Have you ever been scared? I mean scared to the point that you were afraid for your life. There was a group of missionaries that were on a mission trip in London. They were in prayer walking one afternoon in an area that was full of mosques and protesters were in the streets.
As they walked and they prayed for God to move in that area they begin hearing shouts from a group of men across the street, “Kill the Christians! Kill the Christians!” And they were pointing at that little group while shouting those words.
Needless to say, that was a frightening moment for them. The group hurried along and left that area quickly. As they reflected on what had happened, they realized they didn't have to be afraid because we are told in the Bible that for those who follow Jesus, they would face times of persecution, but He would be with them.
In today's message, Jesus gave the Church of Smyrna a recommendation. We're going to learn today that we can stand strong in the face of any fearful situation. That's because we are truly rich in the grace of God. PRAYER
Smyrna was a large and beautiful city about 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was a wealthy cosmopolitan City that was a center for science and medicine and education. It was surrounded by farmland and had a good harbor. It was considered by many to be the greatest city in Asia. In fact, Smyrna's citizens called their City the “first in Asia.”
Smyrna was an ally of Rome even before Asia was annexed into the empire. Because of that historic relationship, it enjoyed the imperial status as a free city, meaning it had a degree of self-government. In John's day, Smyrna was also renowned as a center for Roman emperor worship. The city also had temples that were dedicated to many pagan gods.
So Jesus tells John to write this in Revelation 2: 8-9 – ““Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”
Now remember that this is Christ himself who is speaking to the believers at Smyrna. He reminded them at the very beginning that He is the first and the last, the one who was dead and came to life. In this statement of who He is, Jesus identified with them showing that he too had suffered and been rejected but was victorious in the end. He is encouraging them to stand strong as they face these difficult situations.
Even though the church at Smyrna was a poor Church in material resources, they were rich because of their relationship to Jesus. When someone's in a relationship with Christ, nothing can bring greater satisfaction or joy than being in that relationship. We are rich in Christ. I am rich in Christ, are you? We can have all the money and resources in the world, but they pale in comparison to the riches that can only be found in Christ.
Jesus knew how poor the church was. But Jesus was also well aware of the persecution and difficulties they faced. They were being slandered. The Jews in Smyrna hated the Christians and spoke blasphemy against God's people. The Jews may have been Jewish by heritage, but they did not have a heart for God or the people of God. They're blasphemous actions had turned their Jewish gathering place to a synagogue of Satan.
So, the church is Smyrna definitely faced some harsh persecution, but they were rich in spiritual blessings because of their relationship to Christ. SEBC has faced a lot of persecution over the years, but still God tells us that we are rich in Christ. God still continues to pour out His spiritual blessings upon us. And the world can’t take that away.
God wants us to know and to remember that the same spiritual blessing and richness that the Christians in Smyrna had is ours today as we too trust Christ and walk with him. It's not enough just to be religious; we have to have a relationship with Christ in order to lay claim to the riches of Christ.
And if we just step back and think about it for a minute, in times of difficulty, it's good to know God has not forgotten us, isn't it? So, Jesus said in verse 9 “I know your affliction and poverty.” Now our government defines poverty in terms of falling below a minimum amount of income needed to cover basic needs. But the word that Jesus used for poverty is much harsher. It refers to being utterly destitute. Impoverished without anything.
Again, this church in Smyrna was a poor church with few resources. Still, Jesus described them using one word in verse 9: rich. Their lack of material and financial wealth didn't completely define them. Their spiritual blessings in Christ, however, did.
Let’s side-step for a moment to reinforce what Jesus is telling us here. Let’s turn to
Proverbs 29:25 – “The fear of mankind is a snare,
but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.”
Back in May 2008, I was diagnosed with a severely herniated disc in my lower back that would require surgery to correct. Of course, you have to sign your life away, literally, before they will do the surgery. And then I read where I could be paralyzed if it didn’t go well. I had to sign that one, too.
Needless to say, I was concerned. I had never been admitted to a hospital in my life at that time. I’m not going to say that I was afraid, because I’m a grown man and men don’t get afraid, right? Ok, I’ll tell the truth, I was a little afraid.
As we got closer to the day of surgery, I was anxious. My heart and soul knew I didn’t have to be afraid, but tell that to my brain. Everyone was so reassuring that all would be OK and that I didn’t need to worry. I wasn’t “worried” I said. I was “CONCERNED” is the term a pastor uses.
Well, I let them take me to surgery. After an injection of happy juice, I didn’t really care where they took me at that point. The next thing I knew, they woke me up in recovery. All had gone well. Looking back, I can tell you that the fear and dread were totally unwarranted. Me, of all people, should have known that.
But fear can easily move our focus off of Jesus, causing us to see only our circumstances. God wants us all to know that difficult seasons will come in life. The believers in Smyrna faced slander and persecution, real danger existed. Still, in the midst of fear, we can keep our focus on Jesus. “The fear of mankind is a snare,
but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.”
