Laodicea > The Apostate Church 1900-? A.D.

                         (2 Timothy 1:7)

     The Persecuted Church 100-313AD

Church=Hebrew is ecclesia and means called out ones

Church=Greek is Ekklesia and means called out ones

The Church dispensation (age) for New Testament believers began on the day of Pentecost as the Spirit began to call out and unite believers (1Cor 12:13) into one body, building the church, and will end its called out purpose with the completeness of believers with a translation.

Revelation 2:8-11 contexts and contents are seven churches that were in Asia Minor. John was commissioned to write what he saw in a book and send it to the seven churches in Asia. John wrote letters to these 7 churches located in Asia at that time to tell these churches the things which were revealed to him concerning conditions that existed in these 7 selected churches. These 7selected church conditions of diminishing love, fear of suffering, doctrinal compromise, moral compromise, spiritual death, failing to advance, and lukewarmness represent spiritual conditions existing in our churches for today.

The church letter we are looking at today is Smyrna at Revelation 2:8-11, the church Smyrna was located about thirty five miles north of Ephesus. Smyrna was a rich and beautiful commercial city in Asia Minor and recognized by Rome as it loyal ally and a center of emperor worship. These believers were persecuted and often lost their means of livelihood as a result of their commitment to the Lord. Making a public confession of their faith meant poverty, hunger, imprisonment and sometimes death. 

The word lets us know in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  

The Smyrna church believers had suffered much for Christ

The Smyrna church had been slandered by those from the synagogue of Satan

Satan had imprisoned some of them 

Smyrna @2:8

Commendation: Rev 2:9

Rebuke: None

Warning: Rev 2:11

Exhortation Rev 2:10

Comfort Rev 2:11(Promised Reward)

The church of Smyrna was commended for being spiritually rich and was told to fear none of those things that they should suffer. Jesus exhorted them to be faithful unto death that he will give them a crown of life. Jesus exhorted them by saying He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.

                                           Dr.Tinch