SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
1/24/2015 10:06 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Commendation
for Smyrna
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Revelation
2:9
Message of the verses: “9 ’I
know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and
are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
We have already mentioned that there is no condemnation
for this suffering church, but Christ does have a wonderful commendation for
them and we will look at that today.
In the vision of the Lord Jesus Christ from chapter one
and verse fourteen we see that He has eyes of flaming fire, and although this
can speak of judgment, it also speaks of Him seeing all that goes on in His
church, and what He saw in Smyrna was a church that the world would think was
poor, but He states that they are rich, a church that persevered even under
great tribulation, a church that Christ had nothing bad to say of.
John MacArthur explains the word “tribulation.” Thlipsis
(tribulation) literally means ‘pressure,’ and is the common New Testament word
for persecution or tribulation. The
church at Smyrna was facing intense pressure because of their faithfulness to
Jesus Christ. There were three reasons
for that hostility.” We will now take a
look at those three reasons, and one of the reasons truly made me sad when I
first studied this section by listening to MacArthur’s message on this
church.
The first reason we already touched on from our last SD,
and that is that the city of Smyrna was a city dedicated to the emperor
worship, and all citizens of the city had to once a year worship the emperor at
the temple that was built for him in the city.
This would not bode well with those who only worshiped the Lord Jesus
Christ as their King.
Now the second reason is that believers refused to
participate in the pagan religion that also went on in the city. Smyrna was a city full of idols and temples
and those who did not worship at these places were noticed as much of the
social worship in Smyrna was the worshiping of the false gods in these temples
built for them.
The last reason is the one that is hard to swallow for me
and that is seen with the following words from verse nine: “the blasphemy by those who say
they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” As we
read the Bible we see how much love and patience that God has for the children
of Jacob, how much He did for them in calling them, in forgiving their many
sins until He had no choice but to show them His wrath and had them taken out
of their country by the Babylonians, but gracious to bring them back into their
land only to take them out of their land because they were responsible for the
crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now the glorified Jesus Christ speaks of the synagogue of Satan in verse
nine. This is speaking of Jews who were
turning those in the church of Smyrna into the authorities for the worship of
our Lord Jesus Christ. MacArthur writes
“Unbelieving Jews commonly accused Christians of cannibalism (based on a
misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper), immorality (based on a perversion of
the holy kiss with which believers greeted each other; cf. Rom 16:16; 1 Cor.
16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26), breaking up homes (when one spouse became
a Christian and the other did not, it often caused conflict; cf. Luke
12:51-53), atheism (because, as already noted Christians rejected the pagan
pantheon of deities), and political disloyalty and rebellion (because
Christians refused to offer the required sacrifices to the emperor). Hoping to destroy the Christian faith, some
of Smyrna’s wealthy, influential Jews reported these blasphemous, false
allegations to the Romans. These haters
of the gospel were a synagogue of Satan, meaning they assembled to plan their
attack on the church, thus doing Satan’s will.
They may have claimed to be a synagogue of God, but they were just the
opposite.” As one reads through the book
of Acts they will find that this was a great problem as Jews would not listen
to the truth of the gospel, turned it down and then began to persecute the
young church.
The following quote is found in John MacArthur’s
commentary, but is from a second century document entitled The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna Concerning the Martyrdom
of the Holy Polycarp.
“The whole multitude, marveling at the nobility of mind
displayed by the devout and godly race of Christians, cried out, ‘Away with the
Atheist; let Polycarp be sought out!’
“But the most admirable Polycarp, when he first heard
[that he was sought for], was in no measure disturbed, but resolved to continue
in the city. However, in deference to
the wish of many, he was persuaded to leave it.
He departed, therefore, to a country house not far distant from the
city. There he stayed with a few
[friends], engaged in nothing else night and day than praying for all men, and
for the Churches throughout the world, according to his usual custom. And while he was praying, a vision presented
itself to him three days before he was taken; and, behold, the pillow under his
head seemed to him on fire. Upon this,
turning to those that were with him, he said to them prophetically, ‘I must be
burnt alive.’
