The second letter, to the church in Smyrna,
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “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. 10 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 ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “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.”’
So, according to history, what happened to the church after the Messiahs return?
51AD The Jewish persecution of Christians in Rome becomes so disruptive that the Jews are expelled from the city
64AD Emperor Nero blames the fire that destroys much of Rome on the Christians. He persecutes the church ruthlessly, and uses Christians as candles to light his garden. It is likely that both Peter and Paul were executed during this persecution 68 The end of Nero's reign
81AD Domitian becomes Emperor. As Emperor, he persecuted both Jews and Christians 98AD Trajan becomes Emperor. Trajan eventually instituted a policy toward Christians that stayed in effect until the time of Aurelius. His policy was not to seek Christians out, but if they were brought before the authorities they were to be punished, usually executed, for being Christians
©1998-2009 Clay McKinney. The Church History Timeline
The church was constantly persecuted for how they believed. Christianity became the scourge of the emerging modern world, they were laughed at, mocked, banned, tortured, and almost always martyred. This sort of persecution continued until emperor Constantine I in 306AD, when Christianity was legalized, and Christians were no longer persecuted for their beliefs. But for well over 200 years, this was not the case.
In the first part of the letter, it discusses the tribulation and poverty they had to endure, and then the letter say’s this…
9. and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
In the first letter, the Messiah had mentioned how the church, and Himself, hated the “deeds of the Nicolaitans,” and we now see that the influence of these Nicolaitans is growing stronger and stronger. This is also known as Gnosticism, a belief that spread like cancer through the church ever since its founding…
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. II Peter 2
The church is now suffering great persecution, and they are being infiltrated by the Gnostics, or…the Nicolaitans, and His church is growing weaker.
As I stated before, close attention needs to be given to the rewards, because they directly reflect on the state of the church. Because as you can see here, this reward is growing significantly weaker.
11 “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.”’
The first church was offered to eat from the tree of life, but this one wasn’t…but rather, if they can overcome, they will not be hurt by the second death, the spiritual death. This reward is weaker than the last, and they will continue to become weaker even still, because the churches message is changing.
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “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. 10 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 ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “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.”’
So, according to history, what happened to the church after the Messiahs return?
51AD The Jewish persecution of Christians in Rome becomes so disruptive that the Jews are expelled from the city
64AD Emperor Nero blames the fire that destroys much of Rome on the Christians. He persecutes the church ruthlessly, and uses Christians as candles to light his garden. It is likely that both Peter and Paul were executed during this persecution 68 The end of Nero's reign
81AD Domitian becomes Emperor. As Emperor, he persecuted both Jews and Christians 98AD Trajan becomes Emperor. Trajan eventually instituted a policy toward Christians that stayed in effect until the time of Aurelius. His policy was not to seek Christians out, but if they were brought before the authorities they were to be punished, usually executed, for being Christians
©1998-2009 Clay McKinney. The Church History Timeline
The church was constantly persecuted for how they believed. Christianity became the scourge of the emerging modern world, they were laughed at, mocked, banned, tortured, and almost always martyred. This sort of persecution continued until emperor Constantine I in 306AD, when Christianity was legalized, and Christians were no longer persecuted for their beliefs. But for well over 200 years, this was not the case.
In the first part of the letter, it discusses the tribulation and poverty they had to endure, and then the letter say’s this…
9. and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
In the first letter, the Messiah had mentioned how the church, and Himself, hated the “deeds of the Nicolaitans,” and we now see that the influence of these Nicolaitans is growing stronger and stronger. This is also known as Gnosticism, a belief that spread like cancer through the church ever since its founding…
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. II Peter 2
The church is now suffering great persecution, and they are being infiltrated by the Gnostics, or…the Nicolaitans, and His church is growing weaker.
As I stated before, close attention needs to be given to the rewards, because they directly reflect on the state of the church. Because as you can see here, this reward is growing significantly weaker.
11 “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.”’
The first church was offered to eat from the tree of life, but this one wasn’t…but rather, if they can overcome, they will not be hurt by the second death, the spiritual death. This reward is weaker than the last, and they will continue to become weaker even still, because the churches message is changing.