Crown of Life

Perseverance a Part of Daily Life

Many of us can be found at times in the moments of waning in our zeal for the things of the Lord. Seasons of busyness, seasons of worry, or even the need to feel peace can lull us into a sense of needing to not walk away from our faith but to put it on a shelf for more pressing needs.

2020 changed the world for many people, some lost loved, others lost their taste for smell, and for two years many walked around in a heightened state of anxiety and fear.

One thing that was made painfully obvious was that church as we once knew it would never again be the same.

Something shifted, somethings broke, somethings were caused to transform to be made new. Many today will never return to the body of believers, they cannot reconcile how God could allow for such a thing to occur.

On one end of the spectrum we encountered churches that were brought to their knees in fear, on the other we had false prophets who could not exhibit the power of God. Neither looked to the Lord for answers.

God today still heals… God today still shows divine power… God will deliver.

What we struggle with in the pressing, in the busyness, in the chaos is to understand that in many ways there may be difficult moments in our Christian faith that we must persevere and overcome.

Smyrna is known as the suffering church in examining the church we will uncover how important this is to us.

Perseverance does not achieve salvation, but in the pressing their is a crown to be gained.

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “ ‘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. 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. 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.’

One of the two not overtly admonished

lived in a city that had been destroyed and was brought back to life stands to this day

The name implies a deep pressing and extraction of myrrh

Called to persevere in their persecution

There is a great reward awaiting for those who persevere.

Revelation of Christ

Revelation 2:8 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

Revealing Himself to Smyrna He identifies the part of who He is:

First of all Creation

Colossians 1:15–18 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Before anything was He stepped into Creation

In Him is the whole of Time

Provoked to death

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

That even though all things are made for Him only He the creator would give His life for His beloved creation.

Smyrna was related to in His suffering… as He was anointed with Myrrh, this church was being pressed to exude that same aroma

Jesus has suffered and has conquered for you… (v.9)

He knows intimately what it means to suffer… and what it means to have to endure…

The Suffering Church

Revelation 2:9 ESV

“ ‘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.

The tribulation speaks of a pressing that was intense

perceived as unbearable

The church was facing societal pressures

The church was internal pressures

The poverty

speaks of dire circumstances

more than a money problem

spiritual problem

spiritually bankrupt (the caution )

on the outside looking in they would be considered dying

… But you are rich

declared as highly favored and prosperous

Both in the now and in the future

The work of the Apostate Church

for Smyrna the internal threat was people who were believers, and Jews

Hebrews 3:12 reminds us to be on guard from falling away

these people who are falling away look like the church but have the “my God” concept of who God is

Smyrna was being sold out by their “ Christian and Jewish families”

False Prophets who fail to bear fruit...They are known as the synagogue of Satan

Continued and Greater Suffering

Revelation 2:10 ESV

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.

Actual events that occured in which for 10 days the city was laid to seige and the Christians were decimated

speaks of a time in which suffering goes from bad worse

their own people slander them

their own people raise false accusations

their own people condemn them because they dont want to follow their “god”

Reminder to be faithful

The Reward

Revelation 2:10–11 ESV

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. 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.’

This perseverance is not about your salvation

This suffering is about the Crown of Life and the account of what will occur when you the Christian faces the judgement throne

The crown of life something that you earn in the here and now, and impacts your life now and in eternity.

1 cor 9:25 speaks of the athlete who works their whole life for a medal that is perishable but we work for an imperishable crown

You will not be hurt by the second death