death✴Martyr✴Polycarp (69AD - 155)- Irenaeus (hearer or Plycarp) and Tertullian say disciple of John

✴Crown✴ Layout of the city - Apollonius of Tyana (Greek philospher) crown of porticos✴ Spephanos - victor’s crown (not diadema)

Smyrna: •Promise: “the one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.•Call: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

As a result of the rejection, "initiative supporters filed a lawsuit"--Woodfill v. Parker--and the city responded by subpoenaing "a number of area pastors, demanding to see what they preach from the pulpit and to examine their communications with their church members and others concerning concerning the city council's actions."