Dear Smyrna: Don't Be Fearful, Remain Faithful

REVELATION 2:8-11 To the Church in Smyrna 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ INTRODUCTION – COMFORTING THE AFFLICTED Many have said that the Preacher should have two aims when it comes to preaching to a group of people: 1. Comfort the Afflicted 2. Afflict the Comfortable In our first letter, we saw Jesus afflicting the comfortable. He did provide some comfort – some encouragement - to Ephesus. He praised them for the many things that they were doing right. But the real reason he was writing to them was to cause them a little discomfort. • You’re doing all these things well, Jesus said… o but you’re just going through the motions. o You’ve lost your love. And as this letter would have been read at Ephesus you can imagine some people beginning to squirm. You ever been in a room where you can almost feel the entire room start to shift in their seat because of what the Preacher is saying? • I was at a conference held in the KFC Yum Center in Louisville Kentucky listening to Ligon Duncan several years ago. o And there were thousands of people in the room, o but the place was completely quiet, and you could feel the discomfort – the good kind of discomfort – as Ligon preached. • It was one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever been a part of. o The conviction of the Holy Spirit falling on us all at once as the Word was preached. Sometimes the comfortable need to be made uncomfortable. • Sometimes our toes need to be stepped on a little. But sometimes the afflicted need to be comforted. • And the church in Smyrna, is a church that is afflicted. And the words that Jesus writes to them are: • words that challenge them. • Words that encourage them. • But primarily they are words that comfort them. The church in Smyrna was of course located in the city of Smyrna. Smyrna is the only city of the seven that is still in existence today. • Today it’s known as the city of Ismir in Turkey, and has a population of almost 3 million. At the time this letter was written, it had a population of around 200,000 • Big city for that time. Like Ephesus, Smyrna was a major city in the region. Like Ephesus (MAP), it was located on a harbor. • Which meant a lot of business was done in Smyrna. In fact, Smyrna was known as the Port of Asia • As you can see on the map, there was a narrow entrance into the harbor, which made it easy to defend, and therefore a favorite of most sea travelers. Smyrna was a modern city for the time. • Libraries • Gymnasiums • Paved streets • Asia’s largest open air theater The coins minted in Smyrna: First in Asia in Beauty and Size. But while Smyrna was similar in many ways to the city of Ephesus, one of the things that made it unique…was its loyalty to Rome. • All of the cities that these letters were written to were part of the Roman Empire, o but Smyrna was dedicated to Rome. In the first century BC the Roman senator Circero described Smyrna as one of Romes “most faithful and ancient allies.” And one of the ways Smyrna showed that allegiance was by being a center of worship to the Roman Emperors. • There were multiple temples in Smyrna dedicated to different past and present emperors. • And it was required that all citizens of the city offer sacrifices to the emperor. Something that Christians could not do. They could not join with the crowd shouting that Caesar was Lord, because there was only one Lord. • And that was Jesus. And their refusal to worship the emperor led to opposition • it led to them being ostracized in the city, o and eventually it led to martyrdom. Many Christians in Smyrna were killed for their faith in Jesus. Again, the first recorded Christian martyr outside of the New Testament is from Smyrna. And since that day…many Christians have been, and are being killed for their faith in Jesus. A 2014 article in Christianity Today says that since the days of the writing of this letter over 70 million Christians have been killed for their faith. Open Doors tells us that since 2014, it’s only gotten worse. Just last year, Open Doors reports that: • Over 340 million Christians live in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination. o That’s 1 in every 8 Christians. o You think about 1 out of 7 churches in Revelation being a persecuted church…not much has changed. • 4,761 Christians killed for their faith • 4,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked • 4,277 believers were arrested, sentenced or imprisoned without trial. Again, just in 2020. What would Jesus say to these Christians? • How would he comfort and encourage his afflicted church? Well fortunately we don’t have to wonder what he would say, because we have what he has said. • What he said to Christians in Smyrna in the 1st century • he says to persecuted Christians in the 21st century. And the first thing that Jesus tells the persecuted Christians in Smyrna is that He is greater than death. JESUS IS GREATER THAN DEATH What do the Christians who face the reality of dying for their faith need to know? • They need to know that there is something greater than death. o And that is the Savior who is awaiting them on the other side of death. In each of these letters Jesus introduces himself in a unique way. • He reveals something about himself that that church in particular needs to know. And to the church that is facing persecuted the way Jesus reveals himself is that