Revelation 2:8-17 Nov. 3, 2024

Community Scripture Reading

Revelation 2:8–17 ESV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 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. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 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. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Introduction

The Message to Smyrna

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 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. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 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. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

The city of Smyrna

Another seaport with apopulation of around 200,000 extremeley loyal to rome

several temples

evangelized by Paul in his 3rd journey

Most infamously the church father Polycarp was martyred here. Polycarp was a disciple of John.

Characteristic

This is the shortest of the letters in the first few chapters of Revelation. In the first verse Jesus reminds the church and us of who He really is. He is the First and the last, who died and came to life. Jesus has the power over life and death.

And this is precisely the encouragement the saints of Smyrna need.

The second verse here both commends the church and reminds us what they are going through

Compliment

Revelation 2:9 ESV

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.

We don’t know exactly what was happening but it’s possible the Jews in the area were slandering the Christians there and causing their arrest. We have to remember that in the beginning the Jews saw Christianity simply as a sect or cult of Judaism. The Jews showed by their attitudes and actions towards the Christians that they weren’t fellow followers of God, but their actions showed them to be a church of Satan.

Paradoxically we know the people are both poor and rich? How is it possible to be poor and rich at the same time? There’s a good chance the people were poor because of the actions slanderously taken by the Jews against them. But when we think of someone being rich in light of the Bible we need to think of passages like

Luke 12:21 ESV

21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

As Christians we are called to lay up treasures in Heaven by our actions and faithfulness to God. So it is possible to be poor on earth and yet rich towards God. And more to the point of this passage in Luke, whatever riches God gives us, He calls us to lay up treasures in Heaven and not get caught up in what we can store up here on earth.

Command

Revelation 2:10 ESV

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 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. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Is interesting out of all the churches only the church in Smyrna and Philadelphia escaped criticism from Jesus. And yet despite escaping criticism they receive a message that they probably would have traded for some criticism it's funny how whenever someone begins with don't be afraid that's our cue to be afraid but try not to be afraid right? You get stuck with the needle or you're about to experience something new or try new exercise out or do physical therapy and someone says don't be afraid that usually means you're terrified at the moment ). The reality is the situation in Smyrna was bad and it was going to get worse some of the church members will be thrown into prison others will be tested and even the 10 days here doesn't necessarily mean a literal 10 days it can mean a set period of time.

But also in this verse Jesus reminds the church that they cannot be confident they will escape death. He says be faithful unto death and that will give you a crown of life.

It's instructive that we see these tests they're coming from Satan. And if Satan is testing someone if satan's testing this church doesn't mean that God is powerless? When job was tested in the Old Testament didn't mean that he had overpowered God in order to attack one of his people? When something bad happens to us or to someone we love when we are hacked or someone hurts us does that mean guys powerless? No. God's tests and the things that God allows in our lives have a good goal. In this passage it says if we are faithful unto death we will receive the crown of life it's this idea of a reward a blessing given to someone who perseveres under trial period who is faithful to love God. Remember job was blessed by God after he was faithful. And you and I if we're going through a tribulation. If we're going through a hard time. God is faithful.

Commitment

Revelation 2:11 ESV

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.’

So what is this second death all about? The first death is our physical death. The second death is eternal separation from God. Jesus talked about this in Matthew.

Matthew 10:28 ESV

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

What Jesus says to the church in Smyrna is be faithful be faithful even unto the point of death. Because all anyone can do to any Christian anywhere is destroy their physical body. This give them a physical death when the reality is the far more significant life and death we have is the second one where we spend eternity. That cannot be taken from us.

Far too often we have a theology of comfort living in America. We need to take heart the encouragement of Jesus here. Stay faithful irregardless of what we go through.

The Letter to the Church of Pergamum

Revelation 2:12–17 ESV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

The City of Pergamum

Revelation (E. Pergamum (v. 12))

Fifty-five miles north of Smyrna, but fifteen miles inland from the Aegean, Pergamum had a long and splendid history. It was built on the south slope of a hill rising almost one thousand feet from the surrounding plain, providing both breathtaking scenery and military security. (The name Pergamum means “citadel” in Greek.) A cultural and religious center, Pergamum had been ruled by Persians, Greeks, and Romans. The golden age of Pergamum was a 150-year period (283–133 B.C.) in which the king of Pergamum ruled a substantial independent kingdom. Pergamum served as the official capital of the Roman province of Asia from 133 B.C. Today the Turkish town of Bergama lies at the foot of the hill.

