The Church that Endures

John informs us in Revelation 1 that while he was in prison on the Isle of Patmos, that Jesus came to him and instructed him to “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches . . .” (Rev. 1:10, ESV).

Doing as he was told, John recorded what he saw and was told, and sent a copy of it to the seven church spread out through Asia Minor. We talked last week about the Church in Ephesus and were reminded how the UNIFIED Church is a Church that Loves. Our letter this week is meant for the Church in Smyrna.

BACKGROUND OF SMYRNA

The city of Smyrna was located about thirty-five to forty miles north of Ephesus.

Began as a colony of Greece most likely around 1000 B.C.

After the city was destroyed by the Lydians in 600 B.C., it laid in ruins for more than 300 years

Alexander the Great’s successors rebuilt it in 290 B.C.

Smyrna did not have the economic or political prestige of Ephesus,

The city was the most beautiful in all of Asia.

It had these great highways running through it. One of them, called the golden way because it was made out of gold, went up from the sea to the Acropolis. As a person walked the road they would see beautiful temple after beautiful temple. When they’d get to the top of the mountain, they would see the the temple of all temples dedicated to the Greek god, Zeus.

The city still exists in Turkey today, but its name is Izmir. Today its population is 4.3 million people and it is still considered one of the most beautiful cities in Asia.

In the Apostle John’s day, the city of Smyrna was a great ally of Rome.

Its citizens loved Rome so much that in 195 B.C. they built a temple of worship dedicated to Rome.

Almost 100 years later, one of Rome’s great army battalions found itself enthralled in a dark winter and were in danger of not surviving. When the Smyrna citizens heard of the army’s need, they removed their clothes and immediately sent it to them. Rome was so thankful for the gesture that they chose it as the site of a new tempe in honor of Emperor Tiberius.

In the late second century, when an earthquake destroyed the city, Marcus Aurelius rebuilt it.

Smyrna was a center of learning, especially in the areas of science and medicine.

Under the rule of Domitian (A.D. 81-96) emperor worship was mandatory for every Roman Citizen. These emperors saw themselves as gods, so they expected their citizens to see them the same way and to worship them as they would other gods.

Smyrna’s love of Rome made worshipping Domitian as a god easy, except for those who chose Christianity. Those who did not worship the emperor as he expected, were persecuted and put to death. One of the most famous Christians to be martyred in the city was Polycarp. About fifty-years after the Apostle John’s time, Polycarp at the age of eighty-six was burned alive for choosing Christ over the emperor.

Helping the Romans out in their quest against Christianity was a large sect of Jews in Smyrna. They repeatedly informed the necessary Roman officials about Christians.

It was in this extremely dangerous environment the Church in Smyrna existed.

The Communicator

“‘To the angel of the church in Smyrna . . .’”: Remember from last week’s letter that the “angel of the church” is a metaphor for the Pastor. He is the one received the letter and then he read it allowed to the Church.

‘“The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.’”: Again, just as He did in the letter to Ephesus, Jesus offers characterizations about Himself as a description of “Who” wrote the letter. This week He describes Himself in two ways:

“‘the first and the last’”: This descriptor comes from the Old Testament way of describing God.

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god” (Is. 44:6, ESV)

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last” (Is. 48:12, ESV)

So, now, here is Jesus utilizing these same words to describe Himself to the Church in Smyrna. What He’s doing here is equating Himself to God. In other words, He’s informing them that He is God. Within Him are all the characteristics of God, because He is equal with God. He existed before the earth and He will exist once the earth is no more. He is the all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful God.

2. “‘who died and came to life.’”: This second description indicates His work on earth. So, He is the Heavenly God, Who came to the earth in the form of a baby, lived the perfect life, willingly became the sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross, only to defeat death and rise up from the dead three days later. So, then, not only is He God the Father, He is also the promised Messiah who will reign forever.

Their Condition

“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.’”

Remember from the letter to the Ephesian church when Jesus informed them that He knows all things about them. It’s the same with Smyrna. He’s indicating to the suffering people of this church that He knows what is going on. He sees it because nothing escapes Him. And what He sees is the “tribulation” and “poverty” they are suffering because of the slanderous actions of a group of Jews that make up a church “of Satan.”

He’s saying to them, “‘I know you are being persecuted.’” Some of your translations may even use the word “affliction” instead of tribulation, but both words carry the same meaning. In their original form, tribulation and affliction describe an intense pressure. At other points in the New Testament when the word is used it is describing, calamities of war, of want, of the distress of a woman in child birth, and here it is describing the affliction of the Church in Smyrna because of persecution.

We are all going to experience trials, affliction, tribulations, and suffering while we remain on this earth. Yes, we are going to suffer sickness(2020 made that abundantly clear). Yes, we are going to suffer through the death of a loved one. Yes, we are going to suffer along with a loved one as they go through sickness, financial problems, addiction problems, marital problems, and more. Not only do Christians through these seasons of life,Nonbelievers do too! So, while everything I listed is a form of suffering is caused by the evil that exists in this world, I must be clear, that what Jesus is referring to here is suffering because you are a Christian.

Each year every citizen in the Roman Empire was required to burn incense on Caesar’s alter, after which they were given a certificate. If a person did not have a certificate, they risked being discovered as a Christian and being sent to prison, where they were beaten and tortured or even worse, death. Non Christians were not treated this way, only those who refused to worship the Roman Emperor because they chose to worship Christ suffered this fate.

So, imagine the amount of pressure these Christians must have felt living in this type of evil environment.

They were not unlike those described by the writer of Hebrews.

It was much like the description the Hebrews writer offers when describing the faithful people of the past. He says, “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chain and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword” (Heb. 11:35b-37a, ESV).

All because they resisted the commands of earthly powers and chose instead to give their worship to the One True God, Jesus Christ.

We often immediately think of death whenever we think of persecution, and while there are cases when persecution does result in death, there are times when there are other outcomes, one being poverty.

Notice how Jesus says that He not only knows their tribulation, but He also knows their poverty.

As these Jews slandered them and pointed them out to the authorities, the Christians had a difficult time making a living, therefore, poverty would have resulted.

Again, we can turn to the Hebrews writer to understand the plight of these Christians.

They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth” (Heb. 11:37b-38, ESV).

Notice, though, how Jesus offers a small glimpse of encouragement to them in this verse. Right after He tells them that He knows their “tribulation” and “poverty,” He says, “(but you are rich).” What are they right with? They’re being persecuted, they’re being sold out by detestable people, and they are living in poverty. How then are they rich? He’s not referring to material wealth. He’s talking about their faith. Remember, He knows everything about them. He sees the bad that’s happening to them, but He knows their hearts and when He looks deep into their souls He sees a faithful group of people. And that faith, more than anything else, makes them rich.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

In the eyes of the world, the Smyrna Christians may seem poor, but in the eyes of the One who matters above all else, they are rich, because they are faithful.

The Commands

“‘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 . . .’” (Rev. 2:10)

The first command Jesus gives is “‘Do not fear...’” When the Smyrna Christians heard these words they understood Jesus to be saying to them “Stop fearing what is to come.” It’s only natural that because of their environment they were always looking over their shoulders in fear of what’s to come. And Jesus tells them, “Stop fearing.” Just know that it is going to happen and “stop” fearing it. And He doesn’t offer them any relief by telling them that He is going to come and spare them from what’s to come. Instead, He tells them exactly what to expect. The devil was going to utilize the Jews in the city to continue to conspire against the Christians and in so doing, they were going to be imprisoned.

Go back for a moment to verse 9 and notice how Jesus calls the Jews “a synagogue of Satan.” It’s important to understand that He’s not referring to an actual church of Satanic worshippers. What He’s saying is that Satan is using these Jews to accomplish his desire of bringing harm to the Christians through persecution. So, in verse 10 when He says that “the devil is about to throw some of you into prison . . .” He’s again referring to how Satan is going to use the Jews to conspire against the Christians and bring them harm.

But despite what’s to come, Jesus says, “‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer...” Instead, “‘Be faithful unto death . . .’” The opposite of fear is faith. And Jesus has already told them they are “rich” because of their faith.

Just as Satan used a group of Jews to passionately seek the persecution of the Christians in Smyrna, He is going to use whoever is willing to do the same to Christians today.

Christians suffer persecution in 70 of the 195 countries in the world. A Christianity Today article from January 2020 says that 8 Christians worldwide are killed everyday because of their faith, 182 Churches or Christian buildings are attacked, and every month 309 Christians are imprisoned unjustly. In total, it is estimated that 260 million Christians worldwide suffer high to severe levels of persecution.

Thankfully, as of right now, American Christians do not know what it means to be truly persecuted. But I believe all signs point to the day when that is going to change. I don’t know if it will happen in your lifetime, or my lifetime, or in the lifetimes of our children and grandchildren, but I know it is coming and I believe it is coming sooner rather than later. And here’s the question for us all, will we remain faithful unto death?

Are we willing to suffer persecution in the name of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to die in the name of Jesus Christ?

Stephen (Acts:6-7

Luke records in Acts 6 the brief story of a man named Stephen. After being selected to serve as Deacon, Luke tells us that he was “full of grace and power, [and] doing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). There was a group who failed at challenging his faith, so they conspired together to lie about him. In verse 11 is says, “they secretly instigated men who said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never ceasses to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.’ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel’” (Acts 6:11-15).

When his accusers finished with their false charges, Stephen stands up and preaches the name of Jesus to everyone there. Luke records that when Stephen finished preaching, everyone in attendance was “enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”

But the people ignored what Stephen was saying, rushed him, and stoned him to death.

Are we willing to endure this type of persecution in the name of Christ.

The Commitment

Right after commanding the Smyrna Christians to remain faithful unto death, Jesus makes a promise to them.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

The faithful will receive the “crown of life.” Jesus is not talking about a literal crown. What He is talking about is eternal life. Eternal life will be given to those who overcome the affliction, poverty, and slander during the coming ten days of imprisonment.

There are times in our lives when we will face trials and tribulations that come directly from Satan.

Twice, Satan was allowed to test Job.

In Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.”

Not even Jesus Himself avoided having His faith tested and neither will we.

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:7, ESV).

CLOSING

So, what does this all mean to us as a church?

It means that as a church family we will endure together the trials and sufferings of this world.

When one of our church families loses a parent or grandparent, together we will endure with them.

When one of our church family is in the hospital, together we will endure with them.

When one of our church families receives a terrible medical diagnoses or they have a loved one who receives a bad medical report, together we will endure with them.

When one of our church families receives tough financial or work-related news, we will endure with them.

When one of church families is having marital problems or difficulties with a child, we will endure with them.

A unified church is a church that endures not matter what it takes. A unified church comes together and wraps their arms around those who are suffering and walks with them through the fire. And as we walk together we constantly remind one another that Jesus promises us eternal life so long as we remain faithful to Him.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

English Standard Version Chapter 8

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.