The Beast out of the Earth

Revelation – The letter to the persecuted church in Smyrna

The letter to the persecuted church in Smyrna in Revelation

We move on to the second of the seven letters in Revelation.  This time the letter to the persecuted church in Smyrna.  Jesus has good things to say about the church in Smyrna.  It’s a bit harder to determine whether there’s any bad news in here – at least the kind of bad news that the church in Ephesus received.  There were certainly warnings.  But whether things would actually turn out “badly” was dependent on how well the people in that church listened to and carried out what Jesus said.

The letter to the persecuted church in Smyrna in Revelation More

persecute - prison cell - specifically, persecution of Christians

But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you

“But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you.”  

This is something most Christians would have read.  Hopefully, we also remember.  But, do we really believe it?  Maybe we believe it, as long as it’s for someone else and not for us.  You know -NIMBY – not in my back yard.  Or even in my neighborhood.  

The thing is, Jesus said this would happen.  As Christians, how are we supposed to respond when Christians are persecuted?  Let’s start by getting some context for the opening line.

But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you More

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