Smyrna
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Intro
Intro
Are you prepared to suffer? Are you prepared to be afflicted? Are you prepared for tribulation? Are you prepared for persecution?
This morning, we are going to hear Jesus address the church of suffering.... the Church in Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 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. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
A little About Smyrna
35 miles ish to Ephesus - still exists today - Izmir in Turkey of about 3 million people
Fought for prominence - Their currency had inscribed on it “First in Asia”
- A proud and beautiful city, its coins were inscribed with the words “First of Asia in beauty and size” (Mounce, Revelation, 73
- Myrrh - in the Bible we find it is used perfume (Esther 2:12) and embalming (John 19:39) wine they offer Jesus on the cross (Mark 15:23)..... Given it can only be grown in this region.... it was extremely expensive.... $$$ wealth maker
Emperor cult - Statue with incense - just drop a speck in, Call Caesar Lord
Large Jewish population - They were not happy with the christians being lumped in with them..... They sought to separate themselves and the good standing with Rome in comparison to the new christians.... “Don’t lump them in with us!”
In this city.... the church suffered.... and as we hear these words from Jesus, we must see a few things about suffering.....
1. Experience Suffering by looking to Jesus
1. Experience Suffering by looking to Jesus
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Jesus is the First and the Last
No one is before Jesus
No one is after Jesus - He is eternal
Who do you want to look to for help..... What do you listen to? Where do you turn to help? the person who is eternal! Before all things and after all things!
Jesus died and came to life
If he was truly God the Son, it is much more startling that he should die than that he should rise again. Excerpt from: "Knowing God" by J. I. Packer. Scribd.
In the midst of Suffering, we must know Jesus who being fully God, became fully man and died and came back to life. It brings us a sure “HOPE” that it WILL be better by looking to Jesus....
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
Jesus is bigger, better, and more beautiful than any situation, suffering we may face.
Lose a job because of your faith
Lose family member relationship or friend relationship
The Smyrna christians would not declare Ceasar as Lord.... they wouldnt even take a pinch of incense and throw it on the fire....
You see imagery here of the faithful men in the book of Daniel!
How are you building your life? When storms of suffering come, affliction, persecution?
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Is your life built on Jesus? 20% on the rock? I’m doing good today.... about 50% on Jesus and about 50% on my retirement?
When the storms of life come, when suffering is at your door..... do you know the eternal Jesus and the savior who willingly died for you?
Who are you looking to? What are you looking to in the midst of your suffering? Do you see Jesus as your only hope!
2. Suffering is known by Jesus
2. Suffering is known by Jesus
Revelation 2:9–10 (ESV)
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer....
He knows the tribulation
- This word means - Affliction, persecution, suffering, literally being pressed
He sees it all that is what the word implies.... he sees, as the piercing eyes of chapter 1 will say
He knows the heart of his church.... the heart of the believers
Poverty yet rich..... Notice this isn’t a ploy for them to live their best life now..... just think positive, expand your vision :)
He knows the slander - Jews slandered them to Rome......They wanted the priveledge of being
A synagoge of satan! WHOA! - God’s enemies are against his kingdom.... a true Jewish person would see Jesus as their true king of the heavenly kingdom.....
DO NOT USE THIS AS A MEANS OF HATRED TOWARDS A GROUP OF PEOPLE.... Notice Jesus words are that he knows them, not that we
He knows the schemes of the devil -
The length is not outside of his control - The devil desires to steal, kill, and destroy.... but here he only gets 10 days......
Jesus didn’t show up and give them the coffee mug verse....He didn’t write a facebook post of condolences.... instead he writes to say that I KNOW!....
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
NOT A COFFEE MUG VERSE!..... Yes in times of suffering, and persecution.... a Christian will ask God why?.... and this verse gives us the truth found even here in Revelation 2.... Jesus knows!
“All shall work together for good: everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds.”
–John Newton, The Works of John Newton, Ed. Richard Cecil (London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1824), 2: 147.
If Jesus knows our suffering and persecution.... he is also using it as a test....
3. Suffering as testing from Jesus
3. Suffering as testing from Jesus
Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
10 ...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. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
GOD TESTS US
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Deut 8:2 Psalm 139 - try me and see Jeremiah 17 - God test the mind 1 Thes 2:4 - God examines our hearts
Jesus guarantees suffering and persecution
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
1. Suffering has a purpose - To reveal, refine, and reflect your faith in Jesus
Christians show the fruit of faith in their affliction
In the hills by this city.....Myrrh is harvested by tapping..... and the sap oozes out.... it hardens and then for it’s useful perfumes or medicinal purposes..... it is pressed under pressure....
Jesus is writing to the church in “Myrrh”..... and he says you will he afflicted and tapped..... You will be pressed and persecuted...... it has a purpose for your faith to be purified and shown to be true.
2. Suffering produces Courage in Christ to endure
- Do not fear - He is writing not for condolences.... he is writing for courage
How would the church in Smyrna have heard this?...... what was their gathering like on the first time this was read?.....
How do you hear this now?
The Command..... Be faithful til the end
Polycarp in Smyrna - Kissing the chains of Ignatius as he travels through the city to be martyred.... later the Jews of the town are grabbing more firewood than anyone else in the city to build a bonfire to throw Polycarp onto the pile.....
“You threaten me with fire that burns for an hour and in a little while is put out, for you do not know about the fire of the judgment to come, and the fire of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly. But why are you waiting? Bring what you will.” - Polycarp
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Can you this morning count it all joy? knowing the purpose of God in the trials, in the testing, in the suffering?
We in this room may never give our lives for believing in Jesus..... but do we fear suffering? Do we fear persecution? Do we fear affliction for our beliefs?.....
Promises
Promises
Revelation 2:10–11 (ESV)
10 … Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Crown of life
1) The Imperishable Crown – (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
2) The Crown of Rejoicing – (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
3) The Crown of Righteousness – (2 Timothy 4:8)
4) The Crown of Glory – (1 Peter 5:4)
5) The Crown of Life – (Revelation 2:10)
ALL of these crowns speak of our eternal reward with Jesus in heaven..... eternal life awaits us!
no second death
6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Eternal life awaits, and the punishment of eternal life in hell, the second death will not be there for you as a follower and believer in Jesus.
He who has an ear.... hear that this morning!
Conclusion
Do you believe in the First and the Last? the one who died and rose again?
Be courageous and be faithful to the end - my prayer for our church and for each one of us this morning!
Join our church, be baptized, need prayer to take the next step in your christian walk!