Revelation 2:8-11 Faithful Unto Death

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Faithful Unto Death

To the Church in Smyrna #5

Introduction: How do you think you would handle a severe trial? In this case, we are not talking about a trial from illness or some catastrophe, which is bad enough. This is a trial where there is a threat from without; a trial in which both your life, your family’s lives, and your livelihood is threatened if you continue to confess and follow Christ.

The question is difficult to answer. Oh, we all know theoretically what we ought to do and what we intend to do if that day comes, but none of us can really know for sure until it happens. Peter was absolutely positive he wouldn’t deny the Lord, but he did. This is the ultimate test that every Christian must be prepared for. Smyrna faced that test. In this lesson, we will learn from the Smyrna church.

1. Background of the City
   1. Smyrna was 35 miles north of Ephesus. It was a proud and deeply religious city, that is, deeply religious in its worship of the gods and was considered the center of Emperor worship. 
   2. Smyrna had built a shrine to the goddess Roma as early as 195 BC, 50 years prior to the death of Julius Caesar. At the time of Augustus (31 BC), the Roman cult instituted the worship of the emperor.
   3. Later, Smyrna entered a contest to see who would erect a shrine to the defied Tiberius, and won. This became their pride and zeal and reputation, and anyone who did not wholeheartedly support this emperor cult, was risking their lives and livelihood.
   4. Further, as the letter indicates, there were Jews in Smyrna, but not the kind of Jews that you might think. These are not zealous for God and the OT covenant. These are zealous for their own survival in the midst of a powerful Roman culture. These were the kind of Jews that joined  and placated Antiochus Epiphanes during the Syrian persecution in the second century BC. They were happy to turn Christians over to the Roman authorities in order to gender good will among the Roman cult. This is the circumstances in which the Smyrna Christians found themselves.
2. “The Words of the First and the Last”
   1. You will notice that in each of the letters Jesus introduces himself differently. To Ephesus he said, “him who…walks among the seven golden lampstands.” To Smyrna, “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” Each introduction relates to the condition of the church and who Jesus primarily is to that church. In this case, since Smyrna is suffering severe tribulation and will have some who will endure death for Christ, Jesus’ description of himself is strong encouragement. It is Jesus saying, “I’ve been where you are. I also died but I am alive. I am the first and the last. You can trust me. Those who persecute you are human, and therefore temporary in their power.” 
   2. “I know your tribulation and your poverty…”
      1. First, please note this word “tribulation.” The word does not indicate an inconvenience or just the typical difficult period of time that all people endure. This is extreme pressure, a grinding, crushing pressure. It is so bad that it is impossible to think of anything else. It is overwhelming, pushing a person to the brink.
      2. Their “poverty” indicates how this tribulation is affecting their lives. Their are two Greek words translated “poor” in the scriptures. There are those who are poor like those in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard – they go to the market place every morning hoping for someone to hire them for the day and are paid enough to feed their family for one more day. But the poverty spoken of here and by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is being poor because there is no work and they are completely desolate. The Greek defines it as being a beggar. 
      3. When we know that Smyrna was a wealthy city, the implication is that these Christians were not allowed to work because they refused to give honor to the emperor cult of the city. Speaking of the earth beast, in 13:16-17, “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” 
      4. Further, it is obvious that this persecution was being triggered by the “fake Jews” of the city who had caved to the Roman cult. What a amazing description the Lord gave of them. They are a “synagogue,” apparently looking an acting like Jews with their Sabbath keeping, but they are a synagogue of Satan. Satan is their clear leader. 
      5. In Revelation, Jesus clears something up for us concerning “religious people.” Religious does not mean a person is serving God. A church does not mean God is being served or honored. Satan takes over churches and religions. Listen to Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 –
         “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” 
   3. Smyrna was one of two churches among the seven that the Lord does not rebuke. Though not mentioned, the church obviously had all the positive traits mentioned in the other letters without any of the negatives. Therefore, Smyrna becomes a shining example of what the Lord values in a church and Christians individually. Therefore, we must ask the question, “How would we meet the challenges faced by the church in Smyrna?” 
      1. Put yourself in their condition. There is food everywhere. The supermarkets have everything you need. But you can’t get a job to make money and even if you had money, the marketplace will not sell to you. You and your family are reduced to begging! What will you do?
