The Victors

Have you ever won a game or competition?

Revelation 2:10 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.

The Seven Churches - (Show maps) All in modern day Turkey

Smyrna - myrrh - costly perfume

Was a harbor city, known for its beauty, civic pride, the birthplace of Homer (900 BC), who was the Author of the Illiad and Odyssey, and Emperor Worship.

is one of two church that is not given a critique by Christ.

Mr. Do (James 1:22-24) - “He who has ear to hear let him hear.” Rev 2:11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

God wants you to HEAR and DO his will.

Blessing #1 - When God blesses people, groups, or nations it means to bestow on them some physical or spiritual gift.

Revelation 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

1. True Christianity includes Suffering.

v10 “you are about to suffer”

Royal Question: What does the Spirit use to grow his fruit in your life?

The Bible, prayer, the church, and suffering.

How do we suffer?

When spiritual forces work against us.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

When government or political forces work against us.

Where is Paul when he wrote this? Eph 6:20

When family and friends oppose us. Rev 2:9

Polycarp (69AD - 156)

Polycarp was disciple of the Apostle John. Polycarp was martyred in Smyrna about 155AD although Eusebius suggests 167 in Ecclesiastical History chapter 14.

Lightfoot’s Apostolic Fathers in English 13

‘Leave me as I am; for He that hath granted me to endure the fire will grant me also to remain at the pile unmoved, even without the security which ye seek from the nails.’

True Christianity requires Faithfulness.

v10 “Be faithful”

Faithfulness includes doing

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Mr. Hear (James 1:22-24)

Faithfulness includes waiting

Psalm 27:13–14 ESV

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Faithfulness includes trusting

Psalm 25:2 ESV

2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

v10 “unto death”

Blessings #2 - When God blesses people, groups, or nations it means to bestow on them some physical or spiritual gift.

Revelation 14:13 ESV

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

True Christianity anticipates Life Eternal.

v10 “I will give you the crown of life.”

Everyone that remains steadfast will receive a greatest gift. “The crown of life” or “the crown which is life”

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

A crown back then often referred to laurel wreath. A Laurel wreath originated with the Greek god Apollos. He was the god of sport. The Greeks created the Olympics 776BC and those who competed and one would be give a laurel wreath or crown to signify their victory.

Timeline - Homer and Greek Mythology, the Olympics

The people of Smyrna would have known about

Homer and Greek Mythology

Greek gods where thought to be very much like humans, but more powerful and the main difference is the gods lived for ever.

The Olympics

They knew what it meant to win. They were often on the winner side in the Romans wars.

Here in Rev 2:10 Jesus is tell the church at Smyrna how to be the victorious.

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Royal Question this week

What story does the Bible tell?

The kingdom of this world is becoming the kingdom of our Lord. Revelation 11:15

1 Corinthians 15:24–26 ESV

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Have you believed upon Jesus and asked him to forgive you of your sins?

If you have believed and confessed, then have you been baptized?

If you have believed, confessed, and been baptized are you learning and obeying the Lord’s commands?