Lesson 4 — Smyrna

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© 2009, www.lettersfromthelamb.com Smyrna Smyrna

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This is the fourth lesson of a series based on the book Letters From The Lamb. This lesson covers the second of the letters to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation, the letter to Smyrna

Transcript of Lesson 4 — Smyrna

Page 1: Lesson 4 — Smyrna

© 2009, www.lettersfromthelamb.com

SmyrnaSmyrnaSmyrnaSmyrna

Page 2: Lesson 4 — Smyrna

When the soldiers arrived at the house, the elderly man, Polycarp, received them as friends

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He insisted that they be well fed while he spent an hour in prayer

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What harm is there in saying Lord Caesar, and to sacrifice, and to save your life?

What harm is there in saying Lord Caesar, and to sacrifice, and to save your life?

I will not do what you advise

I will not do what you advise

On the way, Polycarp’s captors reasoned with him

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The stadium in Smyrna was full

when the governor tried Polycarp

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Consider your age.

Save yourself!

Renounce Christ.Consider your age.

Save yourself!

Renounce Christ.

Eighty and six

years have I

served himEighty and six

years have I

served him

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Consider your age.

Save yourself!

Renounce Christ.Consider your age.

Save yourself!

Renounce Christ.

and he never

did me wrongand he never

did me wrong

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Consider your age.

Save yourself!

Renounce Christ.Consider your age.

Save yourself!

Renounce Christ.

How can I now

blaspheme my

King who saved

me?

How can I now

blaspheme my

King who saved

me?

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Swear by the genius

of CaesarSwear by the genius

of Caesar

If you are so

vain as to think

that I would

swear by the

genius of

Caesar

If you are so

vain as to think

that I would

swear by the

genius of

Caesar

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Swear by the genius

of CaesarSwear by the genius

of Caesar

hear my free

confession: hear my free

confession:

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Swear by the genius

of CaesarSwear by the genius

of Caesar

hear my free

confession:

I am a Christian.hear my free

confession:

I am a Christian.

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I will have you burned

alive!I will have you burned

alive!

You threaten

fire that burns

for a moment

and is

extinguished

You threaten

fire that burns

for a moment

and is

extinguished

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I will have you burned

alive!I will have you burned

alive!

for you know

nothing of the

judgment to

come

for you know

nothing of the

judgment to

come

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I will have you burned

alive!I will have you burned

alive!

and the fire of

eternal

punishment

reserved for the

wicked

and the fire of

eternal

punishment

reserved for the

wicked

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Be faithful to the point of deathBe faithful to the point of death

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Smyrna•Considered the

most beautiful city in the province of Asia

•Competed with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title of “first city” of Asia

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•Izmir: over 3 million

•Destroyed in 600 b.c.; rebuilt ±200 b.c.

•Large colony of Jews; once contributed 10,000 denarii for beautification project in Smyrna

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Smyrna

•Early on, Smyrna aligned herself with Rome

•Free city

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Revelation 2:8-11

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• The First and the Last

• He who died and came back to life

• “I know…”

From the Risen Christ

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The Rich Poor Church

•The church had apparently suffered persecution already

•They were poor, possibly because of the persecution

•Yet Jesus says that this church is rich!

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Satan’s Synagogue•It seems that the Jews in

Smyrna were especially hostile to Christianity

•They took a leading role in Polycarp’s death

•They even broke the Sabbath to “zealously” gather wood for his fire

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The Coming Persecution

•The Christians were to be put in prison

•Usually a precursor to death

•This was to last 10 days

•Probably figurative

•A limited time of persecution

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He Who Conquers

•Be faithful to the point of death

•He who conquers shall not be hurt in the second death

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We need to learn We need to learn about true wealthabout true wealth

We need to learn We need to learn about life and deathabout life and death

We need to learn We need to learn about true wealthabout true wealth

We need to learn We need to learn about life and deathabout life and death

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He who has ears,let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches