Smyrna: The Church Under Roman Persecution [100-313 AD]
Revelation 2:8-11
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 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.
10 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 will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
As Christianity grew, the Roman authorities paid more attention to its converts. The localized first-century persecutions became more widespread during the second and third centuries, eventually becoming a matter of public policy throughout the empire.
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No historical evidence demonstrates that Marcus Aurelius was personally responsible for the widespread Christian persecution that occurred while he was emperor in the mid-second century.[i] However, the persecution which coincided with his reign was particularly intense.[ii] John Fox, in his Fox’s Book of Martyrs, wrote, “Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Verus, who began the fourth persecution, in which many Christians were martyred, particularly in several parts of Asia, and in France. Such were the cruelties used in this persecution, that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the intrepidity of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells, etc. others were scourged till their sinews and veins lay bare; and after suffering the most excruciating tortures, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.”[iii]
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Although this period of suffering ultimately subsided, persecution soon returned with more severe violence. In the third century, emperors became the driving force behind the oppression of Christians. In 249 AD, Emperor Decius, who reigned for only two years, required all inhabitants of the Roman Empire to make a sacrifice to the god Jupiter. At this point, the persecution of Christians evolved from localized to empire-wide. Many Christians across the empire refused to sacrifice to a pagan god and were tortured or executed. Others went into hiding to avoid choosing between angering God or Rome. The effect of the edict on the Christian community was deeply felt, and many recanted their faith out of fear.[iv] Emperor Trebonianus Gallus, who reigned from 251 to 253 AD, would also persecute Christians, although on a smaller scale. The persecution during Gallus’ reign was possibly limited to exiling the community’s religious leaders.
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Like Decius, Emperor Valerian required Christians to sacrifice to Roman gods and ordered the deaths of Christian leaders. This posture of persecution would persist until Valerian was captured in battle and his son and successor, Gallienus, repealed his edicts.[v]
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At the start of the fourth century, Diocletian began another persecution of Christians, which lasted from February 303 until February 313 AD. Due to its ruthlessness, the decade-long Diocletianic Persecution, also called the Great Persecution, is generally considered the worst Christian persecution in the history of the Roman Empire.[vi]
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The verses dedicated to the Smyrna church and its corresponding church age are directly connected to these persecutory events. Jesus tells Smyrna he knows their works, tribulation, and poverty. While the Christians in Smyrna exhibited good works as Christians, they faced considerable hardships. They were rich in Christ, but financially poor due to the oppression they faced.
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John then mentions the tribulation the Smyrnaeans would face a second time, telling this church it would “have tribulation ten days.” Since this is a prophecy, ten days means ten calendar years—the same length as Diocletian’s persecution. Although many Christians suffered horrific earthly deaths, Jesus promised that they would be rewarded with a “crown of life.” He advised his followers that if they were faithful to him until the end of their lives, they would not suffer a second, spiritual death.
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[i] Altares, Guillermo. 2022. Massacring Christians: A stain on the legacy of Marcus Aurelius as Rome’s ‘enlightened emperor’. August 20. Accessed September 27, 2023. https://english.elpais.com/culture/2022-08-20/massacring-christians-a-stain-on-the-legacy-of-marcus-aurelius-as-romes-enlightened-emperor.html.
[ii] Bibliowicz, Abel Mordechai. 2016. Jewish-Christian Relations: The First Centuries, 42. Jacksonville, FL: Movement Publishing.
[iii] Fox, John. 1824. “Fourth Primitive Persecution.” In Fox’s Book of Martyrs, 14. Sherwood, Jones, and Co.
[iv] Rives, James. 1999. “The Decree of Decius and the Religion of Empire.” In The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 89 135-154.
[v] Bowman, Alan K., Peter Garnsey, and Averil Cameron. 2005. The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. XII. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[vi] Gaddis, Michael. 2005. There Is No Crime for Those Who Have Christ: Religious Violence in the Christian Roman Empire, 29-67. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press.