And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive. Revelation 2:8
The seven Assemblies in Asia to whom John was to deliver messages all had special characteristics, and the characteristic of Smyrna was persecution. Each Assembly represents a part of the history of Christianity, from the beginning until the Rapture. Smyrna’s place in that panorama is the period during which the early Christians suffered heavily for their faith, a period of persecution that reached its zenith around the year 300 A.D. Terrible atrocities were inflicted on the saints at that time, and many martyrs qualified for their crowns. In all of that great suffering, we find a forerunner of the suffering that saints down through history must endure for Christ. For Smyrna is still with us today, if we would make ourselves aware.
Many of the muslims who come to North America complain about being persecuted. At most they face a little ridicule for following a religion that is so blatantly false, evil, and violent. Their hypocritical complaints fly in the face of the very real persecution that Christians face in nations that are under muslim rule. Any muslim in those countries who becomes a Christian is instantly under a death sentence. Islam’s insane blasphemy laws call for the killing of anyone who is even accused of saying or doing anything remotely resembling an insult to their religion, their so-called holy book, or their false prophet. In those countries, Christians face every much as violent persecution as the poor saints did in Smyrna some 19 centuries ago or Christians everywhere 17 centuries ago. Persecution against Christians is also rampant by Hindu radicals in many areas of India, by the government of North Korea, and by much of China. The devil has no problem finding recruits in his battle to wipe out Christianity.
If we study the history of the spread of the Gospel, we will find that it has always flourished the most when persecution has been the greatest. The first Assembly, in Jerusalem, was the target of intense persecution, so the Christians there were scattered, taking the Gospel with them far and wide. Even during the period of history represented by the Smyrna letter, the persecution merely fanned the flames of the Gospel, and millions were reached and saved. Even today, China has a vibrant and rapidly growing Christian community. Even North Korea’s vicious policies have not slowed the rapid and powerful spread of the Gospel there. The devil’s efforts have backfired, and Heaven’s ranks have swelled because persecution is no threat to the Gospel. Maybe that is why the devil has not pushed persecution in the western world, resulting in an apathetic population and a half-hearted Gospel zeal by the Christians. But persecution is coming. If the Rapture does not occur soon, we will feel it. Already, the devil’s cohorts in the so-called civil rights and homosexual movements have us in their bomb sights.
As we near the time of our persecution, will we be found as faithful as the dear folks in Smyrna? -Jim MacIntosh