DISPENSATION OF THE SMYRNA CHURCH

The Dispensation to Which the Smyrna Church Belongs

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive."

 

 This is indicated by the name, its meaning, and the general conditions.

The Name of the Church is Smyrna

It means Myrrh. It is mentioned in the Bible in con­nection with embalming. No wonder the mention of death is in this letter. It must be crushed in order for it to give forth its fragrance.

This church was indeed one which had to undergo persecution. It had to suffer tribulation, poverty, and blasphemy. As a part of the sufferings, some were thrown into prison and death. A prolonged period of persecution (ten days) was her lot.

This church represents the Period of Persecution from 96 A.D. to 311 A.D. It is noted that there were ten perse­cutions during that time, beginning with Emperor Domitian and ending with the last edict of Diocletion. For more than 200 years, the Roman Emperors turned all of their hatred and violence upon believers to rid the empire of them. But they still thrived.

It was in 155 A.D. that Polycarp suffered martyrdom at the age of 86 years. He was burned at the stake. He refused to recant and made a wonderful testimony as the flames were leaping up about him.

Perhaps no church thus crushed under the heel of perse­cution could provide a more fragrant testimony for the Lord than this church and period in church history. It remains to this day the absolute proof that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.