SMYRNA

STUDY OF THE 7 CHURCHES

G.I.J.N. AND WELCOME TO OUR WORSHIP SERVICE THIS MORNING - I TRUST YOU ARE EXCITED TO WORSHIP THE ONE WHO SAID : I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST, WHICH WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE. THE ONE WHO WE STUDIED IN S. S. THAT BECAUSE OF THAT GREAT WORK OF SALVATION - CHRIST DYING AND RESURECTION -BEING ALIVE - GIVES US THAT JOY IN FORGIVNESS THROUGH HIM AND THE JOY OF TRUST - THE TRUST THAT WE CAN COMPLETELY RELY ON OUR SAVIOR IN EVERY SITUATION TO BE THERE WITH US.

THIS MORNING I PLAN TO CONTINUE OUR STUDY OF THE 7 CHURCHES - LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS - AND TO RECAP WHAT WE STUDIED - EPHESUS WAS COMMENDED FOR BEING A BUSY CHURCH - DOING GREAT THINGS - WORKING HARD AND FAINTING NOT - HOWEVER JESUS REPRIMANDED THEM FOR HAVING LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE. SOMETIMES WE HEAR THE COMMENT “THEY LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE” - I WANT TO DRAW OUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT JESUS IS SAYING - WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE OF LOST OR LEAVING.

ILLUSTRATED THIS WAY - IF WE LOSE OUR DOG OR SOME OTHER OBJECT - IS MISPLACED - WE DONT KNOW WHERE IT IS - WE JUST FAILED TO KEEP TRACK OF IT AND CAN NOT LOCATE IT AT THE MOMENT - SOMETIMES WE DONT FIND IT AGAIN AND IT IS GONE FOR GOOD.

WHAT THE CHURCH DID HERE WAS A MORE DELIBERATE OR CONSCIENCE ACT. OR THE NIV USES THE WORD FORSAKEN - USING THE DOG ILLUSTRATION - IF WE LOOSE OUR DOG - IT GETS OUT OR RUNS OFF AND WE DONT KNOW WHERE IT IS AND - USUALLY - IF WE CALL IT OR GO LOOKING FOR IT WE FIND IT OR SOMEONE LETS US KNOW THAT THEY SEEN IT. AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT HAPPENS AND DON’T JUDGE THE OWNER FOR THAT SITUATION. HOWEVER WE SEE AN READ STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO TAKE THEIR DOG TO A PARKING LOT OR REMOTE AREA AND LEAVE SOME FOOD AND THE DOG BEHIND AND DRIVE AWAY - TO THEM WE HAVE A STRONGER DISTAIN FOR THEIR ACTIONS BECAUSE IT WAS DELIBERATE. THEY TOOK ACTION TO LEAVE AND FORSAKE THEIR PET.

SO IT IS WITH CHRIST - THE LESSON TO LEARN FROM EPHESUS - JESUS IS VERY DISAPOINTED IN THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO NOT SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST - ALLOW THEIR OWN DESIRES AND INTEREST AND PRAISE OF MEN TO OVERRIDE LIVING WITH A HEART FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST. JESUS TELLS US THE JUDGEMENT FOR THIS IS: I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK OUT OF THIS PLACE.

THE CHALLENGE IS TO REMAIN ROOTED IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST - WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE SO WE CAN HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE AS HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH. AND WE USED THE ILLUSTRATION OF ANDRE AND ASHLYN THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF THE WORLD AROUND US - HAVE EACH OTHERS BACKS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE EVIL FACING US - SO WE AS A CHURCH CAN FORM A SAFE PLACE OF LOVE AROUND THOSE WHO ARE WEAK AND MAKE THE CHURCH A PLACE OF REFUGE - NOT A SHELL HAVING THE FORM OF GODLINESS BUT A CHURCH THAT IS ALIVE AND FULL OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO THE SECOND CHURCH - THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA - WE FIND THIS CHURCH LISTED IN REVELATION 2:8-11,

THE FOCUS OF OUR STUDY OF THESE CHURCHES IS TO BE REMINDED OF WHAT CHRIST IS LOOKING FOR IN HIS CHURCH - THE BODY OF BELIEVERS - MADE UP OF US AS INDIVIDUALS TO BE HIS BRIDE - WHO HE PROMISED TO COME BACK DOWN TOWARD EARTH FOR AND TAKE TO HEAVEN TO BE WITH HIM FOREVER MORE - WHAT A PROMISE WE HAVE THAT SHOULD INSPIRE US TO LIVE FOR HIM - AND THIS STUDY OF THE CHURCHES IS TO SHOW US WHAT JESUS LOVES AND HATES IN HIS CHURCH.

