In this week’s study, I we begin with verse 8 in Chapter 2, the Church of Smyrna (myrrh). A city on the coast of Ionia, at the head of the gulf, having a well sheltered harbor; N. of Ephesus; beautified by Alexander the Great and Antigonus, and designated "the beautiful." The church here was one of the seven addressed by the Lord. Polycarp, martyred in A.D. 168, 86 years after conversion, was its bishop, probably "the angel of the church in Smyrna." The Lord's allusions to persecutions accord with this identification. The attributes of Him "which was dead and is alive" would comfort Smyrna under persecution. The idol Dionysus at Smyrna was believed to have been killed and come to life; in contrast to this lying fable is Yahshua Messiah's title, "the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive".
As death was to Him the gate of life, so it is to His people. Good "works," "tribulation," "poverty" owing to "spoiling of goods," while she was "rich" in grace (contrast Laodicea, "rich" in her own eyes and the world's, poor before Yahweh), were her marks. The Jews in name, really "the synagogue of Satan," blasphemed the Messiah as "the Hanged One." At Polycarp's martyrdom they clamored with the pagan for his being cast to the lions; the proconsul opposed it, but, impotent to restrain the fanaticism of the mob, let them He him to the stake; the Jews with their own hands carried logs for the pile which burned him. The theater where he was burned was on a hill facing the N. It was one of the largest in Asia. Traces of it may be seen in descending from the northern gateway of the castle. A circular letter from the church of Smyrna describes his martyrdom.
When urged to recant he said, "four-score years and six I have served the Lord, and He never wronged me; how then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?" The accuser, the devil, cast some of the Smyrna church into prison, and "it had tribulation ten days," a short term, whereas the consequent joy is eternal (many Christians perished by wild beasts or at the stake because they refused to throw incense into the fire to sacrifice to the genius of the emperor): a sweet consolation in trial. Ten is the number of the world powers hostile to the church (Rev.13:1). Yahshua Messiah promises Smyrna "a crown of life" (of righteousness," 1Petrer 5:4 "of glory") in reward for "faithfulness unto death."
Allow me to clear up some things before I begin. First of all you will hear me use the words Yahweh and Yahshua Messiah instead of God and Jesus Christ. I found out through the years that the word God may not necessarily mean the same to everyone. I personally like to use these words Yahweh and Yahshua Messiah. To me this puts me in a closer spiritual relationship with our Creator. I am not a so called Messianic Teacher! I come to realize that every time I inhale or exhale I am saying Yahweh. Try saying Yahweh and see if you are not inhaling and exhaling. After all we our created in His image!
My intention is to take this study to a deep level. Deeper than most of you are used to! I am asking no one to agree with me; however I do ask that you check every detail that I present out for yourself.
Don’t end up like those in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God (Elohim), I will also forget thy children.’
But, be like those in 2Timothy 2:15 ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God (Yahweh), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
Have any questions? Feel free to email me at utwoy@netzero.net