he is: Revelation 2:8 “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” Two things Jesus says about himself. The first is that he is the first and the last: JESUS IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST He is the eternal one. • Go back as far into eternity past as you can go…and Jesus was there. What does John say about Jesus in the opening of his gospel? • In the beginning…Jesus was… (John 1:1) When the beginning took place, Jesus already was. • He has always been. And he always will be. • Nothing will outlast Jesus. Not even persecution. • Persecution will end. o But Jesus will still be. • Your pain will end. o But Jesus will still be. • Your suffering will be complete. o But Jesus will still be. Jesus is the eternal one. Here he is really emphasizing his divinity. • Only God is eternal. He’s associating himself with God the Father, who is described in verse 8 of chapter as the: Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet. • He is the A to Z. • He is the first and the last. And Jesus, the one who is walking among his churches, the one who will say in a little bit – I know what you’re experiencing Smyrna – is the eternal God. But then he says: JESUS IS THE ONE WHO DIED AND CAME TO LIFE NLT - “This is the message from the one…who was dead but is now alive” Those two statements together baffle us: how can someone who died be alive? But what’s even more baffling is to put them with the previous statement: • How can the one who is eternal…die? What is Jesus saying to this church? This church who he later says: • some of you will be thrown into prison • and some of you will need to be faithful even unto death. What does this description say to them? He’s saying: • I’ve already been there. You’ve seen those shirts right – been there done that. • Jesus says, I’ve been there, and I’ve done that. • I have died and came to life again. Later in Revelation we see Jesus as the Lamb standing…but when you look at him you see that he is one who has been slain. But he’s standing. He’s alive. I’m not asking you Smyrnan Christians to do something that I haven’t already done. • And because I’ve already done it I can tell you…you’re going to be ok. Because I died, and in my death, I conquered death. Standing at the tomb of Lazarus Jesus said to Mary and Martha: John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. And then he asks them: Do you believe this?” And now he asks the Christians in Smyrna, who are facing their own tombs…do you believe this? Believe it. Because I have accomplished it. • Look at me. • I am the one who died, but is now alive. What the Christians facing persecution need to know most in order to remain faithful is they need to know who Jesus is. What all of us need to know most in order to remain faithful is who Jesus is. • He is the eternal God who became flesh. o Who lived o and died o and rose again. And who comes to us and says I am greater than any obstacle that lies in the way of your faithfulness…even death. Look to me. “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Studd The first comfort that Jesus brings to his afflicted church is the reminder that He is greater than death. The second comfort is that he knows what they’re going through. JESUS KNOWS THE SUFFERINGS OF HIS PEOPLE “I know…” Jesus says. Revelation 2:9 “I know your tribulation and your poverty…and the slander.” That phrase – I know – is found in each of the seven letters. Sometimes, when Jesus says that, when he looks at the church and says “I know…” it causes some shuffling in the pews. • The congregation starts to get uncomfortable. o Because they wish that Jesus didn’t know…all that he knew. o They were hoping that he didn’t know about that. But when Jesus says those words to the church in Smyrna a wave of comfort sweeps over the church. • He knows… • He knows what we’re going through. • He sees us. Do you know…that Jesus knows? You aren’t hidden from his sight. One of the hardest parts of suffering is the loneliness of it. It isolates us from others so often. Even when others are doing the best they can to walk with you in your suffering, there is still a sense of loneliness that comes with suffering. • But Jesus says…it hasn’t isolated you from me. I know what you’re going through Smyrna. And Jesus points out three things that he knows. First he says: I know your tribulation. JESUS KNOWS THEIR TRIBULATION NIV – Afflictions NLT – Suffering And the word refers not to minor irritants or inconveniences, but to real hardships. • It’s a word that refers to things being pressed together. o Like grapes that are pressed to produce juice. There is a constant pressure on the church in Smyrna. James Hamilton says of this word that it reminds us that: “Tribulation is painful and wearisome. It pecks away at us little by little, chipping away at our joy, taking the wind out of our perseverance, and things only worsen as tribulation drags on.” Our tribulation might not come in the form of persecution like the Smyrnans, but there are many ways that the enemy brings these kinds of tribulation into our lives. • Things that peck away at us little by little. And notice, Jesus doesn’t minimize their suffering, does he? • He doesn’t say, “oh come on, its not that bad. Look at what I went through!” He doesn’t belittle them and say • “oh Smyrna why are you not stronger in this? Why aren’t you handling this a little better than you are.” Instead, he