Video Transcript: Smyrna

Located in western Turkey on the Aegean shores, Izmir is fondly known as the  pearl of the Aegean, the third largest city in Turkey, and home to well over 3  million people. Izmir is a busy and prosperous port city with deep roots in  antiquity. Previously known as Smyrna, Izmir has a long and illustrious history,  with its fertile land favorable climate 300 sunny days a year, a sea that offers  every shade of blue and the heritage left behind. By the 32 civilizations, it has  been a home to Izmir is a remarkable city. Its current incarnation is rather more  modern, particularly in the swanky bar filled Alsancak area just north of the  center, the Konak shopping area to the south and the coastal road that binds  them together. Come with me on a journey, the quest for answers, looking for  the first followers of Christ in Turkey. The fact that almost half of its population is  under the age of 30 makes Izmir today a city full of life. The city hosts 10s of  1000s of university students, educating scientists, artists, business leaders, and  academics. With its natural treasures, historical values, various accommodation  options that appeal to every budget, sound infrastructure of sea air, land and  railway transportation, and healthy delicious and colorful cuisine. warm and  friendly people. Izmir is a city whose visitors return home satisfied and wanting  to go back again. In the Gulf of Izmir you may prefer the sea route, a ferry to  transport you to the opposite side of the city. Take the opportunity to feed the  birds as you are on your way. The city Izmir is home to rich museums exhibiting  many findings from the Roman period to the Republican period. The Agora open air museum is situated in the center of the city. It is the best location from which  to view what is left of the ancient city of Smyrna. In the Roman era, the Agora, a  multi-story structure was built on arches and pillars around the largest square  with marble tiling. The word Agora means marketplace. The Roman bathhouse,  which was recently unearthed is the latest Agora expedition attracts the attention of visitors passing by Faustina Road, which runs through the northwestern gate  to the docks. The pieces extracted from the Agora are in the Izmir  Archaeological Museum in the history of arts museum today. The Izmir  Archaeological Museum spans 5000 square meters. In the middle of the floor,  we find the Hall of works of stone. In this hall. There are large statues, busts,  portraits and masks. One of the most fascinating artifacts in the museum is the  marble Andropoulos statue, which has been dated to Roman times. It is believed to have belonged to Andropoulos, the founder of Ephesus. Izmir is the site of  ancient Smyrna. According to legend, Smyrna was founded by an Amazon and  named after her. according to Aristotle, Smyrna was actually founded three  times once by Tantalos, Pelops, again by Theseus and finally by Alexander the  Great Smyrna was originally settled by Aiolian Greeks around 1000 BCE. A  number of great literary figures came from Smyrna. According to history, Homer,  the author of the epics, Iliad and Odyssey was associated with Smyrna. Smyrna  was destroyed by Alyattes, king of Lydia early in the sixth century BC and  existed as a village for about 400 years. The city was reportedly refounded by 

