ACC ~ Revelation 2 v8 - 11

OVERVIEW:

Jesus, who is true God and true man, addresses the church at Smyrna (OECUMENIUS). He speaks to every church that is poor in spirit and despises the wealth of the present age (APRINGIUS, ANDREW OF CAESAREA, PRIMASIUS). Nonetheless, Christians are rich, for they have a wealthy patron in Christ who for us became poor (OECUMENIUS). Therefore, Christians are wealthy in the things of the Spirit (ANDREW OF CAESAREA) and possess the riches of faith and blessing (APRINGIUS).

Meanwhile, the church does suffer under those who have failed to confess Christ (OECUMENIUS) and who will be instruments of the antichrist (VICTORINUS). Moreover, the church suffers much because of false Christians who are Jews within the church since they are pious only on the outside (TYCONIUS). Yet, the church will suffer until the end of time, for the devil will always persecute the church through the impious, the heretics and finally the antichrist (APRINGIUS, PRIMASIUS). The devil will also attack the church throughout the present age by bringing her into temptation, just as he did against Adam, who fell, and against Christ, who withstood the threefold temptation (PRIMASIUS). The sufferings of the present age, however, will not compare with the perpetuity of future blessedness (APRINGIUS), and so Christians should remain faithful to the end in faith, love, and holiness (PRIMASIUS), as did the martyrs and the confessors who received a crown of life (CYPRIAN). Through such faithfulness the justification of forgiveness and conversion will issue into the glorification of eternity (FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE) and into freedom from the results of sin (OECUMENIUS). For through the tree of the cross Christ has conquered death, which was the gift which Adam gave to posterity by eating of the forbidden tree (PRIMASIUS).

2:8a | Write to the Angel of the Church in Smyrna

CHRIST EXHORTS TO ENDURANCE IN PERSECUTION. BEDE: He speaks to this church concerning the endurance of persecution, and to this the name also corresponds. For “Smyrna” may be rendered “myrrh,” which designates the mortification of the flesh. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 2.8.

2:8b | The First and the Last

BY DEATH HE PUT DEATH TO DEATH. OECUMENIUS: The Lord calls himself “first” because of the essence of his deity but calls himself “last” because of the incarnation and the economy of the flesh. “Who was dead,” he says, “and came to life.” He who came into the trial of death, he says, by death put death to death. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.8-11.

2:9 | I Know Your Suffering and Poverty

YOU PERSEVERE THROUGH SLANDER. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: The next letter shows the following manner of life and habit of another group. And so he says, “I know you that you are poor and labor, but you are rich.” For he knows that for such persons there are hidden riches with him. [And he knows] the slander of the Jews, whom he denies that they are Jews, but rather a synagogue of Satan, for they are gathered together by the antichrist. That they might persevere even to death, he says to them: “Whoever will persevere, will not be harmed by the second death,” that is, he will not be punished in hell. COMMENTARY OF THE APOCALYPSE 2.2.

RICH IN FAITH AND BLESSINGS. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: He praises the works of his church, for through many tribulations she contends for the kingdom. He indicates expressly the grace of poverty, because [the church] despises very much the things of the present time, so that she might acquire future things. “But you are rich.” You are rich in faith and are filled with an abundance of blessings. “And you are slandered by those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” For the church often sustains much insult from those who claim that they confess God, but do not confess him. Rather, their congregation is bound to the devil as its source. For that reason, he exhorts his church not to fear those who kill the body, but afterward have nothing which they can do. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.9.

SOME SAY THEY ARE JEWS BUT ARE NOT. OECUMENIUS: “I know your tribulation and your poverty”—indeed, you do not speak, as do the wicked Jews, who say, “Why have we fasted, and you did not notice it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you paid no heed?” But “you are rich,” he says, since you have Christ as a wealthy patron, although indeed for us he became poor, “taking the form of a slave.” “and the blasphemy” of those falsely called “Jews.” Judah means “confession,” and Israel means “those who spiritually see God.” Therefore, those who are true Jews and the spiritual Israel would be those who confess Christ. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is the circumcision which is outward and physical” pleasing to God, as Paul says, “rather, he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and the circumcision is a matter of the heart,” not of the flesh. For that reason, those who have remained Jews in unbelief are a blasphemous synagogue, under the leadership of Satan. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.8-11.

