Sermon Tone Analysis

What in the world is going on?

I don’t know, but do you know who does?

Jesus!

Look at Revelation 2:8

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

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