Unseen Wealth

Revelation 2:8–11 (NLT)

8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:

9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

INTRODUCTION:

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus has written some rather personal letters to seven churches. In these letters we find some practical counsel that we need to heed in order to experience the reviving work of the Lord in our midst. These seven letters deal with some issues that prevent the free flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our church.

In the first letter, the letter to the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7), the Lord points the finger at the problem of “Heartless Busy-Work.” Sometimes we carry out the work we do in and through the church out of a sense of obligation- devoid of any loving passion for the one who paid the supreme sacrifice for us - because of His love for us.

Today, we are looking at a church that was marked by just the opposite. The Church at Smyrna was a church that was marked with an “Unseen Wealth.” At least it was unseen by the physical eye. In fact, their loving devotion to Christ made them appear quite different to the Lord than they did to the world.

TS: Notice some facts about this “Unseen Wealth.”

I- UNSEEN WEALTH IS RECOGNIZED BY OUR GLORIOUS LORD. (Revelation 2:8)

Revelation 2:8 (NLT)

8 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:

“Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σμύρνῃ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος, ὃς ἐγένετο νεκρὸς καὶ ἔζησεν·”

A- Jesus never promised us an easy place to follow Him.

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna.”

1- The believers in Smyrna faced serious challenges.

a- Smyrna was a major center of Emperor worship.

b- Like other Roman cities, making a living was controlled by trade guilds (which required worship of pagan deities).

c- There was a sizable Jewish in the City, which was hostile to followers of Christ.

2- Believers in all ages need to hear the admonitions of the Lord from scripture:

(2 Timothy 3:12)

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

(John 15:18-20)

John 15:18–20 (NLT)

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.

B- Jesus reminds us of His authority and power.

“This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:”

1- Jesus has power and authority over time and eternity.

a- He identifies himself as “the first and the last” (ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος).

(1) ὁ πρῶτος = THE first - “first in a series involving time, space, or set—‘first.’”

(2) ὁ ἔσχατος = the last - “pertaining to being the last in a series of objects or events—‘last, final, finally.’”

2- He is the resurrected Lord, having power over death and life.

a- He is the one “who was dead but now is alive.” (ὃς ἐγένετο νεκρὸς καὶ ἔζησεν·)

(1) νεκρὸς= pertaining to being dead—‘lifeless, dead.

(2) ἔζησεν = “to come back to life after having once died—‘to come back to life, to live again, to be resurrected, resurrection.’”

(Matthew 28:18)

Matthew 28:18 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

II- UNSEEN WEALTH IS REVEALED IN THE MIDST OF OUR GREATEST TRIALS. (Revelation 2:9-10)

Revelation 2:9–10 (NLT)

9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

“ 9 Οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ, καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ. 10 μηδὲν φοβοῦ ἃ μέλλεις πάσχειν. ἰδοὺ μέλλει βάλλειν ὁ διάβολος ἐξ ὑμῶν εἰς φυλακὴν ἵνα πειρασθῆτε, καὶ ἕξετε θλῖψιν ἡμερῶν δέκα. γίνου πιστὸς ἄχρι θανάτου, καὶ δώσω σοι τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς.

A- Jesus knows the specifics about our lives.

““I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! “

“Οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν καὶ τὴν πτωχείαν, ἀλλὰ πλούσιος εἶ”

1- Jesus knows about our personal pain.

a- Jesus knew about the suffering of the Smyrna Christians at the hands of their oppressors.

(1) the believers had endured intense suffering (Οἶδά σου τὴν θλῖψιν)

(a) θλῖψιν= primarily means “a pressing, pressure”, trouble involving direct suffering—‘trouble and suffering, suffering, persecution.

2- Jesus knows about the depth of our spiritual life.

a- The Smyrna Christians had been reduced to poverty (πτωχείαν) as they followed Christ.

(1) πτωχείαν= a state of having insufficient possessions—‘poverty, destitution.

( Next comes poverty. John uses the strong word ptōcheia, which Trench distinguishes from penia: ‘The penēs has nothing superfluous, the ptochos nothing at all.’1 The poverty of the Smyrneans was extreme. Yet Christ can say you are rich (contrast 3:17). There is a richness in spiritual things which has nothing to do with this world’s wealth. Many think that the Smyrneans’ poverty was in part due to pillage of their goods by the Jews. Christianity was not legally permitted, which made it easy for Jews or pagans to take action against believers. When Polycarp was martyred at Smyrna somewhat later, the hostility of the Jews toward the Christians came out in their zeal in setting forward the execution. Though it was the sabbath, they gathered wood for the fire in which the martyr was burnt. Such hostility may well go back to the time when John wrote.)

b- Jesus states that they are spiritually rich (πλούσιος), in spite of their physical poverty.

(1) πλούσιος= pertaining to being rich—‘rich, wealthy, well-to-do.’

(James 2:5; 1 Cor. 1:26; 2 Cor. 6:10; 8:2)

James 2:5 (NLT)

5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

1 Corinthians 1:26 (NLT)

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

2 Corinthians 6:10 (NLT)

10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

2 Corinthians 8:2 (NLT)

2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

B- Jesus knows about the serious opposition that we face.

