Lesson 4 — Smyrna
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Transcript of Lesson 4 — Smyrna
© 2009, www.lettersfromthelamb.com
SmyrnaSmyrnaSmyrnaSmyrna
When the soldiers arrived at the house, the elderly man, Polycarp, received them as friends
He insisted that they be well fed while he spent an hour in prayer
What harm is there in saying Lord Caesar, and to sacrifice, and to save your life?
What harm is there in saying Lord Caesar, and to sacrifice, and to save your life?
I will not do what you advise
I will not do what you advise
On the way, Polycarp’s captors reasoned with him
The stadium in Smyrna was full
when the governor tried Polycarp
Consider your age.
Save yourself!
Renounce Christ.Consider your age.
Save yourself!
Renounce Christ.
Eighty and six
years have I
served himEighty and six
years have I
served him
Consider your age.
Save yourself!
Renounce Christ.Consider your age.
Save yourself!
Renounce Christ.
and he never
did me wrongand he never
did me wrong
Consider your age.
Save yourself!
Renounce Christ.Consider your age.
Save yourself!
Renounce Christ.
How can I now
blaspheme my
King who saved
me?
How can I now
blaspheme my
King who saved
me?
Swear by the genius
of CaesarSwear by the genius
of Caesar
If you are so
vain as to think
that I would
swear by the
genius of
Caesar
If you are so
vain as to think
that I would
swear by the
genius of
Caesar
Swear by the genius
of CaesarSwear by the genius
of Caesar
hear my free
confession: hear my free
confession:
Swear by the genius
of CaesarSwear by the genius
of Caesar
hear my free
confession:
I am a Christian.hear my free
confession:
I am a Christian.
I will have you burned
alive!I will have you burned
alive!
You threaten
fire that burns
for a moment
and is
extinguished
You threaten
fire that burns
for a moment
and is
extinguished
I will have you burned
alive!I will have you burned
alive!
for you know
nothing of the
judgment to
come
for you know
nothing of the
judgment to
come
I will have you burned
alive!I will have you burned
alive!
and the fire of
eternal
punishment
reserved for the
wicked
and the fire of
eternal
punishment
reserved for the
wicked
Be faithful to the point of deathBe faithful to the point of death
Smyrna•Considered the
most beautiful city in the province of Asia
•Competed with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title of “first city” of Asia
•Izmir: over 3 million
•Destroyed in 600 b.c.; rebuilt ±200 b.c.
•Large colony of Jews; once contributed 10,000 denarii for beautification project in Smyrna
Smyrna
•Early on, Smyrna aligned herself with Rome
•Free city
Revelation 2:8-11
• The First and the Last
• He who died and came back to life
• “I know…”
From the Risen Christ
The Rich Poor Church
•The church had apparently suffered persecution already
•They were poor, possibly because of the persecution
•Yet Jesus says that this church is rich!
Satan’s Synagogue•It seems that the Jews in
Smyrna were especially hostile to Christianity
•They took a leading role in Polycarp’s death
•They even broke the Sabbath to “zealously” gather wood for his fire
The Coming Persecution
•The Christians were to be put in prison
•Usually a precursor to death
•This was to last 10 days
•Probably figurative
•A limited time of persecution
He Who Conquers
•Be faithful to the point of death
•He who conquers shall not be hurt in the second death
We need to learn We need to learn about true wealthabout true wealth
We need to learn We need to learn about life and deathabout life and death
We need to learn We need to learn about true wealthabout true wealth
We need to learn We need to learn about life and deathabout life and death
He who has ears,let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches