Revelation 2:8-11
Notes
Transcript
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.
Investing in Greater returns...
FATHERS, show your families what it means to invest in Greater Returns! To not give in to the temporary gratification, but to look forward to the eternal reward...
General Assembly
Thank you for allowing me to participate in the Global NMI Convention attached to the Nazarene General Assembly. With all the Nazarene Conventions and Assembly there were about 20,000 people joining in for worship. It is a reminder that we are a GLOBAL church in 164 world areas/Countries. You are not simply attending a local church, but you are a part of the Global Church. If you are a member of the Church of the Nazarene, you are a member of the GLOBAL body, the District body, AND the Local body. For me, I am not ONLY the pastor of the Pablo Church of the Nazarene, and our satellite campus… I am a pastor in the GLOBAL church of the Nazarene. As a Pastor in the Church of the the Nazarene I have my usual local duties, BUT I am a part of the District and Global Church. This calls me to OTHER duties as well. It was great to see the GLOBAL impact of Jesus Christ through our family called the Church of the Nazarene around the world!
We heard about great things taking place all around the world. And, we heard some struggles. For example, in the past 17 years, worship attendance in USA/Canada has dropped by 30%. Yet, there are churches being planted, and churches doing things in a new way (like our Polson satellite campus) to see that new work is being done and new people are being transformed by Jesus Christ.
What did impress me was the number of VISITORS who attended the conventions and assemblies. There were delegates from all over the world who had to be there because they were delegates and had to vote on the business and such. However, there were others from ALL AROUND THE WORLD who came simply to observe, connect, worship. They flew in planes for HOURS to be there. And I thought… Wow Matthew, and you are complaining about driving to Sheridan, WY for district assembly...
The truth is, we have it easy in the United States. I met a gal, a delegate from Ukraine. While we were there, she was receiving notices on her phone of missile strikes. Yet, she rode a train for 4 hours, and flew in a plain for probably 10 hours, and maybe event then a smaller plain, BECAUSE ATTENDING GENERAL ASSEMBLY and being a part of the Church of the Nazarene Conferences meant something to her. She returned home Friday.
The great things we heard about all take place because of LOCAL churches, like ours, who are involved in the Mission of God to see lives and communities transformed by Jesus Christ. The LOCAL church IS God’s plan to reach the world through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. God CARES deeply about the local church and local churches around the world. Great things come when local churches plant seeds of the Gospel in how they live, act, and minister in their communities. Local Churches MUST invest in the eternal - not the temporary. They MUST invest towards greater returns!
That is why the Letter of Revelation is SO important. It is written to local churches to address their situations and to encourage them to continue on God’s Mission in the midst of a crazy, chaotic world, that God still loves!
Background
First city to build a temple to the goddess Roma (the goddess of Rome).
In ancient Roman religion, Roma was a female deity who personified the city of Rome and more broadly, the Roman state.[1] She was created and promoted to represent and propagate certain of Rome's ideas about itself, and to justify its rule.
Designated as a center for the “imperial cult” (emperor worship).
Worship of trade guild deities was common.
Architecturally, the city was considered a “crowning achievement.”
No wonder Jesus/John use the image of the crown - v. 10.
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.
Considered to be a city of suffering.
People believed the name “Smyrna” to be derived from the word “myrrh” - the fragrance used to prepare dead bodies for burial.
There was a large, seemingly very influential, Jewish population. This lead to the troubles, or suffering and testing of the church - v. 9
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.
The Problem
There’s nothing negative said about this church
Only 2 churches in Revelation have this honor; Smyrna and Philadelphia
If you want to know what a perfect church is, according to Christ Smyrna is one of them! What makes them perfect? The church is willing to give up comfort, finances, and life to be the faithful witness for/of God.
For Smyrna, this is a letter of encouragement and a way to warn of the coming/continued persecution and promise a reward for the faithful witnesses.
Poverty/destitution (v. 9)
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.
In a city championed for being a crowning achievement and a city of wealth, the followers of Christ are poor, destitute, beggars.
This is due to the fact that they cannot receive an income because they refuse to bow to any other god. This means they refuse to participate in the worship of trade guild gods. Later in the letter John explains it this way...
16 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name.
Suffering (v.10) -This suffering is done at the hands of those who accuse, like 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.
please note, this is NOT an antisemitic statement, this is a statement of what happened in SMYRNA… The Jewish population, in this city, was used as a tool of Satan to accuse the Christ followers and turn them over to the Roman government to be “tested.”
Jews would receive certain exemptions and privileges. They had religious exemptions from certain things. Certain taxes, bowing down to Roman idols etc...
