Bible

[plugger]

G'Morn'g folks, the second church at Smyrna, the persecuted church. This writing only gets 3 verses, sometime short is much better than long winded messages. I can understand the church of yester-year, but trying to connect it to our churches of today can be scary.

Tribulation, or persecution and poverty were chief trials of the Christians of Smyrna. We have the Jews and their synagogues, the Christians church and the Roman authorities. Quite a mixture there. We know that the Jews did not like the Christian church so they would spread hate and discontent against the Christians by telling the Roman authorities bad stuff about the Christians, so it wasn't surprising that the Christians, although regrettable, would return the hostility and developed anti-semitism , so the the Jews of Smyrna were called a synagogue of satan. Remember that the Jews said to Jesus--"You are of your father the devil" (John 8).

(from John MAcAtthur Study Bible notes). Smyrna called the crown jewel of Asia, this ancient
city was the most beautiful in Asia Minor and the center of science and medicine. Smyrna's intense loyalty to Rome led to a strong emperor -worship cult. 50 years after the death of John, Polycarp, the pastor of the church at Smyrna was burned alive at the age of 86 for refusing to worship Caesar.....This made me think of how our Christian churches of today are under assault . Just something to think on.

I did not connect as well with this church as well as the 1st church from yesterday, however it did make me think on how our church of today is under attack, made me think of how instrumental the devil is in many of our church today, leading us to be more concerned with political correctness that the true gospel, then made me think on the fact that if I/we remain faithful to the gospel we have nothing to fear, all will be OK, in the view of eternity these few years here on earth is but a dot in the realm of time

Like I said at the beginning, this little church is but 3 verses, Revelation 2:8-11, only takes a couple of minutes to read, before reading ask God to kick your mind in gear and grant you understanding & wisdom.......God Bless