“And when those who sought for him were at hand, he
departed to another dwelling, whither his pursuers immediately came after
him. And when they found him not, they
seized upon two youths [that were there], one of whom, being subjected to
torture, confessed. It was thus
impossible that he should continue hid, since those that betrayed him were his
own household. The Irenarch then (whose
office is the same as that of the Cleronomus). By name Herod, hastened to bring
him into the stadium. [This all happened]
that he might fulfill his special lot, being made a partaker of Christ, and
that they who betrayed him might undergo the punishment of Judas himself.
“His pursuers then, along with horsemen, and taking the
youth with them, went forth at supper-time on the day of the preparation, with
their usual weapons, as if going out against a robber. And being come about evening [to the place
where he was], they found him lying down in the upper room on a certain little house, from which he
might have escaped into another place; but he refused, saying, ‘The will of God
be done.’ So when he heard that they
were come, he went down and spake with them.
And as those that were present marveled at his age and constancy, some
of them said, ‘Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man?’ Immediately then, in that very hour, he
ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much
indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray
without disturbance. And on their giving
him leave, he stood to and prayed, being full of grace of God, so that he could
not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that heard him,
insomuch that many began to repent that
they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man.
“Now, as soon as he ceased praying, having made mention
of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great,
illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the
world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ass, and
conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath. And the Irenarh Herod, accompanied by his
father Nicetes (both riding in a chariot), met him and taking him up into the
chariot, they seated themselves beside him, and endeavored to persuade him,
saying, ‘What harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar, and in sacrificing, with
the other ceremonies observed on such occasions, and so much sure of
safety?’ But he at first gave them no
answer; and when they continued to urge him, he said, ‘I shall not do as you
advise me.’ So they, having no hope of
persuading him, began to speak bitter words upon him, and cast him with
violence out of the chariot, insomuch that, in getting down from the carriage,
he dislocated his leg [by the fall]. But
without being disturbed, and as if suffering nothing, he went eagerly forward
with all haste, and was conducted to the stadium, where the tumult was so
great, that there was not possibility of being heard.
“Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there
came to him a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Be strong, and show thyself a man, O
Polycarp!’ No one saw who it was that
spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present hearded the
voice. And as he was brought forward,
the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when He
came near the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing
that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying,
‘Have respect to thy old age, ‘and other similar things, according to their
custom, [such as], ‘Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with
the Atheists.’ Polycarp declared eighty
and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my
Savior?’ And when the proconsul yet
again pressed him, and said, ‘Swear by the fortune of Caesar,’ he answered
‘Since thou art vainly urgent that , as thou sayest, I should swear by the
fortune of Caesar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me
declare with boldness, I am a Christian.
And if you wish to learn what the doctrines of Christianity are, appoint
me a day, and thou shalt hear them.’ The
proconsul replied, ‘Persuade the people.’
But Polly carp said, ‘To thee I have thought it right to offer an
account [of my faith]; for we are taught to give all due honor [which entails
no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which are ordained of
God. But as for these, I do not deem
them worthy of receiving any account from me.’
The proconsul then said to him, ‘I have wild beasts at hand; of these
will I cast thee, except thou repent.’
But he answered, ‘Call them then for we are not accustomed to repent of
what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; and it is well for me to be
changed from what is evil to what is righteous.’ But again the proconsul said to him, ‘I will
cause thee to be consumed by fire, seeing thou despises the wild beasts, if
thou wilt not repent.’ But Polycarp
said, ‘Thou threatenest me
with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but
art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment,
reserved for the ungodly. But why
tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou
wilt.’