says, I see you. • I know what you’re going through. • Your suffering is real. Neither does Jesus offer them advice on how to escape the suffering. • Because there is no escape. • In order to remain faithful to Jesus in Smyrna, it means they’re going to have to experience suffering. Under Emperor Domitian, the Roman Emperor at the time, it was a capital offense to refuse to offer the yearly sacrifice to the emperor. • The only escape from suffering was compromise. o Of denying Jesus. And there are seasons in our lives, and situations for many here, that there is no escaping the suffering except by compromise. We don’t know all the reasons, but in many situations God has not provided an escape route out of suffering. • We don’t know why our lives don’t involve the kind of suffering right now that Christians in Afghanistan do. • Or why your life involves the level of tribulation that the person sitting beside you doesn’t experience. But I think that it’s significant that this letter is one of only two of the letters that receives only words of comfort. • There is a special comfort that comes from God when walking through tribulation. • A special grace that is not found in seasons of ease. The only two churches that receive only words of comfort and encouragement are Smyrna and Philadelphia. • And most commentators will say that on the surface, those are the two churches that looked the least impressive. o They were small. o They were insignificant in the eyes of the world. Smyrna didn’t have all the activity of Ephesus. • It didn’t have the well-known leaders of John and Paul and Timothy. It went unnoticed by the world. But Jesus says to them…I know you. • I see you. • And I am with you in your sufferings. Over and over again we hear in the New Testament that there is something gained in sharing in the suffering of Christ that is not found anywhere else. And over and over again we see that on display in our persecuted brothers and sisters. And we see it here, in this letter to Smyrna. I know your tribulations. JESUS KNOWS THEIR POVERTY The second thing that Jesus knows, is their poverty. There are two Greek words that are used in the New Testament for poor. • One means that you only have the basics. o Nothing extravagant. • But the other means you have nothing at all. It refers to utter poverty. o It’s the word ptochos. o And that’s the word that Jesus uses here. These Christians…had nothing. Not participating in the worship at the temples meant that the Christians in Smyrna were ostracized from society. • Most jobs were unavailable to them. • Only the jobs no one else wanted were available to Christians. This still happens today in many places. • A few years ago we saw a video from Christians in a persecuted country saying that they had the same experience. o Maybe you remember the man being lowered into the sewer,  and coming out covered in what was in the sewer. o These were the only jobs Christians were allowed to have. But if you watched that video you remember the face of that poor man. • And that it wasn’t the face of someone who was poor. • But it was the face of someone who had found something of greater value than any high paying job could bring. Open Doors, India… Jesus says, I know you’re poor…but here’s what else I know…you are rich. A few letters later he’ll say the same thing, only the opposite. To Laodicea he’ll say, you think you’re rich, and in the worlds eyes you are rich. • But I know the truth…and that is that your bankrupt when it comes to spiritual wealth. Laodicea was a rich church that was really poor…but Smyrna is a poor church that has true riches. James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” The Christians in Smyrna were poor in the world, but rich in faith. Hebrews tells us that many Christians in that day had their homes robbed. • In many countries today where Christians are persecuted, the government will look the other way as Christians are robbed and mistreated. And that was happening in places like Smyrna. But Hebrews said that they: Hebrews 10:34 “you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” And here Jesus is reminding them…don’t forget that you have the true riches. James Hamilton said that those who have the kind of wealth Jesus is talking about in these verses are like the poor man boarding the Titanic. • All around him he sees men and women in fancy clothes, expensive jewelry and bags and bags of luggage for their journey. All laughing and mocking him as they walk by. • And all he has is a lifeboat. o What a seemingly foolish thing to bring aboard a large and beautiful ship. But what he brought is the only thing that will be of any use when the ship sinks in the night. Jesus says, you have what is of real value. I know your poverty… And the third thing Jesus knows is the slander. JESUS KNOWS THE SLANDER This word “slander” is actually the word “blasphemy”. Which again reminds us that Jesus knows all that Smyrna is experiencing from first hand experience. • He experienced tribulation. • Though he was rich, he was made poor. • And he was blasphemed against. And not only does Jesus know that they’re being slandered, he knows who they are being slandered by. Revelation 2:9 “I know…the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Most likely this slander came in the form being informants. • The Jews would turn the Christians in to the officials in Smyrna. Jews were