RICH IN THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: In the things of the flesh you have tribulation and poverty, which you endure for my sake, being beaten by unbelievers and being deprived of present goods. But in the things of the Spirit you are rich, for you have the “hidden treasure in the field” of your heart. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.9.

FALSE CHRISTIANS ALSO INHABIT THE CHURCH: TYCONIUS: He speaks to every church that is poor in spirit yet possesses all things, as the apostle says, “as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” “And you are slandered by those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Here certainly it is shown that he was not speaking only to a special church, for it was not only at Smyrna where there were or are Jews who slander. However, it is possible that there is a double meaning of “Jews” here, either those who are openly Jews outside or those who are Jews within [the church], that is, false Christians. For religiosity is characteristic of the Jews, as the apostle says, “He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal.” And again he says, “We are the circumcision who worship God in spirit, and put no confidence in the flesh.” Nor ought we ourselves to abandon those [in the church] when they are even called a synagogue of Satan. For we know that the Lord has presented us with an example of longsuffering by tolerating Judas even unto the end. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.9.

2:10a | Do Not Fear What You Will Suffer

DO NOT FEAR THE TORTURES OF PERSECUTORS. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: He speaks of those future trials and evils which will come upon them from the impious, and he comforts his faithful, that they not be fearful of the tortures of the persecutors. And he indicates what they would be strong enough to suffer and what the enemy would be able to do. … For, just as in the early period of the catholic church, after the banishment of the apostle, whose sayings these are, the sufferings continued and many tribulations were inflicted upon the church, so we know that also in the future more [sufferings] will be inflicted when the antichrist arrives, although even now the church often sustains many sufferings in various places and regions from heretics and from native populations. TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.10

2:10b | You Will Have Tribulation for Ten Days

PRESENT SUFFERING, FUTURE BLISS. APRINGIUS OF BEJA: But he says, “You will have tribulation for ten days.” This is to say, should you consider the present evils which you suffer in comparison to the perpetuity of the future blessedness, you will regard these without doubt as small and as quickly transient as though of ten days duration. And therefore, the apostle said: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” TRACTATE ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.10.

TEN REPRESENTS THE COURSE OF THE PRESENT LIFE. PRIMASIUS: “Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.” These words are fitting for the universal church, against whom the devil is always waging war with unavoidable hostilities. And for this reason the course of the present life is signified by the ten days, since in the Decalogue there exists in brief form a summary of the law. For here are the required divine commandments where there is need for continence. For this reason also the Lord said, “Agree with your accuser,” that is, the law, “while you are with him in the way of this age.” In this way he indicates the entire time when, with the law instructing you, there is conflict against the manifold allurements of desire, so that when the five physical senses are subdued through the grace of God, victory is achieved. And when duplicated on account of the twofold sexes, the five senses become ten.

I also think that the ten days may be interpreted as the total course of this life in which there will never fail to be a threefold temptation for the faithful. For “the life of man upon the earth is a trial,” and this is so as the seven days pass by and continue to pass by until the whole time of the present life is unfolded. The devil was permitted to bring this temptation even upon our Lord Jesus Christ as the head of the church. This spiritual battle of the church of Christ is further indicated in the figure of a woman who is in struggle. For the Lord said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman. She will watch your head, and you will lie in wait for her heel.” It is, therefore, clearly recognized that in this age, which is completed in the course of seven days, the church of Christ is subjected to various trials. These receive their most powerful and principal expression in the three sins, in the passion of fleshly desire and the unrestrained gluttony of forbidden excesses.

