141102Revelation2_8_11 Page 1 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. We are suffering but brilliant. We, the lampstands, are suffering, yet brilliant. Burning brightest are Smyrna and Philadelphia Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming Big Picture - theme of this book - Jesus is coming back! We don t know when, but we know it s a fact. Rev 2:8 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: Smyrna: This was a large, beautiful, and proud city. It was a center of learning and culture, and was proud of its standing as a city. "Smyrna was an outstandingly beautiful city. It claimed to be the 'Glory of Asia.' " (Barclay) Smyrna was a great trade city... Head of the the valley of the river Hermus, and all the trade of that valley flowed into its markets and found an outlet through the harbor in Smyrna. It had a specially rich trade in wines. Smyrna, was a city of wealth and commercial greatness. A famous street in Smyrna, the "Golden Street," stood magnificent temples to Cybele, Apollo, Asklepios, Aphrodite, and a great temple to Zeus - but the worship of those pagan gods was dying out. The real focus was on the worship of the Roman Emperor. The City of Smyrna became deeply committed to idolatry and the worship of the Roman Emperor. In 196 B.C. Smyrna built the first temple to Dea Roma - the goddess of Rome, soon they worshipped the dead Emperors of Rome. Then it was one small step to worship the living Emperors, and then to demand such worship as a evidence of political allegiance and civic pride. In A.D. 23 Smyrna won the privilege (over 11 other cities) to build the first temple to worship the Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Smyrna was a leading city in the Roman cult of Emperor worship. The Roman Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) was the first to demand worship under the title "Lord" It was under the reign of Domitian that John was banished to the Island of Patmos. Once a year every Roman citizen had to burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and say kaiser kurios - Caesar is Lord - and received a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty. Capital offense to do so - cost you your life.
141102Revelation2_8_11 Page 2 Think about it "All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, 'Caesar is Lord,' receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. The Christians would not do it. They would give no man the name of Lord other than Jesus. Only Jesus is - The First and the Last: Jesus chose this title from His initial appearance to John (Revelation 1:11, 1:17) to speak of His eternal character. Declaring to us: That nothing can happen to us and nothing can come our way, that is outside the realm of His control. Who was dead, and came to life: Jesus chose this title from His initial appearance to John (Revelation 1:18) to remind the Christians in Smyrna that they served the risen Lord, victorious over death. Death could not hold Jesus, and it cannot hold His people. The name Smyrna comes from the word myrrh, a sweet-smelling perfume used in embalming dead bodies - released when crushed. Plunged into Persecution Rev 2:9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty Tribulation is the Greek Word Thlipsis Lit. Severe Oppression & Persecution ~ affliction It is the same word that it used to describe the crushing of a grape or an olive in the press! Jesus also knew their works, tribulation, and poverty. He knows these hardships both in the sense that He saw what happened to them, and in the sense that He knew their hardships by His personal experience. "The word used for 'poverty' is the word for abject poverty - penniless. They were not just poor." Once you wouldn t worship Caesar - job, property, house, etc, GONE Heb 11- Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Heb 11:36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented I know your works - In Other Words: He has tasted every sorrow, every hurt, every disappointment & every emotion we can ever know. Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (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. The abuse these Christians endured at the hands of "religious" men, those who say they are Jews and are not. - Raise a hand against a Christian - is to raise a hand against Jesus - working for Satan - Jesus said - you are of your father the Devil.
141102Revelation2_8_11 Page 3 John 8 - Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. The NT defines God s people in relation to Jesus, not their genealogy I know... I know: In midst of this kind of affliction, it is easy to think God has forgotten - but Jesus knows. - fellowship of suffering - go through a tragedy together - bonding - relational capital 2Ti 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 1Pe 2:19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. Acts 5 - and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. When suffering - the comforting people are those who have been through the same test. "Sweet smelling Smyrna, the poorest but purest of the seven." Purified by the Pain - on fire in persecution makes one on fire for Jesus. Persecution make pure and pretender proof, and they spread and become prolific (but you are rich) -2 Cor 6:9 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. Rev 2:10 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. you are about to suffer - Do not fear: better translated "stop being afraid." There were things which they were about to suffer, and Jesus wanted them ready to stand against those things. Jesus, I am there. I know. I understand. and I will never leave you nor forsake you. No one can snatch you out of my hand - nothing can separate you from my Love. So maybe as you go through your hardship right now you say, God you have got to get me out of this thing. You have got to airlift me out of this situation. The Lord says, My grace is sufficient for you. I am eternal. I am in control. There is a beginning. There is a middle. There is an end to this. You are going to go through tribulation for ten days. It is not going to last forever. Grace can galvanize you!