“I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.”

“καὶ τὴν βλασφημίαν ἐκ τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.”

1- Jesus knew all about the ringleaders of those persecuting His people.

a- They were blasphemers (βλασφημίαν)… speaking evil of Christ and his followers.

Like they did Paul (Acts 13:45)

Acts 13:45 (NLT)

45 But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

b- Jesus knew that these were Jews who were being incited by Satan.

“τῶν λεγόντων Ἰουδαίους εἶναι ἑαυτούς, καὶ οὐκ εἰσίν, ἀλλὰ συναγωγὴ τοῦ Σατανᾶ.”

(Romans 2:28-29)

Romans 2:28–29 (NLT)

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.

29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

(John 8:44)

John 8:44 (NLT)

44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

C- Jesus knows about the severity of the trials that lie ahead. (Revelation 2:10)

Revelation 2:10 (NLT)

10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

“μηδὲν φοβοῦ ἃ μέλλεις πάσχειν. ἰδοὺ μέλλει βάλλειν ὁ διάβολος ἐξ ὑμῶν εἰς φυλακὴν ἵνα πειρασθῆτε, καὶ ἕξετε θλῖψιν ἡμερῶν δέκα. γίνου πιστὸς ἄχρι θανάτου, καὶ δώσω σοι τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς.”

1- Notice the outlook for the Smyrna Christians:

(a) “you are about to suffer.” (μέλλεις πάσχειν)

(1) Godly living and suffering are linked together in scripture.

(2 Tim 3:12)

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

(Matthew 24:9)

Matthew 24:9 (NLT)

9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

(John 15:20)

John 15:20 (NLT)

20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.

(b) “The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you.”

(δοὺ μέλλει βάλλειν ὁ διάβολος ἐξ ὑμῶν εἰς φυλακὴν ἵνα πειρασθῆτε)

(1) Satan seeks to tempt us to fall...

(2) Satan was going to use the most extreme tests available.

He did so with the early disciples.

* The Apostles (Acts 5:17-21)

* Polycarp (ca. ad 69–155 or 81–167). An early church father and bishop of Smyrna

The Martyrdom of Polycarp was written not long after the time of the event (ca. 156) and was known to Irenaeus around 180. It describes the events of Polycarp’s martyrdom as follows. During a persecution at Smyrna he was found, arrested, and brought to the stadium by a police chief named Herod (6:1–2). When asked by the proconsul to “swear by the Genius of Caesar” (9:2), Polycarp replied, “For eighty-six years I have served [Christ], and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?” (9:3). He was soon afterward executed by burning, but when the flames would not consume his body, the executioner plunged a dagger into him. A mass of blood spurted forth from the wound, quenching the fire and amazing the crowd (16:1).

(c) “You will suffer for ten days.”

(1) The suffering will be intense, but it will also be limited.

2- Notice the admonition:

(a) “Don’t be afraid”

(1) The Lord uses this admonition many times in scripture.

(at least 66 times)

III- UNSEEN WEALTH IS REQUISITIONED FOR ETERNITY. (Revelation 2:11)

Revelation 2:11 (NLT)

11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

A- Jesus promises that spiritual wealth in this life leads to rewards for the Christian. (Revelation 2:10b)

Revelation 2:10b (NLT)

10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

1- The believer will be rewarded for faithfulness to Christ.

(a) The Crown of Life will be given by the Lord himself.

(James 1:12)

James 1:12 (NLT)

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

B- Jesus promises that Christians will inherit eternal life. (Revelation 2:11)

Revelation 2:11 (NLT)

11 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

“ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. ὁ νικῶν οὐ μὴ ἀδικηθῇ ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ δευτέρου.”

1- The believer needs to listen to the Lord’s message to the churches. (ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα )

a. ἀκουσάτω = “to listen or pay attention to a person, with resulting conformity to what is advised or commanded—‘to pay attention to and obey.”’

2- The overcomer is given a special promise - eternal life.

a. Who is “victorious?” (ὁ νικῶν)

(1 John 5:4) “defeats this evil world” = νικᾷ τὸν κόσμον

1 John 5:4 (NLT)

4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

(ὅτι πᾶν τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ νικᾷ τὸν κόσμον. καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ νίκη ἡ νικήσασα τὸν κόσμον, ἡ πίστις ἡμῶν· )

b. (Rev. 20:6)

Revelation 20:6 (NLT)

6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.

(1) Everyone who is born of God (born-again) will not be harmed by the second death!

CONCLUSION:

I- UNSEEN WEALTH IS RECOGNIZED BY OUR GLORIOUS LORD.

II- UNSEEN WEALTH IS REVEALED IN THE MIDST OF OUR GREATEST TRIALS.

III- UNSEEN WEALTH IS REQUISITIONED FOR ETERNITY.

Now we must ask ourselves some rather serious questions.

When the Lord looks at me does He see this “Unseen Wealth?”

Does this “Unseen wealth” exemplify itself during my trials?

What am I going to do to develop “Unseen Wealth” in my life?