Hello Friends!
Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through “Revelation:
Jesus Speaks to His Church!”
Revelation:
Jesus Speaks to His Church! (Chapter 2:8-11)
This week we will begin
our reading of verses 8-11 in chapter 2 of
Revelation where Jesus Speaks to the Church of Smyrna…
The
concerning context of our passages found in these two amazing
chapters is one of a piercing persecution.
And as we discussed in our previous study, the majority of these “seven churches” in Asia Minor to one
degree or another had capitulated to a very comfortable
compromise with the sinister “world”
around them. They had tolerated gross “sin” and were found to be spiritually
“dead” and thus received very harsh condemnation from our Lord. In fact,
Jesus outlines specifics about the character and condition
of those “churches” as a warning
for our admonition and adoration as “Christians”
today – Beware!
However,
in the case of “Smyrna” and “Philadelphia” we will find there is no
rebuke for them. These two “churches”
did not
succumbed to the pressure of the hostility and the paganism
in which they were embedded. Why?
Because they were “lighthouses” sent by God
into a “dark world” that was filled
with iconic
“idolatry” and satanic “philosophy” abound – A Lamp in the
dark!
As
we learned in our previous study, the “church”
in “Ephesus” had “left
their first love” for our Lord Jesus Christ. And now as we
consider the “church” at “Smyrna” in this study, we are
going to find they were – Quite the opposite!
Therefore,
let’s begin by reading about the SECOND
“church” in chapter
2 ~ The “Smyrna” fellowship:
And
unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and
the last, which was dead, and is alive. I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they
are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan – Revelation
2:8-9
The
“church” at “Smyrna”
received the greatest amount of persecution
as denoted by the “first and the
last” Himself. Why?
Because they were spiritually “rich”
and as a result were a strategic target for “Satan” to attack this “church” with deadly force! And
as a result, there was much “tribulation”
filled martyrdom and “blasphemy”
towards God by the Christ-hating lost “Jews” of whom Jesus says are the “synagogue of Satan”
himself – Concentrated evil!
Further
regarding these “Jews”
of “Israel,” the Apostle Paul
also had this to say of their unbelief in the “righteousness” of God:
Israel who followed after the
law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness – Romans
9:31
The
“Jews” had security in
their religious “law”
but they never had “attained”
God’s “righteousness” through
it all. Why? Because they sought their own
“righteousness” set apart
from true “faith”
in Jesus Christ by the works
of the “law” itself. They knew of
God’s “righteousness” through
the “scriptures” in their minds but they never “attained”
it in their hearts and
therefore for them it meant – Greater judgment!
Then
again
in Romans chapter 10 Paul expounds
further on this poignant point:
For I
bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to
knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of
God – Romans 10:2-3
The
“Jews” did indeed have
a “zeal for God” but it was not
at all “according to knowledge”
and thus were “ignorant of God's
righteousness" all together! Sadly, “Israel” does not have true “knowledge” and is indeed “ignorant” of God. Their very lives had
been bound
up in the religious pursuit of human “knowledge”
and “truth” but they had “not submitted”
themselves according to God’s word.
Therefore, they actually have no “knowledge” and are “ignorant” of the saving “truth” found alone in – Jesus Christ!
IMPORTANT
NOTE: Lest an alluring
attitude of anti-Semitism should
overtake anyone, the Apostle Paul then makes it extremely CLEAR
in Romans chapter 11 that God is NOT
finished with “Israel” as part of His
perfect plan for “Jewish” history:
I say
then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite,
of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin – Romans 11:1
Never
the less, it is also quite CLEAR
throughout “scripture” that not
all “Jews” are true
“Jews” and thus do not possess the – True faith of Abraham!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: In “Smyrna,” there was a significant “Jewish” population of which poisoned
the minds of the leaders and citizens against the true “Christian”
brethren. These dear “believers”
were monetarily very poor lacking the proper resources to live.
Incidentally, this type of “poverty”
in the Greek language means they had nothing! They were not of a
middle or lower-middle class, they were the lowest of the low!
This historical hatred of the “Jews”
for “Christians” is quite familiar throughout
the first-century and is chronicled in the book of Acts.
We learn of this to be true in chapter 13
at “Antioch,” in chapter
14 at “Iconium” & “Lystra” and in chapter
17 at “Thessalonica” as well.
Sadly, these godless “Jews”
of the “synagogue of
Satan” joined the pagan “Gentiles”
of the “world” in killing
the true “church” of Jesus Christ – A joint effort of evil!
And
even though true “believers” were being martyred through fierce “tribulation”
atrocities, those who were “suffering”
in “prison”
within the “church” in “Smyrna” were told by Jesus Christ to “fear” absolutely NOTHING:
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the
devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall
have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life – Revelation 2:10
How could this be happening? Because the wicked “world” hates God, the “Word” of God, the “faithful” followers of Jesus Christ
and the “preachers” of Scripture!
Therefore, whether it was godless emperor worship or “Gentile” inspired pagan idolatry or
the hostility
of the unbelieving foolish “Jews,”
these dear “believers” suffered immensely
under horrible conditions. And whether this “trial” of “ten days” that John denotes here
represents “ten” actual “days” of time in “prison” or a short period of “tribulation” history,
we do indeed know that this “suffering”
has persisted throughout the last 2000 years of “church” history ever since the book of Revelation was written. Consequently, even today
this horrendous persecution of God’s “elect” remains a – Sober
reality!
Incidentally,
the “crown of life” mentioned here is same the “promise” of heaven of which
also James speaks to for “them”
that are “tried”
and yet “endureth”
for God:
Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the
crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him – James 1:12
James
says “he” who is “tried” will remain “faithful” through all persecution
and “temptation”
as Jesus Christ “the Lord”
gives His saving “crown” of “salvation” representing – Eternal Life!