INTRODUCTION -

MAP 1 TO SHOW WHERE THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA WAS LOCATED IN TURKEY

NOTICE IT IS ALSO A HARBOR OR PORT CITY LIKE EPHESUS - SETTING IT UP AS AN IDEAL CITY FOR A BUSY - PROSPEROUS - RICH CITY OF COMMERCE.

Located at a strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia, the oldest remains of the city, likely founded by indigenous peoples, are within the city that is now called Izmir, Turkey.

MAP 2 - RED DOT - SEE THE THE VALLEYS AND RIVERS CONNECTING THE CITIES.

Smyrna had first risen to prominence during the Archaic Period as one of the principal ancient Greek settlements in western Anatolia. The second flourishing of the city occurred when it reached the status of a metropolis during the Roman Empire.

MAP 3

Smyrna was located about 45 miles north of Ephesus. • Sits at the inland tip of a large deep gulf that extends 30 miles inland form the Aegean Sea. : . • Was on a major trade route that led inland through Asia Minor.

Brief history: • Founded in about 1100-1000 B.C. • . • The earliest settlers were Aeolian Greeks. • After 688 B.C. Smyrna fell to the Ionians. • Early in the period of Roman dominance (about 195 B.C.), Smyrna pledged her allegiance with a temple built to honor the god Rorna.

MAP 4

• During New Testament times the population is estimated to have been between 180,000 and 200,000 people. Political status in New Testament times: The city was under Roman control. • It had a proconsul - Smyrna was a flourishing commercial city. • A port city with two harbors. - Small harbor could be closed with chains. - larger harbor used as a mooring place. • A wealthy city. • Fertile soil and excellent climate.

CITY ILLUSTRATION DURING ROMAN PERIOD - TWO HARBORS

• Olympian games were celebrated in Smyrna. • ALSO - Ancient writers referred to the ‘Crown of Smyrna.” - The crown of Smyrna likely arose from the appearance of the hill Pagos (PAY-GOHSS, with stately public buildings on its rounded top and the city spreading out down its rounded sloping sides.

RUINS

• Smyrna was famous throughout the Roman world for: - Its wealth. - As a center of science. - As a center of medicine. • Smyrna has been called: - “The fairest city” of its region. - “The crown of Ionia.” - The lovely.” - “The “ornament of Asia.”

STREET

Architecture: • Beautiful, well-paved, COLLUM -lined streets. One street was called the “Street of Gold.” • ALSO KNOW FOR ITS Attractive squares and porticos.

COLUMMS - EXCAVATED AREA OF THE AGORA

BIBLE LANDS NOTED A FEW OF SMYRNA’S NOTABLE STRUCTURES • Public library. • A theater that would seat 20,000 people. • A grain market. • The most magnificent gymnasium in Asia Minor. also. • The Agora (marketplace) - THIS area OF Smyrna which has been excavated WAS - 394 ft x 262½ ft. - which has a - Vaulted basement. - Two story portico. - This market place formed the center attraction of the city. • also The Odeion — an auditorium which one writer said was Smyrna’s house of music.

POLYCARP

Religion: • Smyrna was the center for the worship of Dionysus (the god of wine). • During the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.), refusal to worship the image of the Roman emperor as lord was punishable by death. The Church at Smyrna IS Known as the suffering church due to the severe persecution it suffered at the hands of the Roman government. • Polycarp WHO LIVE ( 69-156 A.D.) - A pupil of John. - During a great period of persecution, Polycarp was arrested and brought before the governor. When he was offered his freedom f he would curse Christ, he replied: “Eighty and six years have I served Christ and He has done me nothing but good; how then could I curse Him, my Lord and Savior?” He was then burned alive. Even the Jews, although it was the Sabbath, helped gather wood for the fires. - It is said that ten other Christians, including some from - Philadelphia, were martyred along with Polycarp in Smyrna’s stadium. • Irenaeus, a very influential leader in the early church, lived in Smyrna.

In the late second century, Irenaeus also noted:

Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna...always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true. To these things all the Asiatic Churches testify, as do also those men who have succeeded Polycarp.

WHO IS SUCCEEDING POLYCARP. LETS BRING IT CLOSER HOME -

TWO STORIES

SLIDE SHOWING HANDS - TAKEN FROM THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS - LIVING IN WHAT I WOULD COMPARE TO THE SITUATION OF THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA.