141102Revelation2_8_11 Page 4 Jesus described the nature of the persecution that would come against the Christians in Smyrna. Apparently, they would be imprisoned, and for a specific period of time (you will have tribulation ten days). God limited the tribulation to ten days. - Normally, you were thrown into prison as you awaited trial and execution. "For a man to become a Christian anywhere was to become an outlaw. In Smyrna above all places, for a man to enter the Christian Church was literally to take his life in his hands. In Smyrna the church was a place for heroes." (Barclay) The early church experienced 10 periods of tribulation under 10 different Roman Emperors (54 305 A.D.) Nero, Domitian, Diocletian. Ten days of severe persecution, with an emphasis on the idea that it is a limited time That you may be tested: Because God had a purpose in their suffering, and so He allowed it. God uses suffering to purify (1 Peter 1:6-7), to make us like Jesus (Romans 8:17), and to makes us truly witnesses of Him. May be tested, in the sense of being proven. Through their suffering, God displayed the true riches of the church in Smyrna to everyone, including themselves Jesus has a plan, what is mean for evil, God will turn into a test. And we will no the given anything we can t handle in Christ. Sometimes trials are brought by the devil. But remember whatever Satan proposes if it happens in our lives God permitted it. The story of Job is the perfect example. You know the devil comes. Hey let me have some time with Job. We will see what he is made of. God could have said, No man. You back off. Leave Job alone. The Lord allowed it. And then those horrible afflictions came against God s servant. But the Lord allowed it. He had a purpose in it. God will allow certain things. The devil means it to destroy you but God will allow it to refine you. And Romans 8:28 says, He causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him and are the called according to His purpose. Many Christians avoid persecution of any kind by conforming so much to the world that they are no longer distinctively Christians. (John 15:18) If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. 2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Truth and Love - not truth only, not love only - thunder and sugar - not weird, obnoxious, confrontational, divisive, strange.
141102Revelation2_8_11 Page 5 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. The Bible speaks of the crown of rejoicing given to those that lead other people to Christ. The crown of righteousness which is promised to those that love the appearing of the Lord. The stephanos, used here - is given as a trophy to a winning athlete. Jesus looks at the Christians of Smyrna, and says to them: "You are My winners. You deserve a trophy. James 1:12 it says, Blessed is the man that endures temptation and perseveres under trial for when he has withstood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those that love Him. Maybe you are suffering today. You have family problems. Marital problems. Children problems. Physical problems. A disability. Bad news from a doctor. You have lost a loved one. Whatever it is you are suffering. It is hard. It doesn t seem fair to you. Lord, you say, maybe you don t verbalize it but you think it, They are not suffering. Why is it they go through life without suffering and I have to go through this? My problems are piling up and they don't have any Jesus says - Listen. You don t worry about them. You just be faithful and follow the Lord and there is a reward promised to you when you are faithful. Rev 2:11 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. Who are the Overcomers? Those who are Born Again of the Holy Spirit as the result of placing their faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ upon the cross! What is the second death? Basically it is spending eternity separated from God in hell. Perhaps You ve Heard the Expression: Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once. Jesus said:(john 11:25) I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Jesus promises His overcomers that death is conquered for them - abide for the whole ride, no matter how rough it gets. Listen Hardship happens to everybody. Everybody faces adversity. Everybody faces tragedy. Everybody faces difficulty in life. By the Love and Grace of God a Christian has God with them who promises to work all things together for good to those that love Him. The Christian has the hope that when they die they will go to heaven. The nonbeliever doesn t have God with them. They don t have God working things together for good. They do have the reality of a certain judgment. - Be on Mission -