THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA: THE POOR LITTLE RICH CHURCH (7 OF 39)
Scripture: REVELATION 2:8-11
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The Church at Smyrna: The Poor Little Rich Church (7 of 39)
Dr. James Merritt
Revelation 2:8-11
Introduction
1. The name smyrna has a very interesting meaning. It is the greek word for myrrh. You remember in the gospel of matthew how the wise men came to the lord jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The greek word there is smyrna, and the word referred to a spice, a balm, a perfume.
2. Smyrna had a medical use in the days of jesus. Do you remember when jesus was crucified someone came to him and offered him wine mixed with myrrh. It was also used to embalm people who had died, in the 19th chapter of john, when jesus was buried we are told that the disciples wrapped him in a long linen cloth in which they had placed many spices and myrrh. So the greek word smyrna literally refers to, a spice and a perfume that was sold in great quantities in the city of smyrna.
3. Now the city of smyrna itself is a very interesting city, and also gives us some clues as to the background of the letter that john wrote to this church. First of all, smyrna was a very refined city. It was one of the most beautiful cities in all the world. It was located at the head of the gulf of smyrna where the hills of asia minor overlooked the aegean sea.
4. It was a free city. That is, it had its own government. It did not have to pay tribute or tax to the roman empire. It was the birthplace of the greek poet homer. It was built and designed by alexander the great. It was, in that day, a model city.
5. The streets were wide, spacious and all of them were well paved. And they ran at perfect right angles, to each other from one end of the city to the other.
6. In fact, there is one street that became so famous that it was called the golden street. It began at the sea and ran all the way through the entire city, it was a magnificent street that was lined with various temples dedicated to the many gods of that day. On one side would be a temple to the g ...
Dr. James Merritt
Revelation 2:8-11
Introduction
1. The name smyrna has a very interesting meaning. It is the greek word for myrrh. You remember in the gospel of matthew how the wise men came to the lord jesus and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The greek word there is smyrna, and the word referred to a spice, a balm, a perfume.
2. Smyrna had a medical use in the days of jesus. Do you remember when jesus was crucified someone came to him and offered him wine mixed with myrrh. It was also used to embalm people who had died, in the 19th chapter of john, when jesus was buried we are told that the disciples wrapped him in a long linen cloth in which they had placed many spices and myrrh. So the greek word smyrna literally refers to, a spice and a perfume that was sold in great quantities in the city of smyrna.
3. Now the city of smyrna itself is a very interesting city, and also gives us some clues as to the background of the letter that john wrote to this church. First of all, smyrna was a very refined city. It was one of the most beautiful cities in all the world. It was located at the head of the gulf of smyrna where the hills of asia minor overlooked the aegean sea.
4. It was a free city. That is, it had its own government. It did not have to pay tribute or tax to the roman empire. It was the birthplace of the greek poet homer. It was built and designed by alexander the great. It was, in that day, a model city.
5. The streets were wide, spacious and all of them were well paved. And they ran at perfect right angles, to each other from one end of the city to the other.
6. In fact, there is one street that became so famous that it was called the golden street. It began at the sea and ran all the way through the entire city, it was a magnificent street that was lined with various temples dedicated to the many gods of that day. On one side would be a temple to the g ...
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