God's Message to the Seven Churches: Part 3 - The Persected Church (Smyrna)

And we'll continue on our series, the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Again, these are seven churches that are in Western Turkey today. It was called Asia in that day but it's not, we think of Asia, we think of China and Eastern Russia and and all that area over there, India but Asia, when you read about it in the New Testament, it's talking about Western Half of Turkey and there were seven churches there. We looked at the first one last week. That was the church at Ephesus.

That church was seemingly planted by the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. Apostle Paul spent a great deal of time at Ephesus and other churches in the surrounding area in Asia were also begun during that time or after that time from others whom Paul led to the Lord and so seven churches sprung up in that part of Asia, all kind of surrounding Ephesus in a sort of a semi circle. The Lord had praise for the church of Ephesus through John, but the Lord also had a rebuke. You've left your first love. Now, we can get that first love back.

We can get back close to our savior. Remember, he says, remember the closeness of your relationship and the excitement that you had in the Lord Jesus and if you're how he was very much first place in your life when you first got saved but not only remember but repent. Repent of the fact that he's not where he ought to be now. They were busy in the busyness, even of their ministry, they had neglected the relationship with their Lord. So, he said, you need to repent.

You need to turn around. You need to go back to the way you did it at first. And that was good advice to us because sometimes we get complacent. Sometimes, we get distracted. Sometimes, we let other things creep in to our lives and even busyness in the ministry is not the same as spending time with the Lord.

The second church here in Revelation, we're going to read about in verses eight through 12 is the church eight through 11 actually, is the church at Smyrna. Now, church at Smyrna is one of two churches of the seven that the Lord did not have a rebuke for. The others he rebuked but not the church at Smyrna and not the church at Philadelphia. That not to say that they were perfect because they're made up of imperfect sinners saved by grace just the same as this church. They weren't perfect.

We're not either. They made mistakes, so do we. They sometimes allowed selfishness and pride and other things to get in their way as we also are likely to be tempted to do but they were serving the Lord faithfully. There wasn't a glaring issue in their testimony that was detracting from the testimony of the Lord and so the Lord only had praise for the church at Smyrna but he did have exhortation to them, encouragement, a challenge that we'll read in just a moment in the latter half of the text. Let's read it, Revelation two verses eight through 11.

And under 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. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit say it under the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt. Of the second death. Let's go to the Lord in prayer once more. Lord, thank you for this time.

Lord, please draw our attention to your word this evening. Please, Lord, cause the holy spirit, Lord, to do a work in our life through it, that it might not return void but Lord, that it would challenge us, encourage us, and convict us, Lord. Various in which we need it. Lord, we do so desperately need it. This evening and every day.

Lord, open our hearts to your word this evening. Remind us, Lord, of your love and of the opportunity you've given us to serve and even suffer. For your name's sake. In Jesus Christ name, we pray. Amen.

A little more background about the recipients. You see, it says to the angel, the word angel can also be translated messenger of the church at Smyrna and this is a little bit about that area, I already mentioned a few things, but let me zero in a little bit on the city of Smyrna. Smyrna was an ancient city, which lay in ruins from about 600 to 300 BC. But about that time, it was rebuilt by Alexander the Great to become one of the most powerful and beautiful cities of the region. It was located on a natural harbor about 40 miles north of Ephesus.

Therefore, it became a trade city. Center of commerce in that area of Asia and a rival city to the city of Ephesus. It sided early with Rome in the third century. So as Greek began Greece began to decline and Rome was on the rise, Smyrna sided with Rome and they were richly rewarded by Rome because of it. They became a center for imperial emperor worship.

They built a great temple to the emperor Tiberius there in the city of Smyrna. And they were very zealous in persecuting others who would not bow to the emperor. Not as a government official, but as a god. This is the city at which these Christians found themselves in the day in which John wrote this letter to them. It is one, the only one of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation two and three that is a prosperous city today.

It's the city of Izmir and it is a prosperous modern city today, the only one of the seven. So just a little background on the city itself, and we're gonna get a little more background on the church as we go through. We see, second of all, not only the city, Smyrna, the church of that city, but also we see a description of Christ. This is typical throughout each message to the church, Christ is recognized. He is the one that is by his authority giving this message.

