Conquering the Fear or Pain & Death

The Church in Smyrna Intro: In just four years in the mid 1500’s Mary the 1st, better known as “Bloody Mary” condemned at least 288 people to be burned at the stake for their faith in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Of these 1 was the Archbishop of Canterbury, 4 bishops, 21 clergy, 54 women, 4 children, and some 200 plus were simply laymen who held to the authoritative teaching of the Scriptures. Beyond these 288 who met their death at the stake there were an additional 100 who died in prison before making it to their day of execution. These were men and women who, when faced with the prospect of denying their Savior or dying for their Savior chose the later with resolute conviction. These were men and women, many of whom, when they drew near their place of execution either embraced the stake or kissed the wood gathered to ignite their pyres knowing that these were going to usher them into glory. These were men and women who even given one last chance with the fires lit and the smoke rising, refused to recant knowing Whom they had believed. In the second of our 7 Churches we find a grave situation facing the recipients of this letter. They were under attack, suffering for their faith, facing imprisonment and the possibility of death.

And so Jesus wrote to encourage them to stay the course, to remain faithful, to do as their spiritual descendants would later do under Mary’s reign and refuse to compromise no matter the cost. Jesus was giving these believers the blueprints for suffering well.

We’re starting to feel the rumbles of the approaching earthquake of secularism as it moves faster and faster toward the church in America. Right now we enjoy our freedoms as believers, but if we’re at all intellectually honest with ourselves we have to own the reality that we might not have these freedoms or rights for much longer. So we should pay close attention to what Jesus has to say in this letter. We should heed his words as we think about the future of this church plant, the future of our children or grandchildren, and what it’s going to look like for them to be a part of the church as we/they await the return of Christ. With that, turn in your Bibles to Revelation 2:9. Body: The City of Smyrna - Earliest evidence of civilization dates to about 1000 BC. - Destroyed by enemies in 600BC. - Rebuilt by the successors of Alexander the Great in 290 BC. - In 195 BC they built a Temple to Rome in the city. - In AD 26 they built a temple dedicated to the Roman emperor, Tiberius. - Known as “The Most Beautiful City in Asia.” - The “Street of Gold” began at the Temple of Cybele, and ended at the Temple of Zeus with the temples of Apollo and Asklepios and Aphrodite in between. It was in a circular pattern around Mt. Pagus prompting one historian to compare it to a necklace of pearls. - Population was around 200,000 made up mostly of Romans and Jews. - Polycarp was a resident of Smyrna and burned at the stake there in AD 156. - Survived numerous earthquakes and fires and still exists today as the Turkish city of Izmir. The historical context surrounding this letter: - Under Domitian’s reign (AD 81-96), emperor worship became mandatory for all Roman citizens. - This involved an annual rite where the worshiper burned incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar and proclaimed allegiance to Caesar as Lord. - The Jews were granted an exemption to worship their own God. - Not wanting to be associated with the Christians they distanced themselves by joining in the Roman persecution against them. - This atmosphere made Smyrna an incredibly dangerous city for the believers to whom Jesus wrote. The Church: - Not much is known outside of this letter. It was most likely founded by the Apostle Paul during his missionary activities of Acts 19. The Writer: - “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” - “the first and the last.” - AKA: The eternal One - Isaiah 44:6 6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. - This was a clear and definitive statement of Jesus’ own deity. - In an environment where the Roman emperor was being worshiped as a god, Jesus wanted to remind this church that there was only one true God. - "who died and came to life" - (1:5 - the firstborn from the dead). - As we’re about to see, these believers were facing intense persecution and the very real threat of death. - So these words would have provided a great source of comfort knowing the God they serve had gone before them, even to the grave, and yet overcome death to rise again. - Romans 6:3–5 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. - 1 Corinthians 15:20–21 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. This introduction was all about empathy. - Christ is the empathetic Lord and Savior of the believers in Smyrna. - He is the empathetic Lord and Savior of all Christians everywhere who suffer for doing good. - At the incarnation He entered the very time and space he created to identify with us, to die for our sins that we might be forgiven, and to raise to life again that we might live with him forever. - John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” In this opening Jesus was calling for these suffering saints to zoom out; to remember the character and power of their Savior. He was adjusting their perspective by calling them back to a worldview governed by the gospel. It’s part one of tonight's blueprints… 1. Hold Fast to a Gospel Worldview. Our worldview is just that: It is the way in which we view everything that happens to us or around us in this world. - It is our complex system of beliefs that informs our perspective on issues of