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: This intense persecution assumes
a relentless
and hell-bent assailing of the “church”
throughout
its amazing history. Therefore, let’s examine this “tribulation” truth as we further
consider the full counsel of God’s Word…
First
of all. our Lord Jesus Christ said that HE
alone would “build” HIS
“church” body:
I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it – Matthew 16:18b
The
“gates of hell” and the “power of death” at the hands of “Satan” will NOT
overpower the “church” of Jesus Christ – Praise the Lord!
Jesus
Christ also warns His true “followers”
of the high cost of “discipleship”
for His “name's” sake:
And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but
he that endureth to the end shall be saved – Matthew
10:22
Therefore,
ALL true “believers”
will “endureth” the “trails” of life triumphantly
to the “end” and be eternally “saved” forever – Victorious life!
And
even in “prison” during his final
days on earth, the Apostle Paul also promised
a “persecuted” life to the young pastor
Timothy:
Indeed, all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted – 2
Timothy 3:12
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Regarding “suffering” for the “faith”
in Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter also had much to say! For instance, throughout
his first epistle we find in the 2nd chapter, then again in the 3rd chapter, then again in the 4th chapter and again in the 5th chapter that
Peter wonderfully warns true “believers” of the high cost of “following” our Savior. Here is just ONE of the MANY
examples Peter expresses:
After you have suffered for a
little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in
Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and
establish you – 1 Peter 5:10
The
fiercest persecution has a “good
cheer” affect of “perfecting,”
“confirming,” “strengthening”
and “establishing” the true “church” of “God”
in “Christ” Jesus. And “they”
who have “suffered” will indeed
receive a “crown of life”
as their “eternal” reward in heaven.
In fact, persecution doesn’t destroy
the “church” of Jesus Christ – It is made stronger!
Finally, Jesus provides more captivating counsel for His “churches”
to “hear” from the “Spirit” of God:
He that
hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that
overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death – Revelation
2:11
Here
again Jesus says that “we” will be “overcomers” just as John reiterates
in his first epistle to the “church” as a whole:
Who is
he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God? – 1 John 5:5
Therefore,
if “we” have true “faith” in Jesus Christ the “Son of God;” we will
indeed “overcome” all things! And
although “we” may indeed be “hurt” by a temporal
physical “death” of our body,
“we” will never be “hurt” by the “second death” which is the final
place of damnation and “torment”
for all “unbelievers” – We are alive in Jesus Christ!
In
fact, it was in the “upper room”
where Jesus Christ had also had “spoken”
of “tribulation”
and the wicked “world”
in which He had “overcome”
for His disciples:
These
things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world – John
16:33
And
so here today we meet the “poor”
little “rich” and “persecuted” wonderful “church” at “Smyrna”
of whom were martyred and imprisoned for Jesus Christ.
They were willing to “die”
once
but were never destined to “die”
twice
– If you have ears… Hear this message!
In closing:
To
further illustrate the hatred for the “Christians” in “Smyrna,”
unrevised and “sound” truth of history
has left us the details of the “death”
of a man outside of the “scriptures”
named Polycarp. This godly man
personally
knew the Apostle John and worked with him among the “churches”
of Asia Minor. Historians tell us that Polycarp
was the “pastor” of the “church” at “Smyrna”
and was “martyred” in 155 A.D. at the age of 86
years old. After many years of faithful “service”
to our “Lord” Jesus Christ, Polycarp’s whereabouts were eventually
betrayed to his persecutors by a little slave girl who (understandably)
collapsed under severe torture. In fact, it is said that on the brief journey
to the city of “Smyrna,” the captain of the
guard pled with the elderly man:
“What harm is it to say, ‘Caesar is Lord’ and
to offer sacrifice and save your life?”
The
man Polycarp possessed such a godly “character” that when his “accusers” came to arrest him, not even the soldier captain wished to
see him killed! However, Polycarp
was adamant in that only Jesus Christ is “Lord”
of all! And when this humble “man of God”
entered the arena, the proconsul gave him the choice of either cursing
the name of Jesus Christ and making sacrifice to Caesar – Or be
put to death!
In
response to this evil foisted upon him, Polycarp’s famous
words were as follows:
“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and
He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
The
proconsul then further threatened him with the burning of his
body, to which Polycarp adamantly replied:
“You threaten me with the fire that burns for
a time and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the
wicked in the judgment to come and an everlasting punishment. Why are you
waiting? Come do what you will.”
None
the less, Polycarp remained unmoved!
And when the flocking crowds arrived with sticks, the “Jews”
were foremost
in the clamor of bringing wood for the punishing fire (although they were
guilty of breaking the “Sabbath law”
by carrying such burdens)! And as these “wicked”
hypocrites were moving in to bind Polycarp
to the stake, he exclaimed:
“Leave me as I am, for He who gives me power
to endure the fire will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved, even without
the security you will give by the binding.”
And
so they left Polycarp loosely bound in the
flames and there he willingly “died”
for Jesus Christ – A true martyr for Jesus Christ!
This
is the brief narrative of what happened to Polycarp,
the “pastor” of the “church”
at “Smyrna” and is a partial fulfillment
of what the Lord Jesus said was to face His “confessing”
bride – Throughout history!
REAL REFLECTIONS: What is the true “church” to expect in the future
as the hostility increases and “unbelievers” resolve that Biblical
Christianity as an “alien”
enemy of the “world” is to be persecuted
fully? And as we “live”
for Jesus Christ in these “last”
days – How are we to respond?
To
address these difficult questions, we must continue our spectacular journey
through the book of Revelation to
further “learn” what our “Lord” is doing IN
His “church” and what He has
to say
TO His “church”
today – AMEN!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 8-11 of the second chapter of Revelation.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