The enemy attempted to deceive the Lord by way of bread, as though he were a second Adam, since he had given the first Adam a draught of death when he persuaded him to taste what was forbidden to humankind. And so by rendering the first Adam a captive to the belly, he intended to bind him in addiction also to other desires of the flesh. And the enemy was also allowed to attack the Lord with the temptation to vainglory when he exhorted him to throw himself headlong from the pinnacle of the temple, adding the witness of the psalm which says, “He has given his angels charge over you” and the following. And just as the enemy had deceived the first man with the suggestion, “You shall be like gods knowing good and evil,” so he exhorted the Lord to throw himself down incautiously out of the desire to display the deity which he had laid aside. And the enemy tempts also a third time through which it is indicated that greed for the glory of earthly kingdoms and the pomp of worldly wealth must be condemned. When this threefold temptation is added to the times of this life, which are indicated by the seven days, the number ten is fulfilled, and for this reason it is said, “for ten days you will have tribulation.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.10.

2:10c | Be Faithful unto Death

CONFESSORS ARE TO BE HONORED EVEN AS MARTYRS ARE. CYPRIAN: Let very willing vigilance and care be bestowed, moreover, upon the bodies of all who, although they have not been tortured, yet depart from the prison by the glorious exit of death. Neither their valor nor their honor is less that they themselves should not be among the blessed martyrs. They have endured, as far as it is in their power, whatever they were prepared and ready to endure. In the eyes of God, the one who offered himself to torments and to death suffered whatever he was willing to suffer. For he himself did not fail the torments, but the torments failed him. “He who has acknowledged me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father,” says the Lord. They have acknowledged him. “He who has persevered even to the end, he will be saved,” says the Lord. They have their virtues incorrupt and immaculate. And again it is written: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” They endured even unto death, faithful and steadfast and invincible. When to our wish and to our confession in prison and in chains is added also the end of dying, the glory of martyrdom is consummated. LETTER 12.1, TO PRIESTS AND DEACONS.

THE CHURCH MUST ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL. PRIMASIUS: These words pertain to the entire church. For also the apostle teaches this when he speaks of Adam and says, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” And thereupon he indicated the church by moving to figurative speech, saying, “She will be saved through the bearing of sons, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with modesty.” No one believes that this is spoken of a woman who is dead, and not rather of the church of Christ. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.10.

2:11 | One Who Conquers Is Not Hurt by the Second Death

THE GRACE OF JUSTIFICATION IS COMPLETED IN THE PERFECT GLORIFICATION. FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE: This then is done in them through grace so that the change brought about by divine gift may begin in them here. The change begins first through justification, in which there is a spiritual resurrection, and afterwards, in the resurrection of the body, in which the change of the justified is brought to completion; the perfected glorification, remaining for eternity, is not changed. To this end, first the grace of justification, then the grace of glorification changes them so that the glorification itself remains, unchangeable and eternal in them. For here they are changed through the first resurrection by which they are enlightened that they may be converted. That is, they change from death to life by this, from iniquity to justice, from infidelity to faith, and from evil acts to a holy way of life. Therefore, the second death has no power over them. Concerning such people, it is said in the Apocalypse: “Blessed is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them.” Again it is said in the same book: “The victor shall not be harmed by the second death.” Therefore, just as the first resurrection is found in conversion of the heart, so the second death is found in eternal punishment. Let every person who does not wish to be condemned by eternal punishment of the second death hasten here to become a participant of the first resurrection. ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 2.12.3-4.

THOSE WHO OVERCOME TEMPTATION. OECUMENIUS: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” This is a very apt statement. For, while all, the just and the sinner alike, are subject to the first death, which is the separation of the soul from the body, so that the divine judgment might be enforced: “You are earth and to earth you will return,” those who have overcome temptations should not be harmed by the second death, which is the result of sin, and which the Lord specified when he said, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.8-11.

THE DEATH FROM ADAM IS OVERCOME IN THE VICTORY OF CHRIST. PRIMASIUS: “He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.” Having eaten of the forbidden tree, [Adam] procured this [death] for posterity. However, watering the tree of the cross by the water and blood which flowed from the holy place of his side, Christ caused the firstfruits of salvation to sprout up where he knew the original evil had arisen, saying, “Rejoice, I have overcome the world.” Thus, if anyone conquers, he will conquer in him. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 2.11.