purpose, joy, suffering, power, religion, politics, entertainment, etc. As believers, we have a biblical worldview, a worldview that is informed first and foremost by the Scriptures. As that worldview lens narrows, we could say that even more fundamentally, we have a worldview that is informed by the gospel. - That is, everything that happens to us or around us is filtered through our understanding of what Christ has done for us through his death and resurrection. Jesus was calling the believers at Smyrna to anchor themselves to this worldview. - No matter what was happening around them, they were to remember that their Savior was unaffected by it all and ruling over and above it all. - Furthermore, they were to cling to the hope that the gospel provides for suffering believers that their Savior had gone before them and overcome the greatest enemy so that they would have nothing left to fear. It’s undeniably clear that we live in a world hostile to Christianity. - John 15:18-20 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 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. And for the majority of our lives if not all of our lives to this point this has been little more than a reality that we mourn over for our persecuted brothers and sisters who live in closed countries, in areas where real persecution takes place. Now, though, things are beginning to change. - Laws are changing, definitions that have long been assumed are beginning to be redefined, what was once sin is now being reclassified as a lifestyle choice, and the church is no longer seen as a positive presence in our communities. - The freedom of speech that we have enjoyed is being slowly eroded. - We’re being told what types of people we’re allowed to counsel and those we cannot. - We’re being told what pronouns that we're supposed to use regardless of a person's biological, God-given gender. - We’re being told that the biblical principles that we’ve taken for granted for so long are now to be viewed as bigotry and hate speech. Are you ready for it to get worse? Do you find yourself anxious about these things? Do you find that you are worried about the tightening of the noose around the throat of American Christianity? Holding fast to a gospel worldview will help you remain resolved and unmoved by the hostility of this world. If your worldview is buoyed by politics or a bill of rights or an increasingly attacked and ignored constitution, you won’t be ready for what’s coming. The solution for us is the same as it was for the believers in Smyrna: - Remember the character and finished work of your Lord and Savior. - Anchor yourself to that reality come what may, and you will be able to weather the storm. END P1 The Commendation: After his introduction of himself he moves in to the body of his letter with what is probably better understood as a word of encouragement more than a commendation. Rev. 2:9 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.” A repeated theme in the NT epistles is the blessedness of the Christian’s sharing in the sufferings of Christ: - Philippians 3:8-11 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. - 1 Peter 2:19 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. - 1 Peter 2:21 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. When we suffer for our faith we enter into a participation with Christ at a deeper level. We gain a more intimate knowledge/appreciation of him through suffering for his sake the way he himself suffered for us. For the believers in Smyrna, we learn a couple of things about their suffering from verse 9. First, it was financial. Their suffering extended to their economic status. - As persona-non-grata in the society it made it difficult for these believers to make a living and support their families. The Greek word for “poverty” here is one of two used in reference to being poor. - The first means lacking anything above the bare necessities. - But this word that Jesus chose to describe their circumstances meant to have nothing at all. - It’s the same word used of Christ’s incarnation in - 2 Corinthians 8:9, 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. These believers made their home in one of the most beautiful and opulent cities in the world, and yet, because of their identity as followers of Christ, they themselves had nothing. But in spite of this worldly poverty, Jesus encouraged them with this parenthetical commentary where he said they were rich. - Mark 10:29-30 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Second, beyond the poverty, these believers were also facing slander, false accusations, from those who claimed to be Jews. Again, the Roman exception for Jews to worship their own God no longer applied to Christians as they were no longer looked upon as a Jewish sect. The Jews wanted to keep that exception and didn’t want to be lumped in with the Christians, so they joined in with the hostility. So then these believers were experiencing persecution both from the Romans and from the Jews in Smyrna. - When Polycarp was brought up on charges before the Romans it was the Jews who led the way denouncing him for defaming the Roman Emperor. - And when they went to burn him at the stake it was the Jews who helped to gather the wood even on the Sabbath. This helps us understand Jesus' reference to them as “a synagogue of Satan.” - John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.” - Their persecution of these believers was persecution of Christ himself (Acts 9). When we suffer it can be an incredibly lonely and isolating feeling. It can feel like no one really knows what we’re going through. Suffering can be incredibly discouraging, and as we look