“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:8-11

Smyrna, (called Izmir today), is thought to be one of the oldest cities in the Mediterranean basin. Excavations have dated this city at 3,000 B.C. but is believed to have been settled much earlier. Smyrna developed into one of the wealthiest cities of the region and was in contention for the title “the first city” along with Ephesus and Myletus. Smyrna was also one of the ancient cities to claim Homer as their own.

One Greek legend says that like Ephesus, Smyrna was named by the mythical Amazons. Around the 8th century B.C. the Temple of Athens (goddess Athena) was the most important sacred place in the city of Smyrna. A lion was the symbol of ancient Smyrna and this symbol can be seen on Smyrna’s ancient coins.

Around 600 B.C. Alyattes invaded Smyrna and destroyed it. 300 years later, Alexander the Great rebuilt the city about 5 miles south of its original location. A new temple was constructed to Athena the Mother Goddess. Smyrna also built a temple for Roman pagan worship (goddess Roma) around 190 B.C. Eventually, Smyrna became a Roman territory in 133 B.C. Smyrna was chosen by the Emperor Tiberius in 23 A.D. as the place to build a temple in honor his mother and wife. This was a great honor for Smyrna, it brought great wealth to its inhabitants and the city greatly prospered.

Judaism was well organized in the first and second century. There was a definite hostility towards the early Christians living in Smyrna and elsewhere.

Jesus in Revelation 2:8a to Smyrna says “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;” Jesus is the one who conquered death. In this verse Jesus gives hope to the church in Smyrna for He knows what is coming, for in Him there is Hope. “…and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades”. Revelation 1:18

The first century Christians in Smyrna were poor but were rich in faith Revelation 2:9a “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)”. Tribulation and poverty were a part of the church of Smyrna. The Church was reminded that “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Smyrna and many of its people were prosperous, yet the church in Smyrna was poor. But Jesus reminds us all that faith in Christ is our hope and not worldly riches. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Many in today’s western church esteem material prosperity as a benefit of living in the will of God. Yet we know from the above scriptures, and others, that this is not necessarily the case. Our faith in Jesus and our relationship with Him is what gives us our strength to live in peace with ourselves, and to survive in this world.

“and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Jesus himself bore our sins upon the cross and endured the suffering and humiliation at the hands of these same type of people. We know from Matthew 26:59 “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;” Revelation 2:9b

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

We know that Satan is the accuser and works through men. Through the centuries Christians have suffered greatly even unto death. Today in other countries Christians are also suffering persecution and death. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) Jesus gives a promise to the church of Smyrna “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

The churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia were the only churches that were not rebuked by Jesus. They also were the only churches told to expect persecution. “Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

Jesus has promised us eternal life. Whatever sufferings, tribulations, and persecutions we endure for Him as we go through life worldly riches can never compare to what awaits us in eternity.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Revelation 2:12-17

Pergamos (Pergamum) was the most religious city in its day. Its inhabitants were known as the “chief temple-keepers of Asia”. The city was home to numerous idols (the “gods”). Emperor worship was a cult at home in Pergamum. Zeus, (the god of the sun), and Asklepios (the serpent god) were worshiped in Pergamum. Zeus’ symbol was also that of a serpent. It was in Pergamum that there was a throne-like alter to Zeus. It has been said that this throne was symbolic of the “Satan’s throne” reference in Revelation 2:13. Pergamum was also home to the temple of Aescuapius, the god of healing. Thousands of snakes inhabited this temple. People from all over came to the temple for healing. They would stay the night laying on the ground while the healing touch of snakes crawled over them. To this day, a staff entwined with serpents (the caduceus) is still used as a symbol of those in the medical field.

Jesus commended the church in Pergamum because it, “holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith”, even through the persecution that claimed the life of Antipas. However, Jesus pointed out that there were some amongst the church that encouraged idolatry (doctrine of Balaam) and tried to set into place a religious hierarchy to rule over the believers (doctrine of the Nicolaitians).

Jesus states that “thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” The doctrine of Balaam was one of compromise. The Israelites were enticed to make an alliance with the Moabites through intermarriage. This compromise with the Moabites led to idol worship and fornication. The Christians in Pergamos were living in a city that was corrupted with idol worship. There were those within the church that were trying to corrupt believers with the ways of idolatry. In spite of their environment, many Christians held steadfast. As Christians when we do not adhere to God’s Word and separate ourselves from the world, we become polluted by the world. When we begin to compromise on the Word of God we begin on a dangerous path to apostasy.

“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.” The doctrine of the Nicolaitanes was to “lord over the laity”. There were those within the church of Pergamos who tried to set up different classes of Christians in order to wield religious power over them. Jesus calls all believers to be kings and priests. We are not to adopt an ecclesiastical hierarchy such as the Roman Catholic Church, where believers must go through a church ruler or priest in order to receive from God. Jesus said if we wanted to become great, we must become least and the servant of all.

If we believe that the Bible is God’s Word, we know that compromise will water down that word. Many churches today are compromising God’s Word by blending it with worldly perspectives and materialism. These things can be stumbling blocks. Ecclesiastical hierarchies are used by many churches today to wield religious power over the body of Christ. by which they will rule over the church. Jesus has this to say to the compromising church: “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

(1) 2http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/webzine/clergyvoices/

(2) 2http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/webzine/artsculture/art-060224-bible-abortion.xml

(3) 2http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/webzine/artsculture/art-060224-bible-abortion.xml

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 1:1-7

The beginning of Ephesus is cloaked in many tales and fables. According to one legend, female warriors, known as Amazons, founded Ephesus. It’s name has been thought to derive from Apasas, a city in the Kingdom of Arzawa, which means the “City of the Mother Goddess.” This is interesting in that a temple was built in Ephesus that gained fame as being one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”. It was called the Temple of Artemis. The Greeks called this goddess Artemis, who protected wild animals and who roamed the woods with a band of women. She was also associated with the new moon with her twin being the god Apollo. An Ephesian coin bares the likeness of this temple with the inscription Neokoros (temple sweeper) of Artemis.

The Romans knew her as Diana who was worshiped as the goddess of fertility and motherhood. She was also known as the great mother. During the Roman period, a coin was minted promoting Artemis inscribed with the words “Diana of Ephesus.”

The first temple was built around 800 BC, and was destroyed and rebuilt many times. Herostratus, an Ephesian wanting to immortalize his name, burned the temple to the ground around 356 BC. Scopas of Paros, an architect and the most famous sculptor of his day was to built the last temple. Pliny the Elder, a historian, recorded that the temple was home to many works of art, including four bronze statues of Amazon women. “For over a thousand years this goddess with her temple provided a focal point for the rich religious, economic, and cultural life of her worshippers.” (Everett Blake and Anna Edmonds, Biblical Sites In Turkey, p. 119).

Ephesus was the commercial and goddess center of western Asia. It was the fourth largest city in the world behind Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. Ephesus was called the highway to Rome. It was one of the centers of philosophy in its day.

The city of Ephesus continued to grow and prosper. A prosperous business grew up comprised of artisans replicating the statues of Artemis. One man named Demetrius, a successful business owner, along with others gave a powerful speech. The crowd, all with one voice for about two hours chanted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” It it here where we meet the apostle Paul, at Ephesus, whose preaching had turned many to the Lord.

Ephesus and the religion of Diana were in decline. Ephesus and the temple were again destroyed about 262 AD, by a raid from the Goths, the temple never to be rebuilt again.

Today, Ephesus and the area where the temple stood remain a swamp land with a few huts lining the countryside. This great wonder of the world ceased to exist. In contrast, the gospel today is being declared worldwide.