This authority doesn't come from John, it comes from Jesus. It comes from as we see here, the risen Lord. When Jesus went back, before Jesus went back to heaven, he said to his disciples, all power is given to me in heaven and earth. Go you therefore and teach all nations. Now, when he says all powers given to me in the heaven and earth, the word power there in Greek is exousia.

It means power as in authority. All authority is given to me in heaven and in earth and thus, he has the authority to command his church and his saints as he does here. He is identified as the first and the last in verse eight. This is a clear reference to his deity as Jehovah. In Isaiah forty four six, it reads, thus saith the Lord, the king of Israel and his redeemer, the Lord of hosts.

I am the first and I am the last and beside me, there is no god. Those the word Lord used twice in Isaiah 44 is in all caps. We learned in Sunday school or in Wednesday night that that is Jehovah or Yahweh. That is God's personal name and when Jesus, when it says here, these things say it the first and the last, it's drawing upon Isaiah forty four six to remind us that Jesus is Jehovah. Jesus is God.

Jesus is Lord. He's not something less. He is not another god. He is the God, the only God, and there is none beside him. This is not the only place this phrase is used in the book of Revelation.

As we come to the climax of Jesus being exalted and recognized before the whole world as the Lord that he is. In Revelation one eleven, you should be able to see that. You might have to turn one page back. It says, saying, I am alpha and omega, the first and the last, and what thou seest write in the book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia, and then it lists them. In verse 17 of the same chapter, and when I saw him, that is Jesus, I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me, fear not, I am the first and the last.

If you look in chapter 22 and verse 13. Now, if you know your book of Revelation, that is the last chapter and in chapter 22 in verse 13, once again, he says, I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. That is Jesus Christ. He is the author of salvation. He is the author of the scriptures.

They are his words and this is his plan and he will finish it and he will complete it and praise God when we know Jesus Christ as savior. We are on the winning side. Amen. And what comfort to know that God is in control. Christ also is referred to here as the one which was dead and is alive.

The one which was dead and is alive. Now, obviously, that is a reference to his death, burial, and resurrection. That is the gospel according to Paul. According to scriptures, Jesus came. He was he died.

He was buried according to scriptures and on the third day, he rose again from the dead and without faith in him, there is no other way of salvation. He is our triumphant savior. This seems particularly pertinent seeing that the church in Smyrna was enduring very real persecution which wasn't over yet. As John writes this, they had suffered. They were suffering and they would suffer a little longer before the persecution came to an end in this city.

Christ suffered too, but he suffered for our sins. He was bruised for our iniquities. By his stripes, we are what? We are healed. Christ suffered for us but and he died for us, but he rose again triumphing over the grave and he intercedes at the right hand of the father in heaven for us.

He was to the church at Smyrna a source of great encouragement. For he had suffered and he had run the course before them and he had overcome. And in Jesus Christ, we too are said to be more than conquerors. We too are said to be overcomers and though we may first face persecution at the hand of men or the hand of Satan or both at the same time which is likely. Jesus already has been there and Jesus has overcome for us.

The world, man, and Satan dished out all they could but they couldn't keep down. Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12 verses two and three read, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him, that is Jesus, that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, Lest you be weary and faint in your minds. When you're being, when you're suffering for Jesus, remember, Jesus suffered much more.

For you. And he finished his course and he is sat down at the right hand of God the father and one day, our place is with him. To the to the point to which God already sees us. In him, at his right hand. John sixteen thirty three, John wrote, these things I have spoken unto you that in me, you might have peace.

Talked about that some this morning. In the world, you shall suffer or you shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Be of good cheer, John said, John writes, of Jesus, I have overcome the world.

So, we see here Jesus identified as the first and the last, the Lord, Jehovah, and he is he is identified as the one who was dead and is now alive, who is the example and great encouragement of the saints, particularly those that are suffering, particularly those here in Smyrna. He continues on in verse nine with the commendation. What does God have to say about this group of people? Well, he says in verse nine, he says, I know thy works, thy labor, thy effort, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich. God says to them, he says, I know what you're going through.

