The suffering Church

Revelation 2:8–11 NKJV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

Revelation 2:8-11

Intro: Last week we look at the Church of Ephesus. A church that did not tolerate evil, they did not tolerate the false teacher. They worked hard. But they had lost their first love.

Today we will look at the Church at Smyrna, the suffering church. (1 of 2 were is no condemnation, no I have against you.

The other is the church of Philadelphia

Throughout the history of the church, even today around the world we see strength in the persecuted church.

Some of the fastest growing churches (salvation souls saved) are the ones that have the most persecution. (China) Even in the middle east.

There are places where proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not tolerated, even against the law. Some are put into prison, some are beaten, and many of them are martyred.

If you are going to live the Christian life, proclaim the gospel, stand against sin, you will suffer.

John 17:18 NKJV

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Jesus praying here, praying for you and me.

Why did God send His son into the world? To suffer.

I truly believe that suffering is part the Christian life.

Suffering may be just difficult times.

Suffering may be friends and family turning on you because of your faith.

If our country keeps going in the direction it is going, it could mean churches being shut down by the goverment.

It could mean pastors being arrested.

I believe that churches who stand on the truth will suffer.

If you really want to grow the way Gods wants us to grow, suffering is a requirement.

Acts 14:22 NKJV

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

The Church at Smyrna went through suffering, and it was good for them. They were the model church when it came to suffering.

I. The Address to the Saints. VS 8

Revelation 2:8 (NKJV)

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

Go back to VS 1 Jesus giving John the words to write to the pastors at the 7 churches in Asia (modern day Turkey). The candles sticks are the 7 churches. Jesus is walking in the mist of the churches. Elab Jesus is still in the mist of our churches today.

Smyrna: About 40 miles north of Ephesus. A very wealthy and stylish city. Like today everything was measured by the slandered of wealth. It was also within the Roman Empire, and owed much of its loyalty to Rome.

Commercially, the city of Smyrna was famous for Myrrh.

A balsamic gum from the plant.

It was brought to Jesus as a child. It was used at his death.

Like all Roman cities Smyrna was saturated with paganism. There was the Temple of Zeus the father of gods. Golden streets were shrines to Apollo the sun god. Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty, and Esculapius the god of medicine.

The Church at Smyrna. It was a suffering church, constantly subjected to persecution by the pagan people because of their resistance to idols, by the Romans they refused to acknowledge the Emperor as a god, and by the Jews that were constantly stirring up trouble.

‘These things says the First and the Last.

Isaiah 44:6 NKJV

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.

Revelation 22:13 NKJV

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Jesus is speaking, John is writing. Jesus is insuring them that He is God. He always has been, He always will be.

Through persecution, no matter how bad things get, in the end, Jesus will be there.

That which was dead, and is alive:

How could He die and be alive? That is the incarnation of Jesus.

b. Jesus died, now he is alive.

c. These 2 statements in VS 8 was something to encourage them. They were a church in a pagan city. A place where gods were worshiped. It was told by the pagans that some of them had died and rose from the died.

d. This verse told them that Jesus has the power over life and death, He is all powerful and has unlimited authority.

He is in all places at all times.

He is aware of all that is going on, and has an understanding of all that we are going through. There is nothing that He doesn’t know about.

e. Here was a church that was being persecuted for what they were preaching. And what they were standing for and what they were standing against

Elab on what the UMC has done.

Next, the world, the News media, LGTBQ community will be putting pressure of other churches to do the same thing.

Sad, some will give in. Those who do not will be persecuted.

The church at Smyrna was being persecuted because they took a stand as Christians.

I’ve said this before, I believe that some of the greatest attacks will come from other churches.

f. Jesus gives them some encouragement here. Elab

h. God’s word was an encouragement for them then, it is an encouragement for us today.

II. The Awareness of the Saints. VS 9a

Revelation 2:9 NKJV

9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

The Roman emperor was Domitian. He required the citizens to worship him, and to offer sacrifices to him. The Roman did allow pagan to have there idols, but it had to have and inscription that the Roman emperor was the Lord of Lords.

When the believers would not do so, they were looked as rebels (intolerant) for not worshiping the emperor.

Many they were paraded in the arenas and thrown to the wild animals.

1. Look at the words. “I know” the same words that were spoken to Ephesus.

a. But the emphasis of this passage is different. To Ephesus the words I know focused on empty works. To Smyrna the words were to real suffering Saints.

b. Think of that term I know.

I know your works.

d. I know your tribulation. Tribulation, pressure. He felt the full weight of their burdens.

Not a trial passed unnoticed, not a difficulty unobserved.