Revelation 2:10 – “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Jesus told the church at Smyrna not to fear what they were going to face. They had endured some pretty serious trials, devastating tribulation, and persecution in the past. And more was still to come. We're told repeatedly in Scripture not to be afraid, and Jesus reminded the believers in Smyrna of the same thing. The believers at Smyrna needed these words of encouragement because persecution did come. Again, the Jews hated the Christians as much as the pagans did, and they were always trying to imprison them and even kill them.
When I was in seminary, I learned about a fellow by the name of Polycarp. I wasn't sure I would ever use that information but it came up during my study on this passage. Polycarp pastored the church at Smyrna several years after Jesus' message to the church. He is a pretty well-known case of religious persecution. Polycarp refused to follow the demands of the Roman proconsul to recant his faith in Christ and proclaim that Caesar was lord. They threatened to burn him at the stake.
Polycarp remained faithful until he died being burned alive at the stake. Likewise, many of those in the church at Smyrna remained faithful as well. And to those, Christ promised the crown of Life in verse 10 to those who remain faithful to him even if it cost them their lives.
The people of that day understood the term “crown of life.” It referred to a wreath of flowers that was placed on the heads of the victors in battle or the winners in an athletic competition. Jesus was saying that because they would one day enjoy eternal life, they would ultimately be victorious over their present trials, persecutions, and pain.
I'm sure that the church at Smyrna would rather have had a message about being delivered. Instead, the word they received was a message to endure. They were encouraged to keep on pressing on.
In the trials that we face today, don't we need to hear that same message? We need to endure whatever hardships come our way. We need to be faithful in our walk with Christ no matter the cost.
Revelation 2:11a - “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna ended the same way his message to the church in Ephesus did. In verse 11 he says “let anyone who has ears to listen to what the spirit says to the churches.” He wanted the churches to be sure and not just hear the words but take them to heart.
Parents often ask something very similar to their children. Do you hear what I'm saying? We ask that question because we want to make sure our audience heard our words correctly and could carry them out in the proper way. The real part of listening is acting on the words and the instructions we were given. For the church in Smyrna, the instructions Jesus gave them were of the utmost importance.
Of course, anything Jesus says is important, but he underscored that and called them to pay careful attention to His words for living if they wanted to receive the reward promised to them. So, we are to listen and listen closely to what Jesus is saying.
You might have heard the story of the man who was applying for a job at the telegraph office. As he entered the office, he saw the sign on the wall telling him to fill out the application and take a seat until he was called in for an interview. The man filled out the application and sat down among several other applicants. Within a few minutes, the man stood up and walked through the doors where the interviews were taking place. After a brief time, he came back with the manager who announced the job had been filled.
Needless to say the other applicants became upset and complained that they were never given a chance to be interviewed. Besides, the man who got the job was the last man to fill out an application. The manager told them that, if they had been listening, they would have heard the telegraph ticking out a message that said if you understand this message come into the office and the job is yours. You see, it pays to listen!
Jesus's words in verse 11 are far from easy, but they're critical and they are important. “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the spirit says to the churches.”
When was the last time that you sat still and quietly listened to hear from the Holy Spirit? I can assure you that when you finally decide to do that, you'll gain
much more than a job opportunity.
Now think deeply for a moment. Is there something going on in your life right now that you need Godly wisdom? If so, here is the touchy part. Go to God in prayer and tell Him what you need. Ask for His counsel. Ask Him to give you the wisdom you need to solve that problem.
But then just sit quietly and listen for God to answer your call to Him. Don’t just throw it out there in God’s lap and then walk off. God needs you to listen. It might take a few minutes, it might take an hour. But listen for God to answer. You will be amazed at what happens.
So, Jesus is telling us today as He told the church at Smyrna, as He told the church at Ephesus, “Listen!” Jesus finishes this letter by telling these early believers they don’t need to fear death. He says in:
Revelation 2:11b – “The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.” So, Jesus told them as He has told us that we don’t need to fear death. But notice that He calls it the second death. If you don’t know what He is talking about, let me explain what Jesus means by the second death.
Unless Jesus returns in our lifetime, we all will face a physical death. It’s coming. There no way around it. The moment we are born, we begin to die. It’s in God’s plan. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 9:27-28 - 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— 28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
So, we are all going to die unless the rapture occurs first. Jesus wasn’t referring to this death. He is talking about a second death—a final, eternal death that comes after the judgment.
Revelation 20:11-15 – “Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
First, let me say, that this is prophecy. It hasn’t happened yet but is recorded in the Bible to warn us of these things to come. This judgment that it talks about will be a time of separating those who had a relationship with Christ during their lives on earth, from those who rejected Him. Where do you fall in that picture?
None of us knows how we will die in this life, but those who know Christ and have a relationship with Him will not experience the second, eternal death. So, if you know Christ as your Savior, and as we endure in Christ now, we don’t have to live in fear of death.
This message was given to the church in Smyrna, but it’s a message that is for you right now. It’s a message that’s relevant for all of us today. Hear what you have been told in this passage. Stay strong; stay faithful in your relationship with Christ no matter the cost, and the victory will be yours in the end.
I like the way Tony Evan put it when he said, “You’re not fighting FOR victory—you are fighting FROM victory. This battle and the victory has already been won.”
If you haven’t already, why not claim the victory in Jesus today.