Others may not know. Others may not care but God says to the Christians in Smyrna, I know what you're suffering. I know. And I want to give you some words of comfort and exhortation because I know what it's like, Jesus says. You know, there are things that maybe in your life that that I don't know about And and I don't know how to encourage you and I don't know how to comfort you because I don't know what you're going through, but I know somebody who does.

Not only that, but even if I do know what you are going through, I may not be able to empathize. I may not have suffered what you are suffering. But I know one who does and who can, Jesus Christ, especially when it comes to suffering and persecution. He's been there. He knows.

And he cares. There are some that know what you're going through, but they don't care nearly as much as Jesus does. He has time for you. He won't brush you aside. He knows and he cares.

And that is comfort he gives to this church. You're not going through this alone. This isn't a mistake. I'm still in control. I know your works.

I know your labor, your effort, you put forth in my behalf. Others may not know it. God says, but I do. He says, I know the tribulation or the persecution that you are facing. As these emperor worshipers, particularly and others, were relentlessly pursuing them and pressuring them to deny the faith.

God says, Jesus says, I know what it's like and I know what's happening. I wanna read you just a brief story here. There was a disciple, a student of the apostle John who lived to a ripe age of around almost 90 years old. His name was Polycarp. This story is about him.

He was the pastor or bishop of the church Smyrna. I found that interesting. It reads here in missus Fox's Book of Martyrs. After a respite, the Christians again came under persecution, this time for Marcus Aurelius in 8161. One of those who suffered this time was Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna.

Three days before he was captured, Polycarp dreamed that a that a pillow under his head caught fire and when he awoke, he told those around him that he would burn alive for Christ's sake. Hearing his captors had arrived one evening, Polycarp left his bed to welcome them, ordered a meal prepared for them, and then asked for an hour alone to pray. The soldiers were so impressed by Polycarp's advanced age and composure that they began to wonder why they had been sent to take him. But as soon as he had finished his prayers, they put him on a donkey and brought him into the city. He was brought before the tribunal and the crowd and their polycarp refused to deny Christ.

Although the pro council begged him, consider yourself and have pity on your great age. Reproach Christ and I will release you. He begged him. He said, all you have to do is say the what? Say the words.

Polycarp replied, eighty six years, I have served him and he never once wronged me. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me? Threatened with wild beasts and fire, Poly Polycarp stood his ground. What are you waiting for? Do whatever you please.

The crowd demanded Polycarp's death gathering wood for the fire and preparing to tie him to the stake. Leave me, he requested. He who will give me strength to sustain the fire will help me not to slit, to flinch from the pile. In other words, he said, you don't have to tie me here. God who will help me endure the fire will help me stay to the pole.

So, they bound they bound him, but didn't nail him to the stake. As soon as Polycarp finished his prayer, the fire was lit, but it leaped up around him, leaving him unburned, until the people convinced the soldier to plunge a sword into him. The soldiers then placed his body into a fire and burned it to ashes, which some Christians later gathered up and buried properly. Now, this is Fox's Book of Martyrs, it isn't the Bible. It's church history, and some of it may be true, and we don't know for sure.

But it is the test of Omoni of a man who lived. A man who we do know was the student of John who left writings that we have been able to study. A man who was the pastor of this particular church and who was burned alive for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He endured till the death. He followed his Lord faithfully and he would not recant his faith.

Not only here do we see the tribulation and the persecution which we read about with Polycarp. We also see the poverty. He says here, not only do I know thy works and tribulation but I know your poverty. The word there means excessive poverty. As a result of their faith, they were made poor in the things of the world.

They lacked basic necessities under persecution But Jesus encouraged them here. He said, but you are what? You are rich. You may be poor in the things of this world, but you are rich in the things that matter. We are rich in Christ Jesus.

We have something worth far more than the gold of this world or the comfort and luxuries that it provides. As Paul said, as I read this morning, Philippians four, he had learned how to be content no matter what state he was in. He said, I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. In Hebrews ten thirty four, the writer of Hebrews says, for you had compassion of me and my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods. Knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

The things of earth, they rust and they can be taken by thieves as we're told in Matthew six. We therefore should not lay up treasures on earth but lay them up where? In And if we have laid up treasures in Jesus Christ, we are indeed far richer than the richest man who doesn't know him on the face of this Earth. In second Corinthians eight nine, it says, for you know the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor. Yet, he through his poverty might be rich.