Alexander the Great, but more likely by Antigonus and Lysimachos around 290  BC at its present site on the slopes of Mount Pagos now called Kadifekale. In  193 BC Smyrna became the first city in Asia Minor to erect a temple in honor of  dea Roma in 23 AD Tiberius permitted the construction of a temple in honor of  the Emperor Augustus, his mother Atia and the Senate. In 26. AD, emperor  Tiberius chose Smyrna, one of 11 applicants to be a temple Warden for the cult  of Tiberius, Livia, and the Senate. In the first century, the population was  probably about 200,000 residents. It had the status of a free city. It was a  political, religious and cultural center, noted for the science and medicine that  flourished right here. It was proud of its famous stadium, library, and the largest  public theater in the province seating some 20,000 people. It was a wealthy and  exceptionally beautiful city, claiming to be the glory of Asia. The city suffered a  devastating earthquake in 178 AD and another in 180, but it was rebuilt under  the patronage of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Though Smyrna is mentioned  only twice in the New Testament. It became an important Christian Center in the  second century AD. Ignatius of Antioch, on a forced march to Rome where he  would be martyred, stopped at Smyrna, and there wrote letters to four other  churches in the region. When he arrived at Troas, he wrote a letter to the church of Smyrna and also a personal letter to Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna. The  Acts of Paul, an apocryphal book from New Testament times, apparently  contained an account of a visit to Smyrna by Paul before coming to Ephesus, A  visit to Smyrna by the apostle John and his disciples is mentioned in the Acts of  John another apocryphal book as a response to an invitation by the people of  Smyrna. There was also a Jewish presence in Smyrna as Revelation 2:9  suggests and as a number of Inscriptions confirm famous inscription from 123- 24 AD during the reign of Adrian refers to a contribution of 10,000 drachmas for  some unknown public works project by former Jews or people formerly from  Judea. The life of the Christian community in Smyrna was one of affliction and  poverty, two things contributed to the miserable and life threatening situation of  the church. First, the city was the center of emperor worship. At the time of the  book of Revelation was written, emperor worship became mandatory. Once a  year, every Roman citizen was obliged to perform the religious duty of burning  incense on the altar to the Godhead of Caesar, and then was issued a certificate to refuse brought about the threat of death. Smyrnanians were openly very  hostile towards the Christians in the city because of their refusal to participate in  emperor worship. The second thing that made life miserable for Christians in  Smyrna was the presence of a large and strong Jewish population, also very  hostile toward Christians. In their bitterness, the Jews join the pagans in hating  and persecuting Christians. They slandered the Christians before their local  government, making malicious accusations, thus stirring up the pagans against  the Christians and inciting the authorities to persecute them. Christians were  charged with being cannibals, atheists, and disloyal to the government. John 

depicts these Jews as the synagogue of Satan. Although in extreme danger, the  Christians in Smyrna were found faithful, many of them experienced heroic  suffering and death. Among those who suffered martyrdom was Polycarp, the  famous Bishop of the Church of Smyrna in the first half of the second century,  who in his youth, associated with John, the author of the book of Revelation.  one of the oldest standing churches in Izmir, the St. Polycarp church still acts as  one of the chief centers of the local Catholic Diocese. This Church celebrates  Polycarp, who was martyred by the Romans at age 86 in 155 at Kadifekale, which was atop the hill near modern day Izmir. According to tradition, he  was taken from his hiding place, making no effort to resist, he offered his captors food and drink, then asked for time to pray, which he did for two hours. Again,  they asked him to sacrifice to the Emperor, swear by the genius of Caesar, and  we will release you they said, he replied, 86 years I have served him and he  never did me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my king who has saved me? It  is recorded that when they tried to burn Polycarp at the stake, the flames  wouldn't touch him, they finally stabbed him to death. To the angel of the church  in Smyrna write, these things says the first and the last, who was dead and  came to life. I know your works, tribulation, and poverty, but you are rich. And I  know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a  synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to  suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may  be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days, be faithful until death, and I will  give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says  to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.  Revelation 2:8-11. Smyrna was the next closest city to Ephesus, about 50  kilometers to the north. 700 years before odesmanor had been destroyed and  had lain in ruins for three centuries. The city of Johnstown was one which had  risen from the dead. The message to the church in this city is the shortest of the  seven and is one of only two that had received no rebuke from Christ and no call to repentance. In John Stein, the Christians in Smyrna, like John himself, we're  experiencing tribulation, which was going to continue and possibly intensify. The  main message to Smyrna is that Christ is always with his children, even in  suffering, and that Christ followers must not be fearful, but faithful, to look not at  the suffering of beyond it to Jesus. In the salutation of each of the seven letters,  Christ identifies himself by means of some part of the description in the initial  vision of revelation 1:13-16. Jesus introduces himself as him who is the first and  the last, who was dead and came to life. What is the significance of Jesus  description of himself in this way, it is significant in the light of the suffering that  some of the believers in Smyrna would have to endure. These are the words  which John heard earlier, when he fell down at Jesus feet, stop being afraid, I  am the First and the Last and the living one, and I was dead and behold, I am  living forever and ever. The first and the last is a reference to the Old Testament 