“While he spoke these and many other like things, he was
filled with confidence and joy, and his countenance was full of grace, so that
not merely did it not fall as if troubled by the things said to him, but, on
the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his herald to proclaim in
the midst of the stadium thrice, ‘Polycarp has confessed that he is a
Christian. This proclamation having been
made by the herald, the whole multitude both of the heathen and Jews, who dwelt
at Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable fury, and in a loud voice, ‘This is
the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, and the overthrower of our
gods, he who has been teaching many not to sacrifice, or to worship the gods.’ Speaking thus, they cried out, and besought
Philip the Asiarch to let loose a lion upon Polycarp. But Philip answered that is was not lawful
for him to do so, seeing the shows of wild beasts were already finished. Then it seemed good to them to cry out with
one consent, that Polycarp should be burnt alive. For thus it behooved the vision which was
revealed to him in regard to his pillow to be to be fulfilled, when, seeing it
on fire as he was praying, he turned about and said prophetically to the
faithful that were with him, ‘I must be burned alive.’
“This, then, was carried into effect with greater speed
than it was spoken, the multitudes immediately gathering together wood and
fagots out of the shops and baths; the Jews especially, according to custom, eagerly assisting them in it. And when the funeral pile was ready,
Polycarp, laying aside all his garments, and loosing his girdle, sought also to
take off his sandals,--a thing he was not accustomed to do, inasmuch as every
one of the faithful was always eager who should first touch his skin. For, on
account of his holy life, he was, even before his martyrdom, adorned with every
kind of good. Immediately then they
surrounded him with those substances which had been prepared for the funeral
pile. But when they were about also to
fix him with nails, he said, ‘Leave me as I am; for He that giveth me strength
to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me with nails,
to remain without moving in the pile.’
“They did not nail him then, but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him, and
being bound like a distinguished ram [taken] out of a great flock for
sacrifice, and prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up
to heaven, and said, ‘O Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy beloved and
blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of Thee, the
God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the
righteous who live before thee, I give Thee thanks that Thou hast counted me,
worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Thy
martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of
soul and body, through the incorruption [imparted] by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before
Thee as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as Thou, the ever-truthful
God, as fore-ordained, has revealed beforehand to me, and now has
fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise Thee
for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, along with the everlasting and
heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee, and the Holy Ghost,
be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.’
“When he pronounced this amen, and so finished his
prayer, those who were appointed for the purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury,
we, to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been
preserved that we might report to others what then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of
an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encompassed as by a
circle the body of the martyr. And he
appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as a bread that is baked, or
as gold and silver from the glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we perceived such a sweet order
[coming from the pile], as if frankincense or some such precious spices had
been smoking there.
“At length, when those wicked men perceived that his body
could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to go near and
pierce him through with a dagger. And on
his doing this, there came forth a dove, and a great quantity of blood, so that
the fire was extinguished; and all the people wondered that there should be
such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most
admirable Polycarp was one, having our own times been an apostolic and
prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna. For every word that went out of his mouth
either has been or shall yet be accomplished.”
I suppose that this was the longest quote that I have
ever written on my Spiritual Diaries, but thought it necessary to add to this
one seeing that the situation that the world is in may need to hear of a man
who went through what many are going through in our world every day.
Smyrna was a church that to the world seemed poor, but
through the eyes of the all seeing, all knowing glorified Christ was rich. On the other hand Laodicea was a church that
the world though was rich, but Christ said it was poor, so much that He would
vomit it from His mouth.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: Ever since I
became a believer in Jesus Christ as being my Savior and Lord on the 26th
of January of 1974 I have had a great love for the nation and people of
Israel. This love was not there before
for I knew little about Israel, and so when I read things like this as to how
the Jews were involved in causing the deaths of many early believer it causes
much pain in my heart. My prayer for
Israel is the same as Paul’s was that one day all Israel will be saved, and as
we continue our study of Revelation we will see the prophetic time when this
will happen.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I desire to have a love for the Lord, to love
Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength as I am sure Polycarp had for
many, many years before he was killed for the cause of Christ. I desire to understand and appreciate the
love that the Lord has for me.
Memory verses for the
week: 2 Peter 1:5-9.
5 Now for this very
reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and
in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6
and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,
perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness,
and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and
are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind
or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “John the Baptist” (John 3:30).
Today’s Bible
question: “What else is the
Mediterranean Sea called in the Bible?
Answer in our next SD.
1:15 PM