That isn't a promise that God is going to make you rich in silver and gold. That is a promise that God will make you rich in spiritual things that last forever. That he will give you abundant life and joy and peace and love and all the fruits of the spirit that come to the holy spirit that lives inside your heart as a Christian. That he will never leave you nor forsake you and that he has reserved a place in heaven for you. You are rich.

Oh yeah. Regardless of how many things you've accumulated here or how big a house you have or what kind of car you drive or if you don't have one to drive. You're rich in Christ. We probably cannot begin to understand the poverty that these people were in. I remember when I went on a short term missions trip to Mexico, did it twice And it's something how that when you cross the Rio Grande into Mexico, it's like going from one world into another.

The houses, the cars, everything, the streets, everything changes. The people there live a much simpler life. They have far fewer things. They concern themselves much more with food and clothing and keeping a roof over their head. But I also found them particularly the Christians.

To be happier than we sometimes are. Possessions on this earth, riches, fame, fortune, luxury does not make one happy. But we do have joy in something that the world can't take away. In Hebrews chapter 11, I'm gonna hold my place in Revelation. I know I'm sort of sticking on this point for a moment, but there's just so much to be said about the riches of Christ and how how wonderful they are.

In Hebrews 11 and verse 24, it says, speaking of Moses, it says, by faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Moses had it all that you can have in his day but he gave it up.

Esteeming the reproach of Christ or of serving the Lord. Greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. They didn't compare to the treasures of Christ. And though they were poor, he reminds them, Don't forget, in actuality, you're the rich ones. They're the ones who are poor.

He goes on to say, not only do I know your works, your tribulation, your poverty, but I know he says, the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan. There's nothing more frustrating. Than being turned on by your own family, by your own brothers and sisters, being rejected and heard and reviled and ignored, pushed away by those you love, by those to whom you you would wish to have love from. It is built into us that we expect our family to to return our love and to welcome us and to encourage us but Jesus said that that isn't always the case. He said, I have come not to to to make everything rosy and easy but but my gospel comes with a sword.

It divides people because those who reject it do not often act kindly to those who receive it. And thus is the case. Particularly amongst the Jews. You see, in Smyrna, there was a a community of Jews as there were in many of these cities. They had their own synagogue where they still went to worship God but God apart from who?

Apart from Jesus. Sadly to say, if you reject Jesus, you have rejected God. Well, there's no other god. These Jews that are called the synagogue of Satan had rejected the Lord. They, in God's eyes, were not true Jews.

In Romans two twenty eight and twenty nine, Paul writes, for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly. Neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart. In spite, in the spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God. In John eight forty four, Jesus said, of the religious leaders among the Jews, he says, you are of your father, the devil. And the lust of your father, you will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own for he is a liar and the father of it. For those who had turned their back on Jesus, for those who would not hear the gospel message, they had left their God for another. And they, by nature, persecuted those who received the true and living God, Jesus Christ. These were having to deal with the Jews in their community who were persecuting them.

Jews who had, it would seem betrayed their Christian brethren, opening them up to persecution. You see, the Jews had received an exception to the law of worshiping the emperor. You see, everybody else had to worship the emperor, particularly in this city. But the Jews had been given an exception by Rome. Oddly enough.

But because the Jews did not receive the Christians and their fellow Jewish Christians as brethren, they were not placed under that umbrella and so therefore, they were not included in the exception and therefore, were required to bow the knee to the emperor. And thus came the persecution upon the Christians of Smyrna who were not included, who were reviled by those who claimed to be their kindred, to to those who claim to worship the Lord. Today, we often suffer future or suffer. I'm a have to take a drink. I can't talk right here.

Today, we often suffer persecution from others who even claim to be of the same faith. You know, that's sometimes the hardest to swallow. You know, it's easy to to take persecution from the world who's outright rejected him, doesn't know him, doesn't care, but it's harder sometimes to deal with the persecution that comes from within quote unquote Christian. Who despise quote born again separated fundamental believers who call them the lunatic fringe or the far far right. You know, I don't mind being far right if the far right is right.