Pergamum practiced careful city zoning. The poor lived at the foot of the mountain; at the next level up was the business district; above that the rich lived in their villas; finally, at the top were the important public buildings and temples. Four such buildings are especially noteworthy.

At the top of the hill stood the huge and highly decorated altar to Zeus, some 20 by 112 feet. The ruins of this altar are still impressive, and it could easily be called “Satan’s throne” overlooking the city.

The temple in honor of Augustus was the first one built for a Roman emperor in Asia (around 29 B.C.), and the people of Pergamum proved to be extremely loyal to Rome. This temple might also be called “Satan’s throne” in the days when it was dangerous not to confess, “Caesar is lord.”

In the lower part of the city was the famous Asclepion, a complex of several buildings serving as a combination hospital-temple. Patients came from all over the world expecting to be healed by the god Asclepius, although current medical technology was also practiced. The symbol of Asclepius was two snake twined around a pole, a still-familiar medical icon. Because the Bible calls Satan “the serpent,” some have suggested that the Asclepion was the “Satan’s throne” of Revelation 2.

Finally, Pergamum’s world-renowned public library stood on the upper level. Built by one of the kings of Pergamum early in the second century B.C., it contained over 200,000 handwritten scrolls. Only the great library of Alexandria rivaled it. The people of Pergamum loved books so much they invented parchment, a way of using animal skins as paper. (The Greek word translated “parchment” is pergaména, derived from Pergamos, “Pergamum.”)

Characteristic

OK the first thing we see is that Jesus has a double edged sword. And the swords symbolizes the power that Jesus has to judge evil to conquer his enemies. The roman proconsul who would have been one of the people ruling the area at the time exercised this kind of power from the judgment seat in pergamum he had the power of persecution but not ultimate power Christ is the only ultimate wielder of power. A humbling thought as we look at this passage is what if people who put profess to be followers of Jesus turn out to be his enemies because they have rejected what he taught? Verse 16 indicates that the same sort of judgment that Jesus uses against his enemies will be used against those who claim to be his followers. And so the characteristic of this church is a church to whom the judge speaks.

Compliment

Revelation 2:13 ESV

13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

It's not really clear what the throne of Satan is a reference to there are actually several temples to Roman emperors in this city and a huge altar to Zeus that overlooks the city and ironically in Smyrna the synagogue of Satan is Jewish in pergamum the throne of Satan is probably a Pagan throne and in short Satan has used his influence in this city to make life miserable for Christians. And one of those who had sacrificed their life in service of the gospel is antipas. So the complement to this church and this city is that they are holding fast to the name of Jesus.

Criticism

Revelation 2:14–15 ESV

14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

And now comes the criticism. If you remember last week the church in ephesus had the problem of being too strict with their theology. The church in pergamum had the opposite problem. In fact remember the one the group of people that Jesus said he hates in the letter to the church in ephesus? The nicolaitans. The church in pergamum has some who hold on to those teachings.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. I don't know about you but I don't know a lot of Christians who talk about following balaam and black. And yet in this early church there were a number of people who held on to their teachings.

Remember the story of balaam and Barack? Zero lights were coming through the country Ruled by Barack. And instead of confronting the Israelites head on Barack came up with a spiritual scheme. He hired the prophet for hire balaam to curse the Israelites. And so at three different times balaam set out to curse the Israelites and each time God stopped him. There was even a little incident with a talking donkey :)

What we don't often focus on in our telling of the Old Testament story is that later they actually succeeded in not cursing the Israelites but in leading them astray.

While Israel was moving through the land of Moab balaam encouraged the Israelites to engage in sexual relationships with the women of Moab. He most likely encouraged Israelites to engage with temple prostitutes. Religion mixed with sexual immorality has been a toxic combination throughout history. And in that way he caused the Israelites to be cursed by God. Kind of a roundabout way of accomplishing his goal in the beginning.

