Seeing the Big Picture

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “ ‘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. 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. 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.’

Last week we began a series of messages titled: "Turnaround Churches." We are looking at Jesus' letters to the seven churches in Asia, as recorded in Revelation 2-3.

We began this series looking at a church that had changed. Change! That word may cause many to gasp in fear. But the change Ephesus Church had made was not doctrinal or moral. Ephesus Church had abandoned their love for God and for others.

Today we are looking at Smyrna Church. In comparison to Ephesus Church, Smyrna Church seems to be a perfect church. Jesus did not condemn them for doctrinal error or point out any moral impurity.

Smyrna Church appears to have been small and poor. But this was a good church. Why did Smyrna Church need turnaround? And, why should we be looking at Smyrna Church for lessons about how to see our church experience renewal?

The city of Smyrna was about 35-40 miles north of Ephesus. Smyrna was also a coastal city. Smyrna was very close rival to Ephesus for being known as major city of Asia as it was also a great metropolis.

Smyrna was called “the Beauty of Asia.” It was situated on a well-protected gulf and had an excellent harbor. It was second to Ephesus in trade volume. Smyrna was a very wealthy city.

There is evidence that the first-century Jews in Asia Minor had compromised their pure monotheism with worship of Zeus.

You can imagine how tempting it would have been for Jews, surrounded by Greeks and Romans to make accommodations in their religion for these pagan peoples, right?

(pause)

Furthermore, Smyrna was a strong center of emperor worship. In 195 B.C. a temple to the Goddess of Rome was constructed. In A.D. 26 a temple to Tiberius was constructed.

These and other temples were built on an acropolis and looked stunningly beautiful. They were called “the Crown of Asia.”

The church of Smyrna was located in a very prosperous city, but the church was very poor. One commentator notes,

“Poverty is always a harder burden to bear in the centers of wealth, not only because of the inflationary economic pressure within a prosperous city, but because of the oppressive contrast between rich and poor.”

(MtNT, p. 132)

This church was very poor, and they were enduring great persecution. Notice, however, that Jesus does not speak any words of condemnation to this church.

(pause)

Of the seven churches that Jesus dictates letters to John, only Smyrna and Philadelphia are exempt from criticism.

Smyrna was a strong, spiritual church. That is what Jesus is saying in verse nine when He says that they were rich. So, why are we considering Smyrna a turnaround church?

(pause)

If a church is spiritually strong, why does it need revival? This question indicates a possible misunderstanding we have about the church.

If a church seems to be spiritual, and especially if it seems to be doing well, we tend to think everything is okay. The truth is that everything may not be okay. Smyrna church was facing a really big problem.

No, false teaching was not seeping in. The people were not becoming worldly. Attendance was okay.

(PAUSE)

The Smyrna church’s challenge was discouragement. This church was going through a lot of persecution, and the church was becoming very discouraged. Or, at least it was in danger of becoming very discouraged.

When I was in Bible college, one of my classes was Principles of Church Growth. For this class my major assignment was to do a church growth study on a certain church in the Kansas City area.

In the 1980’s this church seemed to be very strong. They had a big bus ministry. They had vacation Bible schools each year, and held Friend Days once a quarter.

A typical Sunday morning included about 50 kids from the bus ministry and about 60 more people in Sunday morning worship. For VBS, they would get as many as 120 kids.

But the church did have problems. The church building was too small. Because of the overcrowding, many kids stopped coming. Another problem was parking. The parking lot was very tiny. People were parking on the streets for quite a ways.

At one point, they considered buying a new church building. But the pastor lost enthusiasm during the last six months of his pastorate.

The church asked the pastor to stay on after he resigned. He did so for awhile, but that was almost worse as a number of the church regulars left by the time he left.

The next pastor served at the church for four years. He didn’t focus on children’s ministry as much as the previous pastor.

This pastor was a popular preacher and the church enjoyed a lot of transfer growth from people who moved into the area from out-of-state. But I was told that the church actually saw more conversion growth under this pastor than the previous pastor.