And I don't mind being called a lunatic by the world if I am called by God a child. But it is difficult when even those that persecution comes from those who claim to believe in the same savior and yet persecute others who know him and want to serve him. This was some of the persecution that the people in Smyrna were dealing with. Then, we see the exhortation in verse nine. He says, fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. John writes, he says to them, don't be afraid of men. Don't be afraid of the devil because God is in control. God is with you.

He knows. He has a plan. He won't leave you alone. In Matthew ten twenty eight, it says, and fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Don't fear men.

Paul says, what can man do unto me? About the worst man can do is send me to heaven as a Christian and that's not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all. But who we should fear and trust and love and serve. Is Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior.

Joshua one nine says, now have not I commanded thee, be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua was just about to lead a what had at times been a rowdy crowd of hundreds of thousands of Jews into Canaan to go up against armies with chariots walled cities. God said to him, don't you be afraid. I don't know if the fear was the cities and the armies or the fear was having to lead all these people.

Both of those would have scared me half to death. But God said to Joshua, don't be afraid and don't be dismayed. I'm with you. I'm with you. And John is saying the same thing here to them.

Don't be afraid. Don't fear these things that you shall suffer. God is with you. He says, be faithful unto death and you will be rewarded with the crown of life. Sometimes, persecution will result in death and having lived in America, we don't think about that.

Persecution, death. No, that just doesn't happen but it does happen almost every day somewhere on this Earth. It's been in the news a little more the past couple years with Isis. But it's has never stopped happening. There have always been Christians whose lives were in danger.

There have always been Christians killed for their faith and sometimes persecution does end in death and it is sure that we will all die if Christ tarries if we die at the hand of persecution or something else but we are all exalted to remain faithful. That's all Polycarp did. He simply remained what? Faithful. And who helped him to do that?

God did. The grace of God. He probably wasn't a brute of a man. He he probably wasn't the most courageous person that ever lived. He was just a faithful Christian.

Who lived and served and stood firm by the grace of God. The same as we. We can be faithful because we serve a faithful savior and that is all he requires. It is required in stewards that a man be found what? Faithful.

And whether we die at the hand of persecution or whether we die from natural causes or whether Christ returns and takes us in the rapture, we can know this. If we're in Christ Jesus, there is a crown of life awaiting us in hell. There is eternal life awaiting us in hell. This crown that he used here, this word that says crown is not a a diadem. It's not a crown of a king.

It's it's a laurel wreath crown that you win when you win the race at the athletic games. They were familiar with that in this area of the world. It's not about what the crown is made of, it's about what the reward that it represents. Not one that we have earned but one that Christ has earned for us because he was faithful and he simply asked that we be faithful too And we can. His final parting words found in verse 11, 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. His final statement is is more inclusive. He says, let him hear he that readeth. What the spirit saith unto the churches, that's us. He that overcometh shall not be heard of the second death.

Well, what's the second death? Well, we read about it in Revelation in chapter 20 and that is the lake of what? The lake of fire. When it says, for the wages of sin is death, it's not just talking about this body dying, it's talking about the second death which is the lake of fire but praise the Lord. The verse doesn't end with the wages of sin is death but it says, the gift of God is eternal what?

Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. To all whose names are written in the lamb's book of life, we too are what? Overcomers in Christ Jesus and we will not be hurt by the second death. Who overcome sin and who overcame that is Christ's sin and Satan for us. And as he has done so, it has no power over us.

Has death has lost its sting. First Corinthians fifteen fifty five to 57, oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God which giveth us the. Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Great is your reward where? In heaven. Let's pray.

Dear Lord, thank you. For the exhortation that we find in this passage this evening. Lord, we may never on this Earth face the persecution that these people faced. But Lord, as you were in control then, Lord, you are in control now. And whether we face that kind of persecution or not, we will face pressure from the world.

To hesitate and praising our savior and witnessing to others and stepping forward in faith. Lord, strengthen us by your grace. May we be faithful in Christ Jesus who has already overcome sin and the grave for us, who suffered more for us than we could ever suffer and we pray Lord for our Christian brethren around this world who suffer today similarly. Maybe even in the same area as they suffered then. Strengthen them by your grace.

Help them to remember that you know and that you care and that you are in control and that there is a treasure laid up in heaven for them of which the treasures of earth do not even begin to compare. Lord, help us to be faithful. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.