Reading: James 1:2-12
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Polycarp was the pastor of the Church of Smyrna. A disciple of the Apostle John , he was reportedly the last person alive who personally knew the original Apostles. Around the year 155 A.D., Polycarp was told to make an incense sacrifice to the Emperor, as was the custom and law in Smyrna. Polycarp refused, saying, “Eighty-six years I have served him. How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour? Bring forth what thou wilt.”
According to tradition, Polycarp was sentenced to be burned at the stake. However, when the soldiers lit the flames, the fire did not touch him. Finally a Roman guard stabbed and killed Polycarp, and because of his fervent faithfulness, he is revered throughout all circles of Christendom.
Christian persecution is a central theme of the Book of Revelation. While Jesus warned Smyrna about the upcoming persecution, the threat that Rome would impose on the church applied to the entire church around the world. When John wrote that the persecution would last for 10 days, he was most likely giving a cryptic message indicating that their testing would occur for a period of time marked by 10. Scholars agree that the major persecution of the Christian Church by the Romans began with Nero and ended with Diocletian – about a 250 year persecution over the span of 10 emperors.
The final portion of this persecution, the Diocletianic persecution, was the most intense, lasting for 10 years (303-313 A.D.). The numbers of those martyred in those final 10 years are astounding. 17,000 martyred in one month, 144,000 Egyptian Christians martyred, 700,000 Christians were condemned to deplorable conditions, which later resulted in their deaths.
A sobering estimate of 70 million Christians have been martyred since the first century. Yet with all of those staggering numbers, many believe that the 20th Century saw more Christian martyrs than all of the previous centuries combined.
Why so many casualties among a people that professes finding peace with God? Jesus tells us in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
While we are fortunate to worship God freely in our country, there will be times where we may face subtle persecution. We need to be ready for it and stand firm in our faith. But while we are fortunate, there are Christians this very minute who are being executed for their faithfulness to Jesus. They are at an important crossroad, defending the faith in hostile areas, preaching the love of Jesus to a hating and hurting world. Take some time to pray for them, write a note of encouragement to them, and if you are able, generously support them financially.
But no matter what type of persecution we will face, we must remember Jesus’ words as He introduces Himself to Smyrna. “I am the First and the Last, the One who died and came to life.” Whatever opposition we face will not outlast our King and will stand in judgment before Him on the last day. Whatever we give of our lives now – whether it’s our time, money, energy, or even facing physical harm – we know that it’s for a better life to come. A line from a Christian rap song called “Hypnotized” comes to mind. “And you can beat me with a bat ‘til I’m dead, black and blue, my soul’s intact by the fact this ain’t my home. See, I’m just passin’ through.”
We have hope in another life that doesn’t just begin where this one ends. It begins the moment we believe. And though we face opposition for our faith in Jesus, our citizenship in Heaven means we are citizens of Him who is the First and Last, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We can therefore be confident of Jesus’ words in John 16:33, “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”