At the end of four years, the pastor left to go to another church about fifteen minutes away across town. Many of those who had transferred from other churches to this church followed the pastor to his new pastorate.

The church was dealt a huge blow. But maybe the greatest blow was yet to come.

In a board meeting soon after the pastor had left, the church chairman told the board that he felt like they should close the church. It was too hard trying to do church anymore. This man was one of the core members of that church!

That continued the great exodus from the church. A lot of the people went to other church organizations. This happened several years before my church growth study in college about thirty years ago.

I haven’t paid too much attention to that church over the years, although they had one godly man who pastored the church for a number of years.

During his tenure, an ethnic church began sharing the building with them. Later, the ethnic ministry moved on, as well as the American pastor.

For several years now, a young couple have pastored the church. They have tried various innovative things, but as far as I know the church has never recovered from the blow it experienced due to discouragement thirty plus years ago.

(pause)

The reasons a church may go downhill do not include just false teaching, worldliness, or a lack of love. One reason a church may die is because its people have become dispirited.

So now, Christ was dictating a letter to the church of Smyrna. He wants to see this struggling church make a turnaround. So what did Jesus say to them?

1. Your God is eternal, v. 8.

Jesus wanted this church to know that their God is eternal. Listen to how Jesus addressed the church and described Himself in verse eight:

Revelation 2:8 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

Beacon Bible Commentary explains,

“… these words had peculiar relevance in a letter to Smyrna. For that city had become dead and now lived."

Years before this time, the Lydians had destroyed the city of Smyrna. For 400 years, there was no city there, just a few scattered villages.

Smyrna Church was part of a city that had once died but now lived!

(pause)

Now, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who died but lives, was writing to their church to encourage them to keep faith in Him!

Jesus’ description of Himself was also meaningful to the Smyrna church because of the persecution they were enduring.

Now, for twenty-first century western Christians, persecution is often very minor compared to what Christians in other parts of the world, as well as those in the first century, have experienced.

(pause)

For first-century Christians, persecution often meant being fed to wild beasts in the arena or being coved in oil, set on fire to be a torch to light up Caesar’s parties.

It is quite likely that many of the Smyrnaean Christians were actually fearful for their lives. But their hope was in a Saviour who had died and risen on the third day. Christ’s resurrection gives us hope that someday we too will be resurrected.

Jesus was reminding Smyrna church that He was eternal. He was the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Their persecution would not last forever.

It may encourage us to know that even great fathers of the faith have struggled with discouragement. In fact, there is the story that…

Martin Luther once was so depressed over a prolonged period that one day his wife came downstairs wearing all black. Martin Luther said, "Who died?"

She said, "God has." He said, "God hasn't died." And she said, "Well, live like it and act like it." (Russell)

2. Your wealth is infinite, v. 9.

Revelation 2:9 ESV

“ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) …

It is very easy for us to get our eyes off eternal values and become fixated on material things. It’s hard not to be affected by this world’s values.

It doesn’t help that much of the media we digest - including much Christian media - portrays earthly wealth and success as most important. Even though we may have spiritual wealth, we can’t cash that in to pay our monthly bills.

As a matter of survival, we have to be concerned about mammon. We have to work hard. We have to scrimp and save. Sometimes, even that is not enough.

A certain Bible college professor once said that his wife and he went to a financial counselor at one point in their lives. They were working hard. They were scrimping all they could. But they were unable to meet their budget.

They went to the financial counselor. They showed him their budget. And he told them basically that they were doing better than most people could.

He couldn’t see any way for them - as long as they were continuing to be in Christian ministry - to do any better than they were.

In such difficult situations, it is easy for us to get our eyes off eternal values. It is easy to become envious and covetous. It is easy to become discouraged.

Jesus wanted Smyrna church to know that while their financial situation was very tough; their spiritual portfolio looked excellent.