at what’s coming at us it can be unnerving. But this part of our letter gives us hope in the face of suffering as we consider the second point of Jesus' blueprints for Smyrna: 2. Be Encouraged that Jesus Knows There’s a difference if I tell you that I know generally how hard suffering can be, I know that what you’re going through must be difficult, and if I tell you, “I’m intimately acquainted to with your circumstances.” - I know that you’ve been struggling to make ends meet. - I know you’ve been struggling with a coworker who has been slandering you. - I know you’ve been hurting because your family has cut off communication with you. - I know you’re afraid for your kids who have walked away from the Lord. - I know you are desperate for your wife to repent and put her faith in Christ. But there’s another level of knowledge still, and that’s the level of suffering with you. Acts 9:4-5 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. When we suffer for Christ he suffers with us. He tells these believers: “I know your tribulation and your poverty…” Yes, because he is omniscient, but also because, when the body of Christ is persecuted, he is persecuted. - Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This is he who said to these believers in Smyrna, “I know…” - And if he knew their circumstances he knows yours. - What reason would we have to believe otherwise? Christ knows what you are suffering right now. - He is intimately acquainted with your grief and your sorrow. - Not as one who hasn’t suffered himself, but as the One who has suffered the most and on your behalf at that. - He is your empathetic Lord and Savior. - So do not lose heart. Do not grow discouraged. - Your God, the God who holds all things together, the God who created all and sustains it all, knows exactly where you are and what you are enduring. Remind yourselves of these truths when you are tempted to feel alone, to feel isolated. Remind yourselves of this great reality when you are tempted to feel that it’s not fair, that you’ve been dealt a bad hand. Remind yourselves of Christ’s participation in your suffering when you are tempted to strike in a vengeful manner or to react in anger. He knows. He is not unaware, and he will one day see that justice is served. END P2 Exhortation: Not needing a correction like Ephesus, Jesus instead provided these believers with a rallying exhortation: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer.” In the Greek the negative used here is the strongest negative that can be employed. There’s no exception here. It’s the same word Paul used in Philippians 4:6 when he wrote, “Do not be anxious for anything…” When faced with tribulation the believer has no exception clause here: Do not fear. These believers were being falsely accused, they were being threatened with imprisonment, they were being threatened with death, they were under immense pressure to worship false gods, and yet Jesus gave no out clause. “Do not fear.” “Do not fear” in the face of opposition or trials is a familiar refrain in the Scriptures. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Psalm 46:1–3 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Matthew 10:28 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 1 Peter 4:12 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. Specifically, the believers of Smyrna were not to fear what they were about to suffer. And Jesus told them what was coming. Revelation 2:10b“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.” This is where it’s important for us to remember that this was a historical church and Jesus was writing this letter to a specific group of people facing a particular set of problems. For this group they were apparently facing not only the threat but the impending reality of imprisonment. This may have been at the hand of the Romans or it may have been because of charges brought against them by the Jews (a la Polycarp). Whatever it was, this group of believers, living in the midst of a community of gross pagan idolatry was facing hostility that would lead to them losing their freedoms and possibly even more. The number of 10 days has been speculated on by many. Some see it as a general reference to a short amount of time. Other commentators will argue that it suggests a prolonged period of time. Others believe it is representative of 10 periods of persecution under the Romans. But, much like the 7 churches themselves, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to see this as anything other than 10 literal days. Notice that even these 10 days were not without divinely ordained purpose. “that you may be tested.” 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Jesus was giving this church a heads up, this was a prophecy from the mouth of “the first and the last” himself about what was coming. And his counsel was, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer.” For even in this imprisonment at the hands of the enemy, literally “the adversary,” God was still going to be in control, still working, still sovereign over it all. Romans 8:28–29 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. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. If you tell me I’m going to get hit but not to worry because it won’t be too bad, I’m still going to brace for the impact. If you could tell me that I was going to get into a car wreck I would drive around ready for the crash at any time. Jesus was encouraging them that they would be alright in spite of the persecution, but he was also telling them to ready themselves for increased persecution. As we look around at the world we find ourselves in this is a good message for us as well. It’s part three of his blueprints for us… 3. Steel yourself for the tribulation ahead. Suffering is never a desired outcome for us. Even in Acts 5 when Peter and his fellow apostles were arrested and beaten by the Jews and it says they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Christ, that doesn’t mean the suffering was enjoyable, that it was desirable. Brothers, if we are going to lead our families into a time of increased persecution against Christianity, if we are going to be on the front lines of our church in standing firm on the doctrines of God’s Word in the face of increasing hostility, we need to prepare ourselves now for that day. This is the battle speech of our Lord and Savior. We love those moments in history or in the movies where men have stood up in front of their troops to rally them and ready them for the reality of the battle that awaits. Braveheart: "I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men... and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight? Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEEDOMMM!" General Sir Bernard Montgomery rallying his troops before defeating Rommel’s Afrika Corps: "Here we will stand and fight; there will be no further withdrawal. I have ordered that all plans and instructions dealing with further withdrawal are to be burned, and at once. We will stand and fight here. If we can't stay here alive, then let us stay here dead." Here’s another one, one that hasn’t made the movies, one that never received much press, but nonetheless, it belongs up there with the greatest of all: Hugh Latimer and Ridley: They were commanded after this to make ready immediately, and obeyed with all meekness…the smith took a chain of iron and fastened it about both Ridley’s and Latimer’s middles to one stake. As he was knocking in a staple, Ridley took the chain in his hands, and said to the smith, “Good fellow, knock it in hard, for the flesh will have its course.” A bag of gunpowder was tied about the neck of each. Wood was piled around them, and the horrible preparations were completed. Then they brought some wood kindled with fire, and laid it down at Ridley’s feet, to whom Latimer then spake in this manner: “Be of good comfort, Brother Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.” These were two men who had steeled themselves for tribulation. These were two men who had answered Christ’s call to fearlessness in the face of suffering knowing who it was for Whom they gave everything. Jesus said to the believers at Smyrna: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Latimer, Ridley, Cranmer, Rogers, Hooper, Taylor, Bradford, and some 280 more men and women were burned at the stake for believing God’s word under the reign of Mary the 1st, were faithful unto death. Are you ready for this? You may think this is a bit dramatic, but it’s happened before and it could very well happen again. Are you ready to be mocked? Are you ready to be slandered? Are you ready to give without tax benefits? Are you ready to meet underground? Are you ready to be fined? Are you ready to be arrested? Are you ready to be tried? Are you ready to be imprisoned? Are you ready to be faithful unto death? Remember that Christ is the one who has gone before you, faithful himself unto death, and he has risen to life again so that he can promise us who follow after him, the “crown of life.” This isn’t a crown of royalty but rather a victor’s crown. It fits with his conclusion of the letter. Revelation 2:11 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.’ The one who conquers, the victor, will receive the victors crown. And in this context, victory for these believers, and perhaps one day for us, meant being faithful unto death. This goes back to that introduction that Jesus provided: “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” Jesus had began this whole letter with this in mind. He was reminding the believers in Smyrna that he had preceded them in death and in overcoming death. He was promising them that if they remained faithful to him he would remain faithful to see that they too overcame death and received the crown of life. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Conclusion: We are not of this world. The gospel we proclaim is hostile to the systems of this world. The Savior we serve is the enemy of the prince of this world. So should we not expect tribulation? This church had already been enduring persecution, and Jesus wrote to commend them and to exhort them to prepare for more coming their way. He wrote to encourage them to steel themselves in the convictions of the hope of the gospel. He wrote to exhort them to refuse to compromise, to remain faithful, yes, even unto death. And he’s writing to us as well, the very same things. John Hooper: “Let us not run away when it is most time to fight. Remember, none shall be crowned but such as fight manfully; and he that endures to the end shall be saved. You must now turn all your thoughts from the peril you see, and mark the joy that follows the peril, — either victory in this world…or else a surrender of this life to inherit the everlasting kingdom.” This same man was visited by a friend on the eve of his execution who pleaded with him in tears saying, “Consider that life is sweet and death is bitter. Life hereafter may do good.” Hooper responded, “The life to come is more sweet, and the death to come is more bitter.” Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. If we hope to be ready then we have to begin preparing now. Hold fast to that gospel worldview trusting in a Savior who knows exactly where you are and what you are enduring, and steel yourself for what lies ahead.