Are followers of Jesus Jewish?
If they were/are, they would receive the same treatment and exemptions
Does someone have to become Jewish to follow Jesus?
25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
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.
The Jews accused the followers of Christ as not being Jewish. Since they are not Jewish, they do not receive the same exemptions that Jews would have received. Therefore the Jews could accuse Christians of treasonous activity against Rome
Remember the words Satan means “accuser”. The Jews are accusing, or being LIKE Satan against the Christians - accusing them in the court of man.
Something that is useful to know is that Roman prison was NOT a punishment. It was where you were held and tested before your punishment. Imprisonment was a time of testing....!!
Remember the law court image. Satan, the great accuser, is using his tools to test the testimony of God’s people (in the city of Smyrna they are the Jewish synagogue and the Roman government).
But, they would only be tested for “Ten days”
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.
Both limited and complete.
It is not an infinite amount of time; it will be a limited persecution. And, in comparison to eternity, it will seem like only 10 days - a drop in the bucket.
But, 10 days is significant because it is also a time of completion.
The idea could be that the persecution will go on until completion. Completion being your death. Jesus’ suffering was completed upon his death too.
Also, a reminder of how Daniel would not accept the cultural standards of Babylon (another nation that oppressed God’s people - Rome is often compared to Babylon by Jesus/John). Daniel accepted and suggested a ten day test for him and through this test he proved to be a faithful witness to God and God proved to be faithful to Daniel.
12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.
The Promise
A crown of life - v.10
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.
No fear of the 2nd death -v.11
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.
The one who is revealed, at the beginning of this section, as the Alpha and Omega has both the beginning and the end in his control.
This one also is revealed as the one who suffered and died, but he conquered! He is victorious. He was dead, but is now alive.
Death is of no consequence anymore!
Death is powerless
Death has been beaten
And those, who like Jesus, are faithful to God even through death (See Philippians 2:5-11), can have the assurance that Jesus will lead them through death into the presence of God and will reward them as faithful witnesses for God!
Notice, the promise is NEVER to escape death. The promise is not a posh, comfy life now. The promise is that those who are faithful and die because of their faithful testimony do not need to fear death! It cannot do anything!
Everyone will face the 1st death. John does NOT provide any idea of escaping that. But, it is NOTHING to fear. And, the 2nd Death, judgment in Hell, that is what the faithful followers of Jesus Christ can escape! But, those who are faithful witnesses will not have to fear the 2nd death either!
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation is filled with images which tell the story of those who are faithful and die because of their testimony - and God’s faithfulness to receive them into His presence as they wait the bodily resurrection from the dead...
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.
10 And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.
How do we overcome? By the blood of the lamb and our FAITHFUL Testimony!!
11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
This reminds me of worlds Jesus stated while he walked with his Disciples...
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
Who are you? Which side are you on?
Do you put others down, and accuse to get what’s comfortable and rewarding now? Or, do you give up comforts now, not give in to society's norms in order to invest with a greater return?
Do you accept temporary pleasures, and temporary comforts, at the expense of an eternal reward? Or, do you look to the eternal even when the temporary is one of suffering, disappointment, and exhaustion?
I cannot help but think of Jacob and Esau
27 As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”) 31 “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” 32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” 33 But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.
Esau, because of a TEMPORARY reward, sold his birth right for some soup!
What are we selling and giving up for a TEMPORARY comfort?
This is the story of US! We easily give up the eternal for a TEMPORARY comfort!!!
Luke 6:20 (NLT) 20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Luke 12:33-34 (NLT) 33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
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?
Jesus calls the church to invest with a greater return. There is a commentary here not just for the church in Smyrna, but for all churches and believers.
The question for us is what side do we claim to be on and what side are we actually on?
Do we champion putting others down so we are comfortable?
Do we invest in getting prestige, wealth, comfort, status, “crowns” now?
Or, do we lay the snares and sorrows of our cultural expectations down in order to be faithful witnesses for Christ?
Are we actually willing to suffer, even to the point of death, to be a faithful witness of God?
Jesus’ words do not seem encouraging if you look at them from the standpoint of an investment with an immediate return. But, when you consider what is to come, the current poverty and suffering are only a drop in the bucket compared to eternity.
But, we must evaluate how we are investing NOW!
Are we on the side of winning (from an earthly, cultural standpoint)?
Or, are we on the side of the losers, suffering for what God asks of us to do and to be in our world?
FATHERS, show your families what it means to invest in Greater Returns! To not give in to the temporary gratification, but to look forward to the eternal reward...
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.