Christians in Nigeria are being repeatedly killed and kidnapped by Islamists and bandit groups, even during worship services. In Nov. 2025, around 300 schoolchildren were taken from a Christian school in one state. In Jan. 2026, around 30 people were killed in an attack in the same area. And on Sunday, Jan. 18TH , 172 Christians were kidnapped as they participated in services inside three different churches in another state. “The situation seems to be getting worse for Christians in Nigeria,” said a front-line worker. “Nowhere in northern Nigeria is safe for Christians, but they continue to live there because it is their ancestral homeland.” He said that Christians in Nigeria, however, are resilient. “Every morning that Christians wake up, especially in northern Nigeria, is a grace because they know at any time an attack may happen with no guarantee of protection from the government authorities. Their hope is in God and him alone!”

SLIDE - INDIA

“Pastors are only asking for prayer for the ministry to continue, and prayer for conversion of [their] persecutors,” Brother Vijay says, “No one is asking that the persecution would stop.”

Brother Vijay, a gospel worker in India, shares what it means to follow Christ in India today, and how pastors and believers there take persecution in stride. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees any Christian gathering as a crusade—an attempt to convert people. Authorities even send spies to monitor Christian gatherings.  But spies in church still hear the message; resulting in the story of a former spy who is now an ambassador for Jesus Christ.

As more of India’s states enact “anti-conversion” laws that outlaw gospel preaching, Vijay says in some states it has become virtually impossible for church congregations to gather for Sunday worship. Dozens of pastors are currently in prison in India. Yet, God is still at work, building His Kingdom.

“The most interesting thing is I see the kingdom of God prospering in a situation like this.” Vijay says, “The more pressure, the more victories.”

Vijay and other gospel workers desire to train up pastors (and “Timothys”) to lead the church, as they prepares for persecution.

Brother Vijay knows he could face persecution at any time; he willingly risks his safety to serve the Lord. “I want to continue to be faithful. I know that I, too, have been called to pay the price. And I’m willing to pay the price anytime.”

THIS MORNING WE WANT TO STUDY What does Jesus say about the church of Smyrna -Known as the suffering or persecuted church due to the severe persecution it suffered at the hands of the Roman government. Harold Martin in his commentary says - the relevant theme and message for today is this: Jesus Christ looks for faithfulness.

LETS READ - Revelation 2:8-11

8 ¶ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF DIFFERENTLY TO EACH OF THE CHURCHES - SO IMAGINE - IF FOR ONE MOMENT YOU COULD PLACE YOUSELF IN THE SETTING OF SYMRNA - WHERE EVERYTHING WAS BASICALLY SET AGAINST YOU - YOU HAD TO VERABALLY PAY RESPECT AND SAY “CEASAR IS LORD” OR THEY WOULD COME LOOKING FOR YOU - THE JEWS ARE AGAINST YOU AS WELL - SO IF YOU ARE FACING THE POSSIBILTY OF DEATH EVERY DAY - (LIKE THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA AND INDIA ) - WOULD IT NOT BE COMFORTING TO HAVE JESUS SAY I HAVE DIED AND AM ALIVE -WHAT A COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT YOU WOULD FIND IN THAT PROMISE - THINK OF THE COURAGE YOU WOULD RECIEVE - IF YOUR ARE FACING DEATH AND JESUS HAS A PERSONAL MESSAGE FOR YOU SAYING - I KNOW -I UNDERSTAND - I HAVE BEEN THERE - I KNOW THY WORKS - SPEAKING OF THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FAITHFULLNESS THEY HAVE EARNESTLY KEPT IN SPITE OF ALL THE - TRIBULATION - AND POVERTY AROUND THEM.

THINKING OF THEIR TRIBULATION AND PERSECUTION. - BESIDES BEING HUNTED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE RULERS OF THE LAND - YOU WERE ALSO REFUSED IN THE ECONOMICAL WORLD AS WELL - IF YOUR EMPLOYER FOUND OUT YOUR A CHRISTIAN - OFTEN YOU NO LONGER WERE EMPLOYED - AND COULD NOT GET A JOB. SO THE SITUATION IS VERY BLEAK FOR THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA - BUT JESUS SAYS - I HAVE DIED AND AM ALIVE - I KNOW WHAT YOUR FACING. HE IS CONFIRMING FOR THEM THAT HE HAS PERSONALLY GONE THROUGH EVERY TEMPTATION AND WAS VICTORIOUS .

JESUS SAYS THIS IN THESE VERSES.

Matthew 10:28–31 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

I HAD MENTIONED POLYCARP EARLIER - HERE IS MORE OF HIS TESTIMONY - TAKEN FROM THE “MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP -

The proconsul then said to him, I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast you, unless you repent.

But he answered, Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.

But again the proconsul said to him, I will cause you to be consumed by fire, seeing you despise the wild beasts, if you will not repent.

