The Letter to Smyrna

Introduction

Last Sunday we looked at the signs of loosing our first love. We saw that it is possible to be doing all sorts of things for Jesus, but not out of love. We pointed out that there is a vast difference between working for Jesus and working with Jesus. The temptation is to be so busy that we neglect to spend with God.

This morning we come to the church in Smyrna. The town of Smyrna was known for its production of Myrrh and its loyalty to Rome, particularly to Caesar. In fact, they carried their loyalty to Caesar so far as to require all people in the city to declare, “Caesar is Lord,” once a year. The Jewish people in Smyrna were well known and were exempted from declaring “Caesar is Lord” like the rest of the town had to.

The Christians in Smyrna found themselves within the cross hairs of persecution. Both the pagan Smyrnans and the Jewish people persecuted the believers. The conversion to Christianity required the new believers to abandon their pagan worship practices. Part of those practices included the rites and rituals of the trade guilds. If a believer refused to follow through with the false worship of their trade guild, they would be kicked out of the trade guild and effectively unemployed.

The bishop of the church in Smyrna, Polycarp, was slain in the city’s stadium for refusing to declare that “Caesar is Lord.” The date of his martyrdom and the writing of this letter lends to us the possibility that Polycarp received the letter and read it to the church a few years before his death. Let’s take a look at what Jesus said to the church in Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8–11 NKJV

“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: “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. 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. “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.” ’

Persecution is part of the Christian life.

John 15:18–19 NKJV

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

The world system is completely anti-God. While we have not witnessed or experienced persecution at the scale other Christians have, we have experienced the animosity that the world shows to us Christians.

Speaking of other Christians -

American christians have not faced beheadings as some Christians have.

We have not faced the loss of income and family as some Christians have - Tell Mark’s story.

We have not faced imprisonment and beatings like my friends Hank and Ernest have.

We have not faced the same severity of persecution, yet we do face persecution and make no mistake: our persecution will get worse before it gets better.

Persecution will come from the world:

The Smyrnan Christians were labeled as atheists because they refused to participate in the polytheistic practices of the community, specifically they refused to worship Caesar.

As we continue in our refusal to accept moral relativism, society is going to persecute us more.

Its going to go beyond the snide comments made about Bible-believing Christians today.

Its going to go beyond litigation.

We are already seeing an assault on the biblical worldview. Those that preach tolerance are the most intolerant of the Bible.

We may not be accused of being atheists as the Smyrnans were, but we are labeled as Bible-thumpers, bigots, closed minded, ignorant, backwards, among other things.

Persecution will come from false believers:

Revelation 2:9 NKJV

“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 word for blasphemy here would translate to slander.

Don’t be surprised if you are living for God and doing your best to live a holy life before him if people who go to church will ridicule you and even slander your name.

They may call you a hypocrite.

Say that you are “holier than thou”

They will mock you, lie about you, accuse you, gossip about you, backbite, criticize you, insult you, discriminate you, and cause all manner of division in the church.

The Jewish people Jesus was referring to were people who claimed to be followers of God, but were not. We know from scripture and experience that there are a lot of people that claim to follow Christ, but don’t. Your own attitude toward other Christians can be a good indicator of whether or not you are truly saved.

Persecution is not something deserved.

Some of us go through hard times because we have brought it on ourselves.

If people shun you, make fun of you, or are down right mean to you because you are obnoxious - it does not qualify as persecution.

If you are a hypocrite and someone calls you out on it, it is not persecution.

If you throw a hissy fit in a store while wearing a Christian shirt and don’t get what you asked for, maybe its not the shirt, but the attitude that brought difficulty on yourself.

We can not label something as persecution if we are simply reaping what we have sown.

The true source of persecution.

Revelation 2:9–10 NKJV

“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. 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.

Twice in these two verses, the devil is mentioned. In verse 9, he is named - Satan. In verse 10, he is referred to as the devil.

True persecution is very simply spiritual warfare being manifested physically. The means of combatting persecution is not through our own human means.

Ephesians 6:10–18 NKJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Put on the whole armor of God and PRAY!

Persevere in Faithfulness

Jesus said not to fear what we must suffer in verse 10. He gave a definite amount of time the suffering must be endured. This is saying that it will come to an end.

Continue to be faithful to Christ, even until death, and Jesus will give you the crown of life.

Do not give up on God, He is not giving up on you. When the persecution comes, don’t give in, but persevere in Christ.

The first and the last is with you. He is the one that was alive, became dead, and came back to life. He has conquered death and the grave. He has given a great promise to those that overcome -

Revelation 2:11 NKJV

“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:

The spiritual death will not come for you, it will not hurt you if you are truly a believer in Jesus Christ.

If you are not a believer and you die without Christ; you will not only experience physical death, but will experience the second death as well.

Revelation 21:7–8 NKJV

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Conclusion

Maybe you are suffering from some sort of persecution this morning, I encourage you to ask the Lord to help you to persevere through it.

Maybe you recognize that you have been guilty of persecuting someone and that you need to repent or even be saved. I encourage you to do what is necessary.

Maybe this morning, when I read about the second death, you realized that you fell into one of the categories of people that will face the lake of fire; I encourage you to come today and believe in the Lord