Don’t Worry it Is Going to Get Worse

Revelation 2:8-11

What is a person to do? You’re going through life and your horse throws a shoe, you best coon dog runs off, your hoe handle breaks and it is so hot that your best hen just laid a hardboiled egg and you wanted scrambled. Everything is going wrong in your life; everything. When that is happening you always have at least one well meaning friend, usually the pastor, who in reality can’t do anything about your situation says something really, really stupid. Does anyone want to guess what that stupid saying is? I’m going to tell you; “Cheer up, it could be worse”. That’s right it could be worse. Like I said that well meaning friend can’t do a thing about your situation but he just wants to help you get through the problems. But let’s change the scenario just a bit. What if, in the midst of all your problems, the one person that can fix everything, he can shoe your horse, knows where your dog is, has a new hoe for you and knows how to make chicken and dumplings out of that old hen comes to you and says (now remember you know he can fix everything) and he says to you, “Don’t worry it’s going to get a lot worse.” Is that really what you are looking for? Is that what you want to hear from someone that can make all your problems go away?

Today that is exactly what we are going to see happen to the church in Smyrna. We will be looking at Revelation 2:8-11 and our “story” goes well beyond “things will get worse” so if you think to yourself “I don’t want to hear another sad story, my dog is missing, and you quit listening now you will miss the good part. I know I was being kind of silly because the church at Smyrna’s problems go well beyond horse shoes, coon dogs, hoes and chickens. Their problems were a matter of life and death. Let’s pray then we will read Jesus’ letter to the church at Smyrna.

Last week we looked at the church at Ephesus, a church that was doing everything right but it appeared their works, their doctrine, and their hatred of what God hates was at the expense of love. That is something we all need to be concerned with in our own lives not to mention the life of the church. Today we will look at the church in Smyrna which is about 70 miles north of Ephesus along the coastline of the Aegean Sea. The city was known for its large Jewish population during the first century. The population during the time of John and Paul was about 100,000 people. Very little has been excavated of the ancient city because the city of Izmir is built on top of the old city and it is the second largest city in Turkey today. Two people of note are from Smyrna. The poet Homer was probably born there in around 800 BC and it was the home of one of the Apostolic Fathers and disciple of the Apostle John, Polycarp; more about that later. The only other thing I will say about Smyrna, the city, is that it was known as the Temple Warden in that it was the sight of the Asian Imperial Temple dedicated to Emperor Worship.

With that as our backdrop let’s read Revelation 2:8-11 8 “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: 9 “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. 10 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.11 “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]

We have already discussed the subject of the angel of the church but if indeed the angel is the pastor or bishop of the church then very possibly Jesus could be sending this message to the church at Smyrna through John’s disciple, Polycarp. Either way the description that Jesus uses of Himself are the same words used in chapter 1 verses 17-18 to comfort John when he fell on his face in holy fear. Jesus calls HImself The First and Last, who was dead, and came to life. I know that description could mean a lot of things but basically it is a good description of One who has power over time, past, present and future, and power over sin, sin leads to death but He came to life, was resurrected, after dying for our sin. This description would not be so grand or powerful except that He warns them that there will be more persecution and that they must be faithful unto death and then encourages them with the fact that they will not be hurt by the second death.

And if you add verse 9 into the mix where Jesus says that He knows of all the struggles they are going through then you really have to realize that His description of Himself is very powerful. 9 “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. I love the way Jesus, after describing Himself as the Lord of time and life, gets so personal and tells them He knows them, their works and their struggles. Their works were evidently the works of righteousness because Jesus had no complaint at all against this church yet they were having tribulation most likely because the Jews who held, to some degree, a protected status with the Romans were blaspheming them. This simply means that the people who claimed to be the people of God, the Jews, were proving that they were not the people of God (Jews who were not really Jews) and were accusing the true people of God (the church at Smyrna) of crimes. Since Smyrna was a center of Emperor Worship most likely the Jews were turning in the Christians for not worshiping the Emperor. By this time in church history Christianity was no longer considered a part of Judaism but a separate religion and the Jews were afforded some leniency as it relates to Emperor worship. But that was not the case with Christianity. Christians were persecuted by the Romans for not proclaiming that Caesar was lord. Since Satan is known as the accuser of the brethren or the slanderer these Jews, who should have been of the congregation of God because of God’s special revelation to them going all the way back to Abraham, were acting as the congregation or synagogue of Satan the accuser, the slanderer of God’s people.

Jesus also tells them that He knows their poverty but that they are really rich. In the epistle to the Hebrews the writer in chapter 12 talks about how the believers had lost much in their persecution but none of them had suffered with the loss their lives. Here Jesus acknowledges the “financial” difficulties but reminds them of the riches they possess. Now I can’t tell you what they were rich in but let me just read a few passages of Scripture that could shed much light on that. 2 Corinthians 8:9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.[2] 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.[3] James 2:5 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?[4] They were rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom. I can’t tell you that there was no “financial” comeback for the church at Smyrna, if there was there is no record of it, but in light of the fact that they are suffering tribulation and when we get to verse 10 we see that it gets worse, I have to believe that Jesus is reminding them that they have life, they have faith, they have Him, the First and Last, He who was dead and now made alive, they have the kingdom of God. They may have lost their livelihood, even their freedom but like Paul said there in 2 Corinthians 6:10 as having nothing yet possessing all things.

In the opening I talked about having your world fall apart and then the one who can fix it all comes and tells you; “Don’t worry it is only going to get worse”. In verse 10 that time has arrived and Jesus starts with “Do not fear!” so we know it will be bad. Verse 10 10 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.

Suffer? Who said anything about suffering? I thought being a Christian was all about going to heaven and streets of gold and no more tears and no more sickness. Isn’t He supposed to fix all our problems? Aren’t we supposed to be God’s people? He wouldn’t let anything bad happen to His people; would He? Folks, anyone who preaches that Christianity is all about healing, and wealth and prosperity has never really dug into God’s Word. This is a real live church that is already suffering and the First and Last the one who was dead and is now made alive, the One that can fix all of their problems is telling them that it is all going to get worse. This church is one of only two of the seven churches that Jesus has nothing to complain about so these struggles, this suffering, this tribulation is not due to their own sin. It is not like Jesus called them to repentance and they refused so now they are going to suffer the consequences, this is nothing like Israel and Judah that we have been studying on Wednesday evenings. They are suffering because that is the course of the Christian’s life, Jesus promised it in John 16. The devil is going to have some of them thrown into prison and some of them are even going to die. Let me go back to Polycarp here. He was the pastor or bishop of Smyrna. The Jews caused him much distress and accused him of much wrong. They stirred up the Roman proconsul to arrest him and put him on trial. The Jews wanted him torn apart by wild animals but the proconsul knew that burning him at the stake would be more merciful. At the time and place of his execution the proconsul offered him the opportunity for Polycarp to bow and say that Caesar is lord and just throw a pinch of incense on the fire as an offering to the Emperor and he would be set free. But it is reported that Polycarp said: “For eighty and six years I have served Christ, He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?” He was taken to the stake and the soldiers could not find a nail or any rope to secure him to there for his execution. He told them that Jesus would not let him down and that Jesus would hold him close. He was burned to death. Historically we know there was indeed tribulation. The length of the tribulation is limited though. The “ten days” are symbolic of a short time but even a short time is still a test. Let me stop here and explain the “test”. It is not a pass fail test. If you pass the test all is well but if you fail the test you are lost forever; that’s not it. This test is one that proves to you, not God, that you are indeed His. Let me try to illustrate that concept if I can. When I was a child I took swim lessons. I cannot remember not knowing how to swim; it is kind of like roller skating, I can’t remember not knowing how. But all of my swimming, before the lessons, was done in water that I could touch the bottom, I had never been tested in the deep end. So after some lessons they took us down to the deep end. I knew I could swim in the shallow end, I had been doing it my entire short life, but now I had to be tested so that I knew I could swim in the deep end where the dangers were real. After I proved to myself that I could make it across that pool in the deep end they gave me a certificate of accomplishment and I can remember cherishing that piece of paper as if it was signed by the president of the United States (it was only signed by the lifeguard). When we are tested in this life with tribulations and we endure them to the glory of God it proves to us, not to God He already knows, but it proves to us that our faith in God, our love for God and others is real. And you don’t get a certificate of accomplishment, you get the victors crown of life. This is not a diadem, a royal crown, but one like they gave to the winners of a race of a wrestling match. It is the “stephanos” of victory stating that the wearer has accomplished his task in victory and in this case has glorified God through his life. It is the prize that Paul describes in Philippians 3:14 of one who presses toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. You know you can swim in the deep end and you have the crown to prove it.

