Jesus had a simple message for the believers in Smyrna that is needed by American Christians today: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer” (Rev. 2:10).  Do we doubt our Lord’s ability to preserve us under trial?  Do we question his willingness to support us under unjust oppression?  Then of what are we afraid?  Jesus’ message to Smyrna reminds us that we have every reason for confidence and joy if we are given the privilege of suffering for his name. 

As the Supreme Court deliberates on the question of homosexual marriage, American Christians are bracing for a level of government persecution yet unknown to us.  The fear is that with homosexuality declared a constitutional right, opposition will officially be akin to racism.  Under such a ruling, Christian institutions who refuse to grant homosexual rights may be subjected to official oppression and lose their tax exempt status as non-profit institutions.  Even churches may lose their tax-free status if they refuse to permit marriages between two men or two women.  This would deal a heavy financial blow and may be a precursor to the removal of our religious freedoms, so that public speech against moral perversion becomes a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Christians who know the book of Revelation will notice a striking parallel between this potential situation and that which Jesus described to the church of Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11.  This ancient city was a jewel on the Aegean Sea, the chief city of the Roman province of Asia.  With over 200,000 residents, it was noted for its historical loyalty to the Roman empire.  In the year 26 a.d., the city even competed for and won the honor of erecting a temple to the emperor Tiberius and was famed for its commitment to the Roman imperial cult.  As such, the church there was vulnerable to the persecutions that the emperor Domitian was about to unleash on those who would not bow to his supposed deity.

Of the seven letters to the churches of Revelation, the one to Smyrna is the shortest.  It contains no rebukes, but reveals Christ’s close familiarity with the sufferings they had and were about to experience: “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander. . . . Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison” (Rev. 2:9-10).  The word tribulation means pressure of great oppression.  Already, the Christians of this city were financially impoverished, probably because participation in social and economic life was forbidden to those not willing to worship Caesar as Lord.  Jesus is not speaking of a mere removal of tax-exempt status, but the word for “poverty” means a crushing situation in which even basic needs cannot be met.  Their situation reminds believers today that this kind of persecution should not be unexpected by those who name Jesus as Lord.

A second form of persecution took the form of slander, which Jesus says was coming from the Jewish community, who did not want to lose their privileged status by association with the Christians.  We know that Christians in the early church were falsely accused of drowning their children and eating human flesh, wrongly associated with the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  This form of persecution is currently escalating against Christians in America, as we are accused of “hate crimes” because of our moral stance against homosexuality.    Jesus warned that more persecution would soon come: “Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison.”  When he adds, “Be faithful unto death,” it seems that some at least would also be slain (Rev. 2:10).

As Christians brace for official oppression in America, Jesus’ words to Smyrna offer a great hope.  Primarily, Jesus declares his sovereignty over such tribulation.  We see this in his ability to foretell these events.

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