© 2009 Brett Peterson Revelation Rapture Overview Part Three Revelation Rapture Overview Part Three.
FROM RAPTURE TO REVELATION
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FROM RAPTURE TO REVELATION
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FROM RAPTURE TO REVELATION. Rev. 2:8-11. Smyrna: The suffering church. Greek colony in 1000 BC/ destroyed in 600 Resurrected with new plans in 290 BC Rich/second only to Ephesus in Asia Minor Temples: goddess Roma/Tiberius Caesar & 5 temples for Greek deities - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of FROM RAPTURE TO REVELATION
FROM RAPTURE TO REVELATION
Smyrna: The suffering church
Rev. 2:8-11
The Ancient City of Smyrna Greek colony in 1000 BC/ destroyed in 600
Resurrected with new plans in 290 BC
Rich/second only to Ephesus in Asia Minor
Temples: goddess Roma/Tiberius Caesar & 5 temples for Greek deities
Very loyal to Rome so a free city
Present day Izmir/ 1/3 of its 200,000 population is Christian/church survived much suffering even Islamic conquests in 1000 AD
The Ancient City Of Smyrna Smyrna means Myrrh/sweet perfume used in embalming dead bodies
Myrrh: Exodus 30:23; Song of Solomon 3:6; Psalm 45:8; Matt. 2:11
Jesus only commends the church/no rebuke
Pastor Polycarp is martyred here in 155 AD
Refused to sacrifice to Caesar and showed deep Christ-like love towards his persecutors
Described as poor (ptocheia) yet rich
Why do the godly sometimes suffer? Scripture reveals various characteristics
about suffering:
Corrective Discipline (1Cor. 11: 30-32; Hebrews 12: 3-13)
Preventative (2Cor. 12:7) Thorn in flesh
Knowledge (Heb. 5:8) Christ learned
Maturing (Rom. 5:3-5) Patience and hope
Witness (Acts 9: 16) Potent testimony
Perspective (Rev.2:8) Eternal view of life
