The Seven Churches of Revelation (3)

Introduction

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As we begin tonight, I want to ask a question that might seem a little odd for a Christian living in the Canada.

Would you be willing to choose suffering and possibly martyrdom for what you believe about Christ?

Or to say it another way, could you die for your Christian faith, knowing all along you could be prosperous and stay alive by simply going along with the government?

To us this question may seem a little strange because we don’t think about martyrdom do we?

It doesn’t cross our minds. But this is exactly the dilemma the Christians at Smyrna had to face.

Do we deny Jesus as Lord to save our necks, or do we deny what’s politically correct and save our souls?

It’s similar to when the Japanese occupied Korea from 1937 to 1940, ordering the Christians to worship at their Shinto shrines. Many Christians refused and were imprisoned and tortured. Well, let’s read our text and see what the Christians from Smyrna can teach us.

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.” ’

1. Trials, Suffering & what matters most?

Of the seven letters to the seven churches, this is the shortest. And only two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, who dealt with suffering, escape criticism from our Lord.

Suffering and going through trials has a way of reminding us which things in life really matter don’t they? And perhaps the greatest lesson we are to learn from the Christian Church in Smyrna is that they figured out what matters most.

Background:

To get a feel for what was happening 1900 years ago, I offer a little background.

Of all the cities of Asia - Smyrna was considered the loveliest. It was called the ornament, the crown, and the flower of Asia. Because of the layout of its broad streets and the design of the city with its beautiful towers and buildings symmetrically placed, it appeared as a crown and was given the name Crown of Smyrna.

Also, Smyrna was granted the honor by the Roman senate of building a temple to the Emperor Tiberius over eleven other cities. This made Smyrna a center for emperor worship.

By the time Emperor Domitian was in power (81-96A.D.), emperor worship became compulsory for every Roman citizen on threat of death. So once each year every Roman citizen would burn incense to the godhead of Caesar, say out loud, "Caesar is Lord," and then receive a certificate of compliance.

Now what is interesting is that the Romans allowed the Jews to be exempt from this.

They were allowed to observe their own religion, known as religio licita.

Basically, the Romans saw the Jews as an ancient monotheistic people and so their religious beliefs in one God was tolerated.

And since Jesus was a Jew and the first Christians were Jewish, they were lumped together and protected under this ruling.

That is, until the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70A.D.

After that point, the Jews made sure they distinguished themselves from the Christians and began slandering their practices and falsely accusing them before government officials.

Why would they do that?

Because they did not want to be associated with any other uprisings or political revolts such as when temple was destroyed and last stand at Masada.

2. Poor but Rich

One of the charges against the Christians was their disloyalty to Rome because they considered Jesus as Lord, not Caesar.

Over time, the Christians were persecuted more and more; their property was confiscated, their goods were spoiled, their homes and businesses were looted, their ability to work in such a hostile environment and make a living for their families was diminished; and we see a group of believers living in poverty compared to the wealth of everyone else.

You watch the media and see that there are areas that are poor, children are hungry, everyone is looking for money and the value of a U.S. dollar is high because the stability of their own dollar is unknown and could be worthless.

You hear of reports where global workers see small children that should have been in school, walking around barefoot, with dirty clothes and faces trying to sell their handmade products. The contrast between what we have and they have is night and day.

The same could be said for the Christians in Smyrna. They lived under heavy oppression. They were paying a penalty for following Christ. And though materially and financially they were poor, Jesus tells them they were spiritually rich.

They were rich in the sense this chapter in their lives was not the conclusion to the story because the author life had the final say.

The hope of the resurrected Christ shines through!

Jesus’ resurrection was proof of something greater and God’s book had more pages.

Now to get an idea of the hostility the Christian church faced in Smyrna, I would like to share with you a true story of an early church father named Polycarp, a disciple of John the Apostle, who became the 12thChristian to be martyred in Smyrna.

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was martyred on Saturday, February 23rd, in the year 155 A.D.

It was the time of the public games; the city was crowded; and the crowds were excited. Suddenly the shout went up: "Away with the atheists; let Polycarp be searched for."

Ironically, Christians were considered atheists – because they had no images of their God.

His whereabouts were revealed by a slave who collapsed under torture. When they came to arrest him, Polycarp ordered that the soldiers who came should be given a meal and provided with all they wished, while he asked for himself the privilege of one last hour in prayer. Not even the arresting captain wished to see Polycarp die. On the brief journey to the city, he pled with the old man: "What harm is it to say, 'Caesar is Lord' (emperor worship) and to offer sacrifice and be saved?" But Polycarp was adamant that for him, only Jesus Christ was Lord.

When Polycarp entered the arena a voice came from heaven telling him to remain strong. Then the proconsul gave him the choice of cursing the name of Christ and making sacrifice to Caesar or death. "Eighty and six years have I served Him," said Polycarp, "and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

The proconsul threatened him with burning, and Polycarp replied: "You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. Why are you waiting? Come, do what you will."

The crowds came flocking with bundles of sticks from the workshops and from the baths, and the Jews broke their own Sabbath law (4th commandment) by working when they carried wood for the fire.

The crowds were going to bind him to the stake.

But Polycarp said - "Leave me as I am, for He who gives me power to endure the fire, will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved even without the security you will give by the nails."

So they left him loosely bound in the flames, and Polycarp prayed to God, blessing God for granting him the honor of being a martyr, a witness for Christ in death, suffering like Jesus, for that’s what martyr means - witness.