Like I said in the beginning it is more than: Life is hard and it is only going to get worse. In fact Jesus, the First and Last, the one who was dead and is now made alive makes sure the people of the church knows the rest of the story in verse 1111 “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.” ’[5] I didn’t say anything about this last week but I think in light of what we have seen today I will cover the idea of having an ear to hear. In John 8 Jesus told a group of Pharisees that had surrounded Him that they did not understand what He said because they were of their father the devil. Then He says in John 8:4747 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”[6] Those who are NOT Christ’s do NOT have an ear to hear, they do NOT comprehend what the Spirit says to the churches. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. Those who have an ear will hear because they have been miraculously saved by the powerful grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. So Jesus is saying “listen up My people”. He who overcomes (the ones who have the crown of life) shall not be hurt by the second death. The word overcomes could just as accurately be translated “conquered” or “won the victory”. The individual man, woman and child who have faced the suffering of loss and slander, who have been tested and found themselves to be faithful are those who have no need to fear the second death. But what is the second death? We get the answer to that towards the end of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Revelation 21:8 8 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.”[7] I think that is pretty clear. Those who do not conquer are judged by God and thrown into the lake of fire. We will talk more about that as we move through the Revelation but what Jesus tells His people in Smyrna is that they cannot be hurt by God’s judgment because they are His and their judgment was laid on Christ. Dying a martyr’s death or just dying in your bed at a ripe old age in your sleep is nothing compared with suffering the judgment of God, being cast into the lake of fire. In other words those who are His need not fear the death of the body because that is the only death you will experience, you have the crown of life. I didn’t make this up and I don’t know who did so I cannot attribute it to a source but I heard this a long time ago: Born once die twice, born twice die once. Jesus is promising His people in Smyrna that they had nothing to fear from being faithful unto death.

If there is one message that is clear here in this letter to the church at Smyrna it is that Christ Jesus did not save His people from the struggles of this life. He has saved us through those struggles. Right now, today, we do not experience the tribulation that the believers of Smyrna experienced. They were being accused and abused for crimes that are not really crimes. How many of you have been hauled before a judge, accused of not bowing to Caesar? But that does not mean that we do not have to prove to ourselves that we can swim in the deep end. There are struggles in this life that test our faith, test our devotion to Christ, our love for Him and others. And let me make sure you understand this; they will get worse. The tests may come through personal health issues, family struggles, and eventually even professional trials. We are not immune to those struggles. Christ did not save us from them but His grace sees us through them. And when we are tested in those struggles we know we have the crown of life, the victor’s crown, we are more than conquerors, and we need not fear the judgment of God. Let me end with a verse that has come to mean a lot to me personally; Romans 8:18 18 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. [8] Let’s pray.

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:8–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Co 8:9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3] The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Co 6:3–10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jas 2:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[5] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:8–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[6] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 8:47). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 21:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[8] The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 8:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.