      2. The remedy is fairly simple. Attend the festivals celebrating the gods and go to the temple of the city and burn a pinch of incense to the bust of Caesar and say, “Caesar is lord.” Now you can feed your family! 
      3. I have had a few times in my life where suddenly one of the members weren’t at worship any more. Their answer was, “Well, I had to take a job where I work all day every Sunday. What was I supposed to do? I had to feed my family.” Jesus made a wonderful promise in Matthew 6:33,
         “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”
         And again, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
   4. Did you notice that Jesus added a parenthetical statement that would have kept them strong through their trial. “I know your poverty (but you are rich)…” That is something we do not think about enough. Regardless of what we have monetarily, the primary thoughts of our mind should be we are rich! We have at our fingertips all the wealth of the heavenly realm. Jesus said he came to give us life in abundance (John 10:10), and he wasn’t referring that which perishes. The glory that awaits us cannot be compared to the sufferings of the present. We will sit with the Lord on his throne just as he conquered and sat down next to the Father (Rev. 3:21). If we are not careful we will be just like Esau, selling our inheritance just to fill our stomachs in the short term. 
3. “Do Not Fear…Be Faithful Unto Death”
   1. Again, put yourself in the position of being Christians in Smyrna. You are already seriously suffering, but the Lord now tells you it’s going to get worse. Notice what we should take note of in Jesus’ words:
      1. The devil is about to throw some of you in prison. When will we ever understand that what is happening against Christians and against the cause of Christ, is being done by the devil. We need to identify it plainly. The devil is doing everything to destroy God’s cause.
      2. You will have tribulation 10 days. This is likely an allusion to the 10 days Daniel asked to be tested concerning eating vegetables instead of compromising himself at the king’s table, which would have implicated him as one who joined the king in serving the gods of the land. Ten days would be a limited duration of time.
      3. “Be faithful unto death.” In other words, some of you are going to die in this trial. You are to remain faithful in spite of going through the trial of death. Do not compromise! 
   2. When we hear the words “fear not,” that is easy said but quite difficult to do. Here’s the answer:
      1. First, there is no escape! We are going to be in the position of fearing whether we stand up to the trial or cave into the trial. Listen to Jesus’ words in Luke 12:4-5,
         “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” Therefore, which “fear” would we rather face? When we have a fear of God not man, there is an exit plan in which we have life everlasting. But if we fear man, there is no exit plan! 
      2. Second, notice the phrase, “that you may be tested.” For all those who think Christians aren’t suppose to suffer or that God wouldn’t put them through a painful trial, take a deep breath and read this text! Do we not know, have we not yet accepted that there is only one path to glory, and that is through suffering? How many ways does the Lord have to say it?
         1. Hebrews 2:10-11, 7-18 The whole message of Hebrews is that we follow Jesus to glory through suffering. In these verses, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers, and then quotes Psalm 22, the psalm of the suffering of Jesus and all those who follow him! In verses 17-18, since Jesus has gone through it as our trailblazer, he is able to help us through it. Therefore, do not fear! 
         2. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10)
         3. Paul told Timothy in a letter urging Timothy to not be ashamed, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:12-13).
      3. Consider also that being tested is a blessing.
         1. As with Job, this is the devil’s work and God must allow it. It is a test. Do we really love the Lord no matter what? The test will show whether or not we are just giving lip-service to God in times of ease. What an honor to be given the opportunity to glorify God under such circumstances!
         2. Remember the apostles response when they were beaten in Acts 5:41-42? “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” Such a response is the result of being proven, tested for authenticity. This is the way we can know in ourselves “the tested genuineness of our faith” (1 Pet. 1:7).
      4. Third, Jesus made a promise: “I will give you a crown of life.” The Romans were accustomed to people being rewarded with a wreath as a crown of victory when they won a contest in the games. Imagine being the winner and taking your wreath home and hanging on the wall. In a few days, all the flowers are dead, and nothing but a lifeless “crown” hangs on the wall. But Jesus gives a crown of life. It is worn every day because the life is forevermore.
   3. The final words: “The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” Cool ending! We all face two deaths, one is brief and just involves the body. No one escapes it. But the second death is forever, a forever separation from the Lord, and we can escape it. Be faithful even to the point of death and you will escape the second death! After all, the first death is going to happen sooner or later anyway! 

Conclusion: Are you a Christian who serves God when it is convenient, or do you serve God no matter how difficult, no matter the suffering, no matter the sacrifice, and no matter the shame that is exacted upon you from the world? 

Berry Kercheville