He wanted them to know that He was extremely pleased with their faithfulness and devotion to God. Just keep on, He was saying, it will be worth it in the end!

Do you remember the song… sing with me…

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase.

So bravely run the race till we see Christ!

(pause)

3. Your trouble is temporary, vv. 9-10.

Revelation 2:9–10 ESV

“ ‘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. 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. …

Jesus said that he knew about the tribulation of Smyrna Church. That would suggest that this church was already suffering for Jesus. Now, in these verses Jesus spoke of a ten-day period of tribulation that was about to come upon them.

It is interesting from whom Jesus said this persecution would come. He said that he knew about the slander or the blasphemy of those who said they were Jews, but are not.

Earlier we noted that the Jews in this region had compromised their worship of God only with worship of Zeus, in order to fit in with their world better.

Furthermore, this city was known for its worship of the emperor. Truly, Smyrna church was being opposed by the synagogue of Satan.

But think about it this way. Those who opposed these Christians called themselves Jews. In other words, they believed that they truly were the children of God.

(pause)

And… by ethnicity they may have been Jews,… but spiritually they were the children of the devil, not of God.

We should also note that sometimes we will face those who call themselves Christians and even think they are more spiritual than we, but in truth they are serving Satan.

(pause)

Opposition by the world can be difficult to stand up against, but opposition by others within the church can be crushing!

This ten days of tribulation to which Jesus referred may have been a literal ten-day span. But commentaries suggest that the meaning here is not so much about the specific number of days, but that this tribulation would be a short period of time.

As someone has written,

"The number ten is probably chosen because, while it is sufficient to suggest continued suffering, it points to an approaching end."

(BBC, p. 499)

Another commentary says,

“They are told that the devil is the power that orchestrates their coming peril, but that his authority is limited.” (p. 132)

Whether this time of suffering that was about to come upon this church lasted only ten days (which would have been a short period of time) or even several months or a year or even more, Jesus wanted Smyrna church to know that trouble they were suffering (and about to suffer) would not last forever. Their trouble was temporary!

(pause)

So we today also need to remember that troubles we face today are not eternal; they are temporary. Yes, when finances take a hit, things can look very grim. It can be quite discouraging when a convert doesn’t last.

Persecution, like the Smyrna church was enduring, might be even more discouraging. But we can know that any trouble we may face as a church, or even as individuals, is temporary. Even if we find no relief in this life, we will have an eternity of comfort and rest to enjoy with Jesus!

There’s a poem that says…

He sat by the fire of seven-fold heat,

As He watched by the precious ore.

And closer He bent with a searching gaze

As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test

And He wanted the finest gold,

To mold as a crown for the King to wear,

Set with gems of price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,

Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay."

And He watched the dross that we had not seen,

As it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter, and yet more bright

And our eyes were so dim with tears,

As we saw the fire, not the Master's hand,

And questioned with anxious fear.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,

As it mirrored a Form above

That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us

With a look of infinite love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart

To cause a moment of pain?

Ah, no, but He saw through the present cross

The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,

With a love that is strong and sure,

And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat

Than was needed to make it pure! (Source Unknown)

(pause)

4. Your victory is possible, vv. 10-11.

The end of verse ten and verse eleven say:

Revelation 2:10–11 ESV

… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 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 Christian can be victorious through the power of the Holy Spirit! We can be faithful unto death! Persecution like Smyrna church faced was quite intimidating, even terrifying.

But the Christians of Smyrna church could be faithful to Christ even if it meant they would become martyrs.

The troubles that face us can also be quite intimidating to us. It isn’t easy growing a church. It can get tiring doing all the necessary things to keep a church running. There will be times of discouragement.

When we attract sinners into our midst, we will have problems because they will act like who they are - sinners. When we get sinners saved, we might even have more problems, because carnal Christians can be very carnal.

Even entirely sanctified Christians don’t always get along the best with one another. There may be disagreements on the direction of the church. There may be frustrations with policies. There may be hurt feelings.