3. Significance of the First and Last

Is it any wonder when we look to the Scripture, in verse 8, where Jesus is called the first and last, how encouraging this title for Christ was to the Christians of Smyrna?

From the first day of life, until the last, Christ is with us. Why?

Because Jesus is eternal, the beginning and the end.

When Jesus rose from the grave He conquered death and to those destined for martyrdom, Christ’s promise of our future resurrection for all believers would be of great comfort.

To me this is the same comfort I see for the dear saint with a terminal illness, or an incurable disease, or a difficult surgery, or the families I try to minister to at a funeral.

It’s the words of the Apostle Paul in

Romans 8:18 NKJV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

when he says, “...the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

We need to remind and encourage each other, there are better days ahead. No matter what we have endured or suffered, all things shall be made up to us in glory.

Why?

Because Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the hope of life, the first and the last.

Since the Jews of Smyrna persecuted the Christians and slandered the church, thereby rejecting their Messiah, Jesus explains in verse 9, the Jews were no longer the synagogue, the assembly of the Lord, as they liked to refer to themselves, but had become instead the synagogue of Satan, doing His evil acts. Their hostility against the church proved by their actions they were not God’s people.

What about today?

Can you think of any assaults against the Christian church?

What about the gradual changes we have seen under the wording separation of church and state?

Coaches can no longer pray with teams. Teachers can no longer pray with students.

Christmas and Easter vacation is now winter and spring break.

I feel for Christian teachers who have to be so careful these days so they don’t offend anyone.

Doesn’t it seem strange that in our stores we can market Santa Claus and the Easter bunny but we can’t promote the real history behind these holidays?

Our dating system which revolves around the birth of Christ (B.C.&A.D.) is not politically correct after how many centuries?

Now we are supposed to say before common era and after common era.

How many high schools still have a graduation service along with commencement?

Would you say it’s true that most of the time movies and TV programming characterize Christians as either morons or completely intolerant and unloving?

Young adults are told in College that the Bible is just an antiquated book filled with errors, so let’s make up what we believe as we go along because there are no absolute truths to give us a sure foundation?

Our persecution here in Canada is not a frontal attack, but an erosion.

We are losing ground not to some pagan belief but to humanistic views that have removed God from the picture.

Minority voices speak and pass laws for the majority. And even though I believe these are just signs of the times revealing to me that Christ’s return is imminent, it doesn’t mean I rollover like a dog and never stand up for what I believe to be true in Christ. I am still accountable for what I teach and what I don’t teach.

Conclusion:

Therefore, when I read about the Christians in Smyrna, I am encouraged. They challenge me. They prod me to be a better woman of God.

Because verse 10 is a warning of what is to come.

Jesus tells the believers, I know you have suffered in the past, but it is going to get worse. And some of you will be thrown into prison for a short time, (which is what ten days refers to – Semitic idiom), and your loyalty will be tested.

But Jesus tells the Christians at Smyrna, hang in there until the end.

Go the distance and remain faithful unto death.

You see in Roman times, prison was a place where you waited for your trial and then either sentencing or release. But most likely, if you were sentenced, you were executed.

And what does the Lord promise in verse 10?

To those who are faithful until death, I will give you the crown of life. Not a perishable, laurel wreath crown an athlete receives from the stadium games, but the victory crown of eternal life which will never perish.

Jesus was saying, Smyrna may be the crown of Asia, but it doesn’t compare to what I have prepared for you in My kingdom.

Yes, to the one who overcomes (verse 11), they will not be hurt by the second death.

In the Scripture - two types of death are referred to - physical death and spiritual death.

And in the book of Revelation, spiritual death, was known as the Second death, an eternal separation from God after judgment known as the lake of fire. (20:14)

Everyone will experience the first death - physical death, we have no choice (unless of course the Rapture were to come). But only the overcomer, the disciple who makes a choice for Christ, will not experience the Second death - they will pass from death to life, joined to God for all eternity.

But only the overcomer, the disciple who makes a choice for Christ, will not experience the Second death - they will pass from death to life, joined to God for all eternity.

Jesus said in

Matthew 10:28 NKJV

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

, "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

I want to share another illustration from Corrie Ten Boom, the Dutch survivor of the Nazi gas chambers.

She tells a story of a group of believers who were meeting in an Iron Curtain country when the church door burst open and two Russian soldiers with submachine guns stormed in.

They said they would give five minutes for anyone who wished to renounce Christ to leave, and those who stayed would be shot right then and there.

As each person searched his or her heart for the courage to face death, a few got up and left.

The officers then walked to the door of the church, locked it, and turned to the congregation with these words, "Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are believers, too, but we did not want to worship where everyone was not completely committed to Christ and willing to die for Him. May we become part of your fellowship?"

Wow! Can you imagine if someone did that here?

What would you do if two men broke up this worship service and threatened to kill you unless you denied Christ?

The good news is, unless we are in the last days of the great tribulation, the chances of us having to choose between Christ or death in Canada is very slim.

But that’s not true in other parts of the world is it?

Imprisonment leading to death is a reality.

Data collected in 2006 by Gordon-Conwell Seminary tells us an average of 171,000 Christians worldwide are martyred for their faith each year.

When this letter was passed along to the seven churches, how did the other six churches respond when they read about Smyrna’s suffering?

· Did they figure out what matters most?

· Did they take a stand for Christ?

· Did they decide to remain faithful until the end?

Because to the one who does, Jesus promises, the crown of life shall be their reward and the second death will never touch them. May we be just as faithful in our calling as the Christians in Smyrna were in theirs.

Sing: Make me more like thee Jesus