Esmirna, The Fearful Church

Mayor Gerardo Balmori

The Salvation Army

Introduction

• The City of Esmirna was a commercial port, which principal product was the myrrh. It was a

beautiful city, which streets had been planned well. One of these streets had been covered of gold,

and was connecting the temple of Zeus and the temple of Shibolet. The city was known as the Flower

of Asia.

• Prophetically, Esmirna represents the church that suffers. During the period of the year 100 to

312 DC, the church spread in the middle of a terrible persecution. The word Esmirna stems from

myrrh, obtained substance of the gum is bitter of a shrub. The leaves were ground to obtain perfume

used to embalm. He was met as a symbol of suffering, martyrdom and death.

• The Church of Esmirna lived in a time of tremendous pursuit and suffering. God gave them a

message of fortitude that helps us today to keep on covering the career in spite of the present

difficulties.

Mathew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed

down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold

and of incense and of myrrh.

I. The Source of our strength: Jesus Christ

• Revelations 2:8 To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

A) The First and the Last.

• He is always there.

B) Who died and came to life again.

• He conquered the worst enemy that we have.

II. The Confrontation

A) When they delivered his life to Christ, the pressure began.

• Revelation 2:9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of

those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

• Many lost their job, lost business, friends and family.

• We do not follow Jesus for the benefits that we obtain, but for obedience to the truth.

• II Corinthians 6:10 Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing,

and yet possessing everything.

• Which are the things that I have that even death cannot take from me?

B) Faithfully to the death.

• Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some

of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the

point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

• Testing: We will be tested. The metal is warmed to see if it is genuine. The faith that cannot be

proved is not reliable. The suffering puts to test our faith.

• Loyalty is based on conviction. The reliability of a person is based on the strength of his

convictions.

• Daniel 3:17-18 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from

it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to

know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

• Polycarpus said: For 86 years I have served Jesus Christ and he has never hurt me. How should I

deny him?

• James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he

will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

C) Persevere under trial

• Keep on serving Jesus when all is fine and when things go wrong, when you are freed and when

you even keep on waiting for your liberation.

• During the whole eternity, we will be happy to have persevered and resist the pressure.

• 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that

far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is

seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

III. Challenge

A) Free of the Hell

• Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who

overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

• Revelation 20:14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the

second death.

B) Kings and priests

• Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second

death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him

for a thousand years