Week 52 Case 2 Smyrna
More than any other things Smyrna was a) an impoverished church and b) a suffering church (I know about your suffering and your poverty).
Their opponents were Jewish people (real live human opponents). But John said that the Jewish place of worship was a synagogue of Satan. And he went on to say that the Devil will throw some of you into prison. So I get the impression that both ethnic Jews & Satan himself were colluding against the believers in Smyrna.
John told them that they would:
Be slandered by their opponents
Be thrown into prison
Be put to the test
Be persecuted for some period of time.
I didn’t find anything about these people getting rescued. Nothing about the Lord miraculously swooping in and saving them from danger (like in some stories in the OT).
John just told them
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer
Remain faithful even when facing death.
Other than that about all he said was that he was well-aware of what was going on. Told them to stick with it. Told them the Lord’s future promise: I will give you a crown of life.
I don’t know how many Smyrna-type churches there are around the world today. Likely none in Alberta. Likely quite a few in other countries. No resources. Under-the-guns of their adversaries. Hanging on by their fingertips. Holding onto nothing much more that a promise of a Crown of Life.
Note: Revelation 2:8-11. Quotes from 2:9 10 (NLT)