The Seven Churches of Revelation: Smyrna

What in the world is going on? I don’t know, but do you know who does? Jesus! Look at Revelation 2:8

Revelation 2:8 KJV 1900

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;

Jesus is speaking with authority in this passage! How do we know this? Because of the way He introduces Himself:

The first and the last -

First = foremost, beginning, chief, or best. The word is “protos”, from where we get our word “prototype”.

Last = having the idea of the farthest, the last, or the uttermost. It is a reference to time. The word is “eschatos”, we get the word “eschatology” from this, meaning the doctrine of “last things”.

With these two words, Jesus is affirming His eternality - He is first because He is before all things! He is last because He is the fulfillment of all things! Therefore He can speak with authority in every period of life.

Also Jesus tells us He is “was dead” = past tense…but He “is alive” = present tense!

Amen! we serve, not a dead God, but a living God! We serve not a man that died, but a God that lives!

I can’t imagine what a comfort these words would have been to the church at Smyrna. Look at verses 9-10 with me...

Do you know what Jesus was trying to get across to this church? “Hey, I know what you’re going through, but take courage! I’ve been there before.”

We need to be reminded today that no matter what we are facing, Jesus has been there before!

Aren’t you glad you don’t walk through this life alone? Aren’t you glad that you don’t face trials alone? Aren’t you glad today that no matter what you are facing now, no matter what will come your way tomorrow, Jesus has been there before? I’m glad today that Jesus knows what I’m facing.

Consider everything the church at Smyrna was facing...

The Church was Facing Tribulation - Jesus had Been There Before v. 9a

We are not talking here about what we call the “great tribulation”. No, were still in the section of Revelation dealing with the “present” the “things which are”. How do we know the tribulation hasn’t taken place yet? Becasue we are still here. The church will be raptured before the tribulation period, if you need help with that truth see me after the service.

The word tribulation has the idea of

Being under pressure

The picture here is of a man being executed by having a large boulder placed upon him

Slowly the weight of the great rock crushes the man suffocating him

Those Christians in Smyrna were not having an easy time

Church, tribulation is coming.

Churches in America are already “under pressure”

For years churches have been under pressure from the culture to change with whatever the current trend is.

It is no different now. It is only going to get worse

For the early church, such as Smyrna, the pressure was to turn away from their new religion and turn back to paganism

Church, it is the same today! Society is calling on Christians to forsake their faith in God and trust in the Bible and to turn to a godless form of paganism, to worship the creature, but not the Creator.

Jesus had been there before

Satan tried to pressure Jesus to step away from the path of God and onto the path of self indulgence Matthew 4:3 “3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”

Jesus was pressured by His family to prove Who He was John 7:3 “3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.”

There is also a physical aspect to tribulation...

Being afflicted, in anguish, or persecuted - and Jesus had been there before!

Jesus is no stranger to tribulation. His was a life of anguish and affliction. Just for a moment consider what He endured on the cross? In the face of possible tribulation, I’m glad today that I can say, Jesus has been there before!

I’m glad that in my suffering, Jesus knows what it is like.

He knows what it is like to lose a loved one - Lazarus

He knows what it is like to be betrayed - Judas

He knows what it is like to be forsaken - Israel/disciples

He knows what it is like to feel alone - the cross, the darkness

Christian you may face tribulation in this life, but rejoice because you know Jesus has been there before! The church was facing tribulation, and ...

The Church was facing poverty - Jesus had been there before v. 9b

There are two Greek words translated into English as poverty. One has the meaning of “Penury” and describes a man who must work for a living, simply to make ends meet. He is poor. He has not luxuries, just what he needs to get by.

The other word translated as “poverty” could be rightly translated as “beggary”. The word refers to one who has nothing to their name. No job. No money. Nothing to buy food with. One who is on the brink of starvation.

Do you care to guess which word is used here?

Church, Jesus knows what it is to be poor! Matthew 8:20

Matthew 8:20 KJV 1900

20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Hallelujah!

Jesus knows what it is to not just be poor, but to be destitute. He left the throne room of heaven, and came to earth to die for the poorest species in the entire universe, mankind! The song writer put it this way:

He left the splendor of heaven Knowing His destiny Was the lonely hill of Golgotha There to lay down His life for me

If that isn't love The ocean is dry There's no stars in the sky And the sparrow can't fly

If that isn't love Then heaven's a myth There's no feeling like this If that isn't love

In this life you may do without, you may suffer great loss, you may lose everything you have on earth, but praise God you will never lose what has been given you in heaven! Jesus tells this begging, impoverished church that they are rich!

Rich = abounding with wealth! Rich beyond imagination! Ephesians 2:4-7

Ephesians 2:4–7 (KJV 1900)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Verse 4, “God who is rich” = same word used for the church in Smyrna! Verse 7, ‘Riches’ = wealth beyond imagination!

If the stock market crashes tomorrow, if you lose your job, if you lose your health, if you face poverty you can rejoice in knowing that Jesus has been there before! If you are in Jesus you are richer than you could ever possibly hope to imagine!

Smyrna was facing tribulation, they were facing poverty, and...

The Church was facing opposition -Jesus had been there before v. 9c-10a

Those in Smyrna claiming to be God’s people (Jews) but were agents of the devil, were blaspheming the Christians there.

Blasphemy = vilification.

These opposed the Church in Smyrna casting some of them into prison, sending some of them to court, and adding pressure to their fragile situation. I want to list three things we often focus on:

“Thou shalt suffer”

“The devil shall cast some of you into prison...”

“Ye shall have tribulation”

What we should be focused on instead:

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer”

2 Tim. 1:7 “7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Psalm 27:1 “1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 56:3 “3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

“The devil shall cast some of you into prison…thou shalt have tribulation ten days...”

Ten days = it’s only for a short time. Aren’t you glad this life is temporary? Eternity is forever!

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

This church was going through it. How dare we think that we are the only ones to ever face difficult times. The church was facing tribulation, the church was facing poverty, the church was facing opposition, and lastly we see...

The Church was facing death -Jesus had been there before v. 10b-11

“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

This world may cause you pain, may take away your wealth, may stand against you every step of the way, this world may take your life, but it can never take away your home in heaven!

Dr. Richard Jones used to tell us in theology:

Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once!

Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t want to die, no healthy normal person does. But I will never understand a Christian who is afraid of death. What Jesus was trying to get across to the believers in Smyrna was that death was nothing to be afraid of. How could He possibly know? There is an empty tomb in Jerusalem to answer that question!

If you serve the living Savior, you have no reason to fear death. If you know Jesus as your Savior you have no need to ever fear the second death.

Conclusion:

Church, no matter what you face tomorrow, I want you to remember, Jesus has been there before.

Let us pray...

Every head bowed, every eye closed today. No body looking around, if you know Jesus as your Savior will you raise your hand in testimony! If you’re glad that you will never walk in a situation He hasn’t walked before you go ahead and raise both hands.

Today, I wonder if you would be honest with yourself. You do not know 100% that if you died today you’d go to heave, but you are 100% sure you do not want to go to hell…would you raise your hand?

Right where you are you don’t have to come forward, but right where you are would you admit to God you’re a sinner in need of forgiveness, you cannot save yourself. From your hear today you believe that Jesus died for you, right now will you call on Him to forgive you. He will save your soul right now.