exempt from emperor worship in the Roman Empire at this time. • They were an ancient religion, and weren’t a threat to the emperor, so they were allowed to skip out on the sacrifices at the temple. And for a time, many viewed the Christians simply as a Jewish sect, and they fell under that same umbrella of protection. But the Jews denounced the Christians. • They aren’t part of us. • They aren’t Jews at all. And they kicked them out from that umbrella of protection. In fact, at the martyrdom of Polycarp its recorded that the Jews actually helped to gather the sticks that would be used to light the fire that burned him at the stake. • And they did this despite the fact that it was the Sabbath. The Jews hated the Christians. But what does Jesus say about these Jewish men and women? • They aren’t really Jewish. They might be Jewish by their family line, but they come from a different spiritual line. • They are a part of the adversary. • They are in cohots with Satan – the one who is described as the accuser of the brethren. Jesus said this same thing to the Jews who opposed him during his earthly ministry. • You might claim to come from Abraham, but you have a different Father. o Your acting just like your father, the devil. Again, Jesus knows, because he has experienced this. • Nothing that happens to Smyrna has not happened to him. He is the great high priest who truly has been tempted in every way that we are…yet without sin. (Hebrews 4) Jesus knows. • Isn’t that a great comfort? • Jesus knows. • Whatever you’re going through…Jesus knows. My Jesus knows when I am lonely / He knows each pain; He sees each tear He understands each lonely heartache / He understands and always cares. But not only does Jesus know what we’re experiencing in the moment of our suffering. • He knows what’s on the other side of the suffering. And that’s the third and final thing he says to the suffering Christians. • That all the suffering… • all the slander… • all the tribulation… • all of it.. • is worth it. o It’s worth it. FOLLOWING JESUS IS WORTH THE COST Following Jesus is worth the cost. • No matter what that cost is, it’s worth it. But notice what that cost will be for the Christians in Smyrna: THE COST WILL BE GREAT Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death…” When Jesus says do not fear, what he actually says is stop fearing: TLB – Stop being afraid They are already fearing what is about to happen. And to say that it’s about to happen, means that it’s at the door. • It’s imminent. The Christians in Smyrna can sense the pressure in Smyrna mounting. • The slander is getting more severe, • the poverty is getting worse. o Just when they thought they couldn’t get poorer, they do. • And the tribulation is rising. And with it, the hearts of the Christians in Smyrna are becoming more and more fearful. But Jesus says, stop fearing. Do you know that one of the most used phrases in the Bible is “do not fear.” • In fact, someone said it’s found exactly 365 times in the Bible. o One time for every day of the year. That tells us two things doesn’t it. • First of all, there’s plenty of things in this world for us to be fearful of. • But secondly, God really wants us to know…with Him we don’t have to fear any of it. And there’s plenty to be fearful about in Smyrna. Jesus says some of you are about to get thrown into prison. • In those days, prison was not a place of rehabilitation, o or even a place of punishment. • Prison was a holding cell while you await trial for your execution. And some of the Smyrnan Christians are about to experience that. But notice, they will only experience tribulation for 10 days. Now there is an argument over whether this is a literal ten days or a figurative 10 days. • I lean towards figurative. But either way what Jesus is saying is the same thing. And that is that though your tribulation will be intense…it will end. Your suffering has an expiration date. • And God knows what it is. And nothing • that Devil, • or the Jews of Smyrna, • or the city officials do can extend that date. And this is true for us as well. • Your suffering has an expiration date. It may be intense, it may be long…but it will end. • Your pain…it will end. • Your trials…they will be brought to an end. • Your heartache…it will one day be gone. • Your suffering has an expiration date. It will only last 10 days, Jesus says. • 10 days is a long time when you’re on day 5 or 6. • But compared to some of the other numbers in Revelation – the thousand year reign of Christ – 10 days isn’t very long. • And compared with eternity…10 days is merely the blink of an eye. And Jesus tells them that these days of suffering will be hard…but they will end. • Hold on. Be faithful, Jesus says, even unto death. But why be faithful unto death? Because it’s worth it. The cost is great…but the reward is greater. THE REWARD IS GREATER Revelation 2:10-11 “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” The crown that Smyrna would have in their minds as they hear these words wouldn’t be a golden crown covered with jewels, • but would be a laurel wreath that was given at athletic competitions. • It was also placed on the heads of military men who came home after conquering in war. And Jesus says that for those who remain faithful, awaiting them on the other side of death, is a crown. • A crown of life in the kingdom of eternal life. But the only way to get to that crown is by death