to Yahweh, the God of the covenant. Jesus begins his message to these  Smyrians by reminding them of his own suffering and death. He experienced the worst that life could bring, he died, but he was raised in life again, in identifying  himself with the Smyrians, Jesus is telling them that no matter what might  happen, he the resurrected and glorified Lord can help because he has gone  through it, and he was victorious over death, so they too, can face martyrdom  knowing that faithfulness is rewarded with eternal life, he remains faithful to His  promise to always be present with his suffering people. As usual, Christ affirms  his awareness of their circumstances. I know your works, tribulation and poverty. Why were the believers at Smyrna in tribulation and poverty, the members of the church were in dire peril. In Greek, tribulation means a serious affliction, under  the pressure of a burden that crushes. This pressure comes from outside,  namely, from the demands for emperor worship and the malignant slander of the Jews. Second, the members were in extreme poverty, as the Greek text  indicates, they possess nothing. Their poverty was undoubtedly the result of the  persecution the church was going through. It certainly contrasts with the wealthy Church of Laodicea which boasted of its material riches, and was in need of  nothing, but it possessed nothing of spiritual significance. The Christians in  Smyrna lived in one of the wealthiest cities and yet they were extremely poor.  The reality, my friends, is that Christ knows your situation, your burdens and  your tears as well. Nothing passes unnoticed in his eyes. The Psalmist wrote,  you know how troubled I am, you have kept a record of my tears. He not only  knows, but he cares about you and your situation. For this reason, Peter wrote  in his first letter, throw all your worry on Him because He cares for you. Jesus  praises the church at Smyrna saying you are rich. In what way were the  believers at Smyrna rich. They were poor in worldly goods, but rich in spiritual  blessings. They were poor in spirit, but rich in grace, their spiritual riches were  offset by their outward poverty. Many who are rich in worldly goods are spiritual  paupers. This was the case with the church of Laodicea. But in Smyrna, some  who were outwardly poor, were inwardly rich. They were rich in good deeds, rich in spiritual privileges, and rich in hope. James wrote to a similar group,  indicating that God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to  be rich in faith. The reality is that you don't truly know how rich you are, until you really know that Jesus is all you need. And you don't really know Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have. The letter written to the church of Smyrna has  in common with the Philadelphia and church, this rare claim, Christ only has  commendation and no condemnation for Smyrna. The lesson that I learned from this is that during the time of suffering, it is not time for rebukes or  condemnation, it is time for support and care. That is the picture that I find about God in the Bible, a loving and caring father that during times of tribulation is  there to attend to his children. But you God see the trouble of the afflicted and  you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to 

you, you are the helper of the fatherless. Jesus has two main causes to the  church of Smyrna. The first one is stop fearing your things which you are about  to suffer. This Smyrnians evidently worried. Jesus is telling them stop being  afraid. I'm in control. I have personally experienced that and came back to life. I  am the First and the Last, and I'm faithful to my promise. Fearlessness,  however, may not necessarily mean the total absence of dread, but rather the  refusal to succumb to intimidation. So that threats of harm do not turn them back from their duty to Christ. Jesus second counsel is remained faithful to the point  of death, and I will give you the crown of life. This church has already been  faithful, and Jesus urges continued faithfulness. The reward for faithfulness is  the crown of life, namely, the crown that consists of life. It is not a royal crown,  but the crown of victory the garland given to the winner at the Olympic Games  signifying the joy that comes from victory. One of the main reasons for these two councils was that the church in Smyrna was soon to become a special object of  diabolical malice. As the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, you will  have tribulation. The book of Revelation is realistic about the existence of evil in  the world. There is harm which must be squarely faced for what it is. No attempt  is made to explain away the reality of evil in its many forms. It is neither true nor  helpful for the Christian to interpret all crisis events in the story of human  existence, as according to God's will. There are many events that happen in our  lives that are against God's will. The speeding car that crashes because its  driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not an event that happened  according to God's will. murder, suicide, adultery, racism, white collar crime,  these are all acts against the will of God. They are the result of the wrong use of  freedom, which then sours into chaos and menace. The mystery is that the real  freedom which God designed for human journey has made human evil possible.  Thankfully, that same freedom has made faith and hope and love possible, too.  Evil has a larger dimension than simply the bad choices that we make as human beings. There is a cosmic dimension which this letter to the church of Smyrna  brings into sharp focus The Wrong choice against the will of God at the cosmic  level of creation produces its own kind of chaos. The clear affirmation of this  letter is that cosmic evil, as well as human evil is bounded by the Greater  boundary of Almighty God, the evil and its damage, our real danger. But that  damage is not ultimate, the last word, both of judgment and of hope belongs to  God. How does this work in practical terms, it means that as God's child, I am  able to face up to tragedy as tragedy and not artificially assume the stance that  it has somehow not really happened. It means that there are bad experiences  and events that happen to us. And because of us, these events are negative  and harmful. They're like jagged rocks that scar the landscape of our life's  journey. But the discovery we make in the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the very  landscape upon which these angry outcropping stand is surrounded by a larger  grace and will, so that life can go on the field will grow seed and bear healthy 