I believe, maybe sooner then we think, the church, I mean the true Bible believing church, that preaches the word, that stand on Gods word as truth, will go through “tribulation”

2. The Lords knows it all. He knows the pressure we endure, He know what we are going to go through.

a. Jesus knows and it is real. He too went though tribulation, he too went though suffering.

Hebrews 2:18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (help), them that are temped”

I know you poverty. describes a state or condition wherein one lacks sufficient means

The poor widow that gave her 2 mites. Jesus she gave out of her poverty.

They had nothing.

b. It would have been hard them to find work.

People would not give them even a drink of water.

Christians were despised.

They were not welcomed anywhere.

You think about today, were in many place even the Bible is not welcomed.

Missing man table. On an Air Base, the Bible had to left out. Solders outdoor freedom.

c. They may have been poor in the means of money and stuff ; they were rich in the eyes of God.

(but you are rich)

d. It is far better to be poor in the eyes of man, and rich in the eyes of the Lord.

Prob. 15:16 Better is little with fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

e. Here were believers that were poor, didn’t seem to have any friends outside the church. The suffered and the Lord knew it.

a. They had been made destitute because of their faith.

III. The Affliction of the Saints. VS 9b-10

Revelation 2:9–10 (NKJV)

9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Blasphemy: To slander.

1. There was a large Jewish community in Smyrna, and a well established synagogue.

a. There were those that were Jews outwardly but not inwardly. (Like someone who claims to be a Christian that is not)

b. The Jews in Smyrna were doing business with the pagans. (selling Idols, 10 commandments)

c. The Jews in Smyrna hated the Christians just like the pagans did. (They were both religious, but lost)

d. In the book of Acts that the Jews had hated Christians for a long time.

They were Gods chosen people, but they rejected Jesus.

If it is not from Jesus, it is from Satan.

2. Jesus calls them a synagogue of Satan.

John 8:44 NKJV

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

a. Synagogue: An assemblage of persons. They were a group of people that were being used by Satan. Groups of people will be used by Satan, or it may just be one person.

b. They were doing all they could them miserable, trying to make them give up.

c. They were not finished. Satan was not finished.

VS 10

Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

1. Suffering for the Lord is be good for you because it will help you grow, but it is still no fun. But we can have encouragement knowing that the Lord is always with you.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.

2. The suffering was not over. But the Lord tells them to not fear. Why? How? PS 56:11

Psalm 56:11 NKJV

11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

“behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison”

1. God will allow Satan to attack us. (Job)

a. Some of the believers in Smyrna would be thrown into prison. God would allow this to happen. Why would he allow this? (Next part of verse)

that you may be tested,

a. Another reason for suffering, it’s a test. A test to see who can handle the pressure.

b. The weak, those that are not real Elab. Will give up, they will no longer be a part of the church. This is way they were so strong. Only the strong had survived. (Navy Seals)

c. If we want to live our life for Christ, you will be tested, a test to see who is real, a test to see who is serious about serving to Lord. It is a test of your faith. (How to lead someone to Christ)

d. The test will be challenging. The test will bring suffering. But there is some good news.

“and you will have tribulation ten days”

1. Was this a real 10 days?

The Romans had games, games where they would kill Christians. With wild beast, swords, spears, games would last for 10 days. (That may be the reason for Jesus saying 10 days.

a. Will it really doesn’t matter. What it means is that the trial (testing would end)

b. The trial that God allows Satan to put us through is limited.

2. Since we know that the Lord is always with us, even during times of tribulation, this should encourage us to be faithful.

a. He is telling them that even if it means death.

VI. The Award to the Saints. VS 10-11

Revelation 2:10–11 (NKJV)

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

1. We are called to be faithful. Even in suffering. In persecution.

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

James 1:12 “Blessed if the man that endureth temptation: for he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life”

1. The crown of life is not salvation, it is a reward. The crown of life is for those who have suffered for Christ.

a. When you are facing suffering the easiest thing to do is to compromise your faith or to quit it altogether.

b. For Daniel if he would have stopped praying 3 times a day or in private would have been the easy.

c. If Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have simply bent one knee. They did not compromise their faith.

d. Will we do anything to compromise our faith? Or will we carry on even unto death?

VS 11

Revelation 2:11 NKJV

11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

1. The last word to the Church at Smyrna.

a.” He that overcometh” The overcomers are the believers. I Jn 5:1-5

“shall not be hurt of the second death” The spiritual death, the eternal death.

Conclusion: There may be some here that are suffering in some way. The Lord says I Know, I feel your hurt, I know the kind of pressure you are under.

To the church he says I know your discouragement, difficulties, distress. Not only does he know he understands.

Are you an overcomer?