But Polycarp said, You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why do you tarry? Bring forth what you will.

- I BELIEVE BY THIS ACCOUNT HE IS ONE WHO TRULY BELIEVED IN THE WORDS - OH DEATH WHERE IS THY STING THAT WE READ IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:55-58

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I KNOW WE ARE NOT FACING PERSECUTION - BUT MAY WE KNOW THAT JESUS HAS PROMISED TO BE THERE FOR US IN EVERYTHING WE FACE.

WE OFTEN STRUGGLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHER’S SITUATIONS - WE THINK OF THIS AT TIMES OF LOSS - WE MAY HAVE LOST SOMEONE OR SUFFERED A HARDSHIP BUT WE OFTEN CAN ONLY SYMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN THROUGH THE SAME SITUATION - BUT JESUS DOES NOT HAVE THOSE BARRIERS - HE CAN WITH AUTHORITY SAY I KNOW I HAVE BEEN THERE - TO EVERYTHING WE FACE. HE CAN TRULY EMPATHIZE WITH US.

I FOUND THE CONTRAST OF SMYRNA TO THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT JESUS CALLS RICH - AND IT CHALLENGED ME - WHICH ONE CAN I IDENTIFY CLOSER TO?

Re 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

A VERY DIFFERENT RESPONSE BY JESUS - ARE WE CONTENT TO BE IN POVERTY AND RICH IN SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS OR DO WE GET CLOSE TO SAYING I AM RICH AND INCREASED AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING - SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR CONDEMNATION OF CHRIST SAYING - WE ARE WRETCHED - MISERABLE - POOR - BLIND - NAKED.

LETS LOOK AT THE SECOND PART OF THIS VERSE 9 - AND I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

THERE ARE VARIOUS COMMENTARY IDEAS ON WHAT THIS ALL MEANT BUT THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THE JEWS USED THE CHRISTIANS AGAINST THE ROMANS.

Richard Phillips: IN Smyrna THERE was the large and prominent Jewish community in the city. If the pattern of the apostle Paul had been followed when the gospel came to this city, the evangelists would first have preached the gospel to Jews, and many of the first believers may have come from the Jewish community. This would have been one reason why Jewish leaders were some of the early church’s most resolute oppressors. Another reason was their resolve to retain the cherished privileges under Roman rule. Because of Jerusalem’s support of Julius Caesar in the civil war, over a century earlier, Jews were granted special permission not to worship the emperor but to offer prayers to their own God on his behalf. Not wanting to share this status with converts to Christ, the Jews slandered Christians to the authorities as those who did not worship the God of the Old Testament and blasphemously denied the Christian claim that Jesus is the Messiah.

John MacArthur: Unbelieving Jews commonly accused Christians of:

1. cannibalism (based on a misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper),

2. immorality (based on a perversion of the holy kiss with which believers greeted each other;

3. breaking up homes (when one spouse became a Christian and the other did not, it often caused conflict;

4.atheism (because, as already noted, Christians rejected the pagan belief of deities and idol worhsip so since they had no physical statue or idol then they did not believe in God ),

5. Treason : politically disloyal and rebellious (because Christians refused to offer the required sacrifices to the emperor).

Their agenda was that they were hoping to destroy the Christian faith, so some of Smyrna’s wealthy, influential Jews reported these blasphemous, false allegations to the Romans. These haters of the gospel were a synagogue of Satan, meaning they assembled to plan their attack on the church, thus doing Satan’s will. They may have claimed to be a synagogue of God, but they were just the opposite.

WE KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT HISTORY - THAT MOST CHRISTIAN OPRESSION COMES FROM A SO CALLED RELIGION WHO WANTS POWER AND CONTROL OF MAN - NOT TRUE RELIGION THAT LOVES AND SERVES THE LORD.

JUST BECAUSE WE DO NOT FACE THE PERSECUTION AND TRIBULATION THAT SMYRNA OR OTHERS IN THE WORLD ARE FACING - WE CAN STILL TAKE COMFORT AND PEACE FROM THIS PROMISE THAT JESUS GIVES IN VERSE 10 - WHERE HE IN VERSE 10 SAYS:

VERSE 10 ; Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

JESUS TELLS THEM WHAT IS AHEAD - SUFFERING AND IMPRISONMENT AND TRIAL AND 10 DAYS OF TRIBULATION- BARNES SUMMARIZED IT THIS WAY - JESUS did not promise them exemption from suffering. He saw that they were about to suffer, and he specifies the manner in which their affliction would occur. But he entreats and commands them not to be afraid. They were to look to the "crown of life," and to be comforted with the assurance that if they were faithful unto death, that THE CROWN OF LIFE would be theirs.