crops. Because the power of God's gift of life is greater than the adverse effects  of either human sin or cosmic evil. This is the reason we do not lose hope. This  is also the reason we are enabled to call a jagged rock a jagged rock. This  second letter ends with a very personal assurance to the Christians who live in  the shadow of Smyrna's Acropolis, I will give you the crown, not for Smyrna but  of life. One excited and deeply personal promise to these people. Those who  remain faithful will receive the crown consisting of life, that is to say, they will not  experience the second death. In Revelation the second death means the total  extinction of the wicked. It stands in opposition to eternal life. This Smyrnians  were in constant fear of physical death. To the faithful however, physical death is temporary. It is like sleep and as such means nothing because of the hope of the resurrection. It is the second death that should be feared eternal death from  which there will be no resurrection. Jesus warned his followers do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able  to destroy both soul and body in hell. By virtue of His death on the cross and  resurrection, Jesus broke the power of death. He is the one having the keys of  death and Hades, he lives forevermore on behalf of his people. The faithful will  receive the crown of eternal life, and therefore will not be harmed by the second  death. Friend, I don't know what's going on in your life. But I know that God is  with you. For this reason, he says to you don't be afraid because I'm with you.  Don't be anxious because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you. I'm truly  helping you. I'm surely upholding you with my victorious right hand. Suffering  does not have to be the end of your story. If you surrender to God, you can be  sure that tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning and that the  sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that  is to be revealed to us. Until that day, when suffering will be banished forever.  God's promise to you is this. I will take care of you. Rest in God's love because  he takes care of you.  

Be not dismayed whate'er betide, God will take care of you, Beneath His wings  of love abide, God will take care of you! 

God will take care of you, Through every day, o'er all the way, He will take care  of you, God will take care of you 

All you may need He will provide. God will take care of you! Trust Him, and you  will be satisfied, God will take care of you! 

God will take care of you, Through every day, o'er all the way, He will take care  of you, God will take care of you 

Let's pray Our Father and our God, we give you thanks for the assurance today  that you know all about us and you still love us. And Lord as we seek to 

embrace this journey looking at the seven churches and the messages you have for these churches, we pray that You would help us to take these messages to  heart we pray that our our lives will be changed on this journey. Lord, we are  grateful for the assurance that you are with us through all the seasons of our  lives. Continue to shape us continue to work in us what is pleasing to you.  Forgive us for our sins, Lord, and shape us for that moment. When we will  spend eternity with You. We pray in Jesus name, amen. Dear friend, thank you  so much for joining us today. Don't forget to share the quest for answers, looking for the first followers of Christ in Turkey with your friends and relatives. Please  visit our website where you can leave us a message, your prayer request and  order a copy of today's show or the complete series. If you feel moved to  support our ministry, you can make your donation on our website as well. I hope  to see you soon