The New Testament is clear for the Christian sexual relationships are only right within the bounds of marriage. The false teaching related to ballum was that violation of the marriage bond is OK if you do it in service of religion. And that was and is and has always been wrong.

It's sneaky how the argument can come in. Christ came to abolish the law and part of the law was the command about adultery. Therefore we can engage in whatever relationships we want. Pagan religions throughout history have accepted promiscuous sex as a regular part of life.

Command

Revelation 2:16 ESV

16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

The summary of what the church was teaching in pergamum was that violating the bond of marriage is all right. It's OK in the right context they would argue. Christ responds with powerful clarity. Repent or Jesus will wage war against you. What an awful picture? The church members become the enemy of Jesus.

But important distinction we need to draw here. This passage distinguishes between you and them. Jesus speaks to the church that is the church. And he refers to them as those in the church who are not really part of the church.

This reminds me of the passage where balaam was trying one more time to come and curse the Israelites and God reveals an Angel with a sword standing in front of him.

Numbers 22:31 ESV

31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

And then later in Revelation we will see Rev 19:15

Revelation 19:15 ESV

15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Jesus striking down His enemies.

Commitment

Revelation 2:17 ESV

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

This verse contains 2 symbols for eternal life. One of these symbols are Jewish and one of these symbols are gentile. The hidden manna refers to the pot of manna that was stored in the ark of the covenant for a long period of time. And remember manna was food that God dropped from heaven. To provide for the Israelites when they were wandering in the desert. Jewish tradition held that this mana was miraculously preserved and would be multiplied to feed God's people when the Messiah came. So when he says that to the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna this there's a massive messianic reference. I will provide for you out of the same way that I provided for the Israelites thousands of years ago.

But not only will you receive a real symbol and manifestation of God's provision from the past, you will also receive a white stone. But what's the value of gravel? Let me illustrate this with Taylor Swift. Perhaps the most difficult tickets to get right now are tickets to an event in Indianapolis tonight. The final concert of Taylor Swift's era tour in the United states is happening tonight in Indianapolis. Perhaps you've seen posts online of people begging for tickets. Just for fun I did some research to see if I could find any tickets available for any of her final shows in Canada and I can't find anything available. And she's got 7 or 8 more shows I believe tickets are crucial and they give you the ability to attend an event that has a worldwide phenomenon. In the ancient world special white stones were often used as admission tickets for festivals if you had a white stone with special name perhaps engraved as Christ or Jesus to certify the stone as genuine that means that mission to heaven is absolutely sure for believers in Christ. In a much greater way than any ticket would permit you entrance into a Taylor Swift concert, these tickets demonstrate that you have access and you have a new name. A child of God.

Conclusion

Revelation Principles

• Because of his awesome authority, Christ has the right to criticize and command repentance.

• Virtues that please Christ include love for one another, faith, hard work, perseverance amid afflictions, and holding true his name.

• Satan is the driving power behind much of the evil that Christians endure.

• Christ makes special promises to believers who face persecution and martyrdom for his name’s sake.

Revelation Application

• Be steadfast in persecution and suffering.

• Hold firmly to the truth.

• Live a life of absolute moral purity.

• Be alert to the possibility of false teachers.

Illustration: Pressure and Resilience Using a Hard Stone and Soft Clay

1. Materials Needed: A solid white stone and a lump of soft clay.

2. Setup: Hold up the white stone and the clay in front of the congregation.

3. Demonstration:

• Explain that the white stone represents the promise of eternal life for believers who conquer and remain steadfast. It is firm, enduring, and cannot be easily broken or shaped.

• On the other hand, the clay represents believers who compromise or are easily swayed. Press your hand into the clay to show how it changes shape under pressure.

4. Point to Drive Home:

• Just as the clay molds to pressure, a believer who lacks steadfast faith may be conformed to the pressures of the world, false teachings, or fear of persecution.

• The white stone, like the ticket illustration in your message, symbolizes resilience and an unshakeable faith rewarded by God. Jesus encourages believers to be firm like the stone, with the assurance that even death cannot shake the promise of eternal life.

Community Prayer

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.