We need not dread suffering if we can hear the voice of the Redeemer encouraging us, and if he assures us that in a little while we shall have the crown of life THEN WE SHOULD TAKE HEART AND BE FAITHFUL.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTION AND IDEAS AS TO WHAT THE 10 DAYS MEANS OR STANDS FOR - WAS IT A LITERAL 10 DAYS - OR 10 WAVES OF PERSECUTION BY THE ROMANS OR SOME OTHER SYMBOLIC TIME REPRESENTING ERA’S IN HISTORY. I AM NOT SURE OF WHAT IT ALL MEANS BUT - THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR - REGARDLESS OF THE TRIBULATION - JESUS TELLS US - TO BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH - SO WE HAVE NO REASON TO GIVE UP - WHAT EVER WE FACE - LIKE HIMSELF WHO SUFFERED AND DIED - HE HAS GIVEN US THE PROMISE THAT IF WE ARE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH - I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE.

JAMES HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE CROWN OF LIFE. JAMES 1;9-12

Jas 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

JAMES IS ECHOING THE WORDS OF JESUS - BEING RICH SPIRITUALLY AND HOW SHORT LIFE IS. BLESSES IS THE MAN WHO ENDURETH - WHEN HE IS TRIED - HE SHALL RECIEVE A CROWN OF LIFE - WHICH THE LORD HAS PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.

I LIKE THAT LAST PART - THE LOVE OF THE LORD IS WHAT GIVE US THE CROWN OF LIFE.

THE CHURCH OF SMRYNA RECEIVES ONLY ACCOMADATION FROM JESUS CHRIST - SMYRNA IS ONE OF TWO CHURCHS THAT HAVE NO CONDEMNATION FOR THEIR WORKS.

AND IN VERSE 11 - A SECOND PROMISE - HE THAT OVERCOMETH - SHALL NOT BE HURT IN THE SECOND DEATH.

WHAT IS THIS SECOND DEATH WE SHALL BE SPARED FROM -

TURN TO REVELATION 20: 11-15

Re 20:11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

REVELATION 21: 6-8 Re 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

SO HOW DO WE ESCAPE THE SECOND DEATH - V 10 - 11 OF OUR TEXT.

be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. V11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

WE COULD LOOK AT IT THIS WAY - WE MAY HAVE HEARD - BORN ONCE, DIE TWICE. BORN TWICE DIE ONCE.

MEANING THAT IF A PERSON IS ONLY BORN ONCE PHYSICALLY THEY WILL DIE 1ST PHYSICALLY AND A THEN A SECOND SPIRITUAL DEATH.

BUT IF YOU ARE BORN TWICE - ONCE PHYSICALLY AND ONCE SPIRITUALLY THEN YOU ONLY DIE ONCE PHYSICALLY AND LIVE ETERNALLY IN HEAVEN.

THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE - THE SAME AS JESUS INSTUCTED IN . John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

JESUS KNOWS IT WILL BE HARD - HE HAS PRECEDED US IN DEATH ON THE CROSS SO THAT BY HIS DEATH - HIS WILLINGNESS TO DIE ONCE AND LIVE ETERNALLY IN HEAVEN SO THAT HE COULD OFFER US REDEMTION - PROVING IT IS HIS DESIRE FOR THE CHURCH TO BE HIS BRIDE THAT HE CAN TAKE TO LIVE ETERNALLY WITH HIM.

LET US BE LIKE THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA - WILLING TO SUFFER TRIBULATION - BE TRIED - BUT BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN OUR FAITH AND LOVE FOR CHRIST SO THAT WE ARE OVERCOMERS AND FAITHFULL TO THEY END.

JESUS LOVES HIS FAITHFUL CHURCH -

AND HE GIVES THESE ENCOURAGING WORDS TO HIS DICIPLES WHO WERE TRYING TO UNDER WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING IN JOHN 16: 31-33

Joh 16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

WE NEED NOT FEAR IF WE LOVE THE LORD - FOR JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD SO THAT WE MAY HAVE PEACE.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD IN YOUR HEART THEN YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN SO THAT YOU MAY RECIEVE THE CROWN OF LIFE AND ESCAPE THE SECOND DEATH AND INSTEAD - LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER MORE IN THAT BEAUTIFUL PLACE CALLED HEAVEN - WHAT A PROMISE AND BLESSING WE SHALL RECIEVE IF WE ARE FAITHFULL.

LET US PRAY.

JESUS OFTEN SAYS FEAR NOT - AND HERE IS WHY -

Re 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION

Hebrews 13:20–21 “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”