The Seven Churches of Asia The Church At Smyrna Ephesus We discussed last time the Church at Ephesus. Jesus praised them for many of the things they were doing. But, they had a problem. They had left their first love. They no longer had that strong love for Christ and His children they once had and some of their works had suffered because of it. He commanded them to Repent and get back to doing the first works (Evangelism, Acts of Benevolence towards the Saints). 1
Hear What the Spirit Says If we are going to set our minds on things of the Spirit, then we need to listen to what the Spirit says to these 7 Churches. Much like the Israelites were used as examples for us in the Old Testament, these Churches are being set forth as examples for us to learn from in the New Testament. Jesus is not just addressing these Churches but all who would have a desire to live Godly should listen to what He is telling them. What did Jesus have to say to the Church at Smyrna? What lessons can we learn from them? 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: 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 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. 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 should notice that Jesus has no condemnation for this sound Congregation at Smyrna Lets go back and taker a closer look at just what Jesus did have to say to them. The first and Last : Jesus is eternal. He was present at the creation of this world and will be there when God brings it to an end Who was dead, and came to life : although how this applies to Jesus is obvious to the Christian, it was probably not so obvious to the heathen government. 3
I know your works, tribulation, and poverty : Jesus recognized they were still toiling in the vineyard of the Lord in spite of their problems. One of their problems was Tribulation: From the Greek word thlipsis: afflicted, anguish, burdened or persecuted This tribulation came upon them from two main sources: The Roman Government: It was evidently by this time a capital offense to be a Christian The Jews: The Jews so hated the Christians that many times they would turn them into the Romans Although this persecution had been very fierce against them they had endured. Jesus knew the tribulation they had already faced and He also knew they were going to face even more. 4
A second problem they face was physical poverty. The Christians at Smyrna were very poor people. Some of this poverty was no doubt brought on them because of their Christianity They lived in a very wicked city. Surrounded by idols and pagan worship on every side. This also included worship of the Emperor. Refusal to worship the Emperor many times was punished by not being able to buy or sell anything and also by having your property confiscated Jesus realizes they have had it tough, so what does he tell them? If you believe and trust in me all of your physical problems will be taken care of? If you believe and trust in me you will be able to live an abundant physical life? No! Jesus does not tell them everything will be ok here in this life. In fact he tells them things are going to get worse! 5
Remember what He told them in verse 10? 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. They weren t going to receive physical deliverance from their oppressors. They were about to be persecuted more. Some to the point of death! How many times have we seen the false teacher take advantage of the poor and desperate with a message of physical deliverance from poverty if they will only believe and send them their money! This should disgust us because the scriptures teach just the opposite. 2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. The Apostles and others suffered persecution time and time again because they were Christians. 6
They take the words of Jesus and twist them to mean things He never intended. Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The Abundant life we are promised is not here on this earth but in our home in Heaven when this life is over. If the abundant life was here and now then someone must have forgotten to tell those poor, persecuted, God fearing Christians in Smyrna The next thing Jesus tells them is one of those seemingly contradictory statements about the Christian life. I know your poverty, (but thou art rich): Your average person who cares nothing for God doesn t understand this. How can someone be poor and rich at the same time? To the Christian this should be easily understood. These people did not have this world s wealth but they had laid up treasure in Heaven thru their obedience to God. 7
Mt 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Our main objective in this life cannot be to amass this world s wealth. Instead, it must be to obey God in all things so we can have that home in Heaven with Him when this life is over. The next thing Jesus tells them is: Re 2:9.and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 8
These people in all likely hood were physical Jews, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The word Jew is sometimes used in the New Testament to represent God s chosen people. The Israelites or Jews were God s chosen people under the Law of Moses Under the New Testament the Christian is considered the Jew or God s chosen people Ro 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Christians are God s chosen people today. It is no longer the physical Jew but the spiritual Jew that God accepts These were not calling themselves a synagogue of Satan but by persecuting the Christian they were carrying out Satan s work! 9
In verse 10 He tells them what is in their near future Re 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. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Although they were in poverty and had tribulation things were going to get worse. Some were going to be put in prison and tried for being a Christian. Being found guilty often carried the death penalty Jesus goes on to encourage them to be Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. This did not mean be faithful until you die at a ripe old age of natural causes. It meant be faithful even to the point of being executed for what you believe! The story of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste is an example of remaining faithful until death 10
The story is told of 40 Roman soldiers who were Christians. They refused to offer a sacrifice to and worship the emperor. After being examined, they were tortured and thrown into prison Eventually, they were stripped of their clothing and placed on a frozen pond over night until they renounced Christ. The next morning they found most of them dead on the ice and carried them all both dead and alive to be burned. These were faithful until death! Stephen was faithful until death. Ac 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 11
Ac 7:56 and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. This was what was required of Stephen and many others Christians through out history in order for them to receive the crown of life or Heaven. 12
Jesus again finishes the letter to Smyrna with: Re 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. Again, if we have a desire to be obedient to God s will then we need to pay attention to what Jesus is saying to each of these churches But, Jesus also adds He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death Overcomes what? All of the persecutions and temptations in this life. Overcomes how? By not giving it to them and holding on to our faith in God no matter the physical consequences. 13
What will be the results of overcoming? We won t be hurt by the 2 nd death? What is the 2 nd death? An eternity in hell. Re 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Conclusion What a mockery it makes of the lives of all those who were executed for being a Christian for someone to say our actions have nothing to do with our salvation. What do our actions say about us? Would our faith be strong enough to endure execution as countless others have? It better be! If we believe we could endure in the face of execution then Surely we should be able to endure the little things that we face in this life 14