But if we commit to faithfully following our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we can be confident of future victory! Even if we do not see success in this life, we can be confirmed as a success in the next life!

Our great, eternal God has an abundance of resources for our disposal, if we will just seek His will. We can be victorious!

John W. Yates shared this letter from a missionary who had gone into the jungles of New Guinea:

"Man," he said, "it's great to be in the thick of the fight, to draw the old Devil's heaviest guns, to have him at you with depression and discouragement, slander, disease! He doesn't waste time. He hits good and hard when a fellow is hitting him.

“You can always measure the weight of your blow by the one you get back. When you're on your back with fever and at your last ounce of strength, when some of your converts backslide, when you learn that your most promising inquirers are only fooling, when your mail gets held up and some don't bother to answer your letters, is that the time to put on your mourning suit?

"No Sir! That's the time to pull out the stops and shout hallelujah! The old fellow's getting it in the neck and he's giving it back. And all of heaven is watching over the battlements: 'Will he stick it out?'

“And as they see who is with us, as they see around us the unlimited reserves, the boundless resources, as they see the impossibility of failure with God, how disgusted and sad they must be when we run away. Glory to God! We're not going to run away. We're going to stand."

(pause)

What is the lesson for turnaround churches that we should gain from this letter to Smyrna? It is this:

Big Idea: Seeing life from Christ’s perspective gives us courage to endure.

Often, we become discouraged because we are looking at our situation from our limited, finite perspective. But when we look at our situation from Christ’s viewpoint, we regain our courage.

Our God is eternal. Our wealth is infinite. Our trouble is temporary. Our victory is possible. Why then should we fear? Why should we be afraid? Let us instead regroup and press on with holy boldness. We can persevere … if we will!

Satan would like to defeat us with discouragement. The thing is, the more the church becomes revived and starts doing more for God, the harder the punches Satan will throw our way.

People won’t always agree. Carnal Christians will act carnally. Mistakes will be made. Sometimes, the best made plans will come up short. The question is, will we look at the church from our finite viewpoint or will we look from God’s standpoint?

(pause)

Here's a man sitting on his porch in Kentucky. He's only recently retired from the post office, and he's sitting there when his first Social Security check is delivered.

He's very, very discouraged. He thinks to himself, "Is this what life is going to be from now on--sitting on the porch waiting for my check to arrive?"

He decided he wouldn't settle for that, and so he made a list of all of the things he had going for him all the blessings and the capacities, the unique things that were in him.

The list was long because he listed everything he could think of and in the list was the fact that he was the only person on earth who knew his mother's recipe for fried chicken. It used eleven different herbs and spices.

So he went to a nearby restaurant and asked if he could cook the chicken, and they said yes. It soon became the most popular item on the menu.

So he opened his own restaurant, and then others, and a string of restaurants. Eventually Harland Sanders sold the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise across all of America.

He finally retired a second time (all this happened, you remember, after he had retired from the postal service), and he continued in the service of the company as a public relations representative for a quarter of a million dollars a year till his death.

Now here was a man who did not allow himself to be defeated by discouragement. He took a look at it recognized it was there, but then went on to look at what he had with which to deal with it and used that. (Thielemann)

If a retiree can start a successful chicken restaurant because he decides he will focus on his blessings instead of the discouraging things of life, what can the church do for God through the empowering and infilling of the Holy Spirit?

Seeing life from Christ’s perspective gives us courage to endure. Let’s get our heads and eyes up! Let’s start looking at the big picture. Let us go on with Jesus through the boldness of the Holy Spirit!

(pause)

I would like to ask you now to join me in this commitment, that you will pray and ask Christ to help you see our life, our church, our challenges, and our opportunities from His perspective.

Will you commit to be faithful, to believe, to be courageous, and to serve with confidence?

That old hymn says:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase.

So bravely run the race till we see Christ!

Would you stand with me and sing this song as a commitment to be faithful to Jesus?

"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus … so bravely run the race till we see Christ."