Smyrna: Encouragement for a persecuted church
This journal article expounds on Revelation 2:8-11, Christ's letter of encouragement to the persecuted church at Smyrna, using the historical example of Polycarp's martyrdom to illustrate faithful endurance unto death. Barnhill connects the biblical promise of Christ's sustaining grace and the crown of life to the practical reality of believers facing persecution, offering comfort and exhortation for the persecuted church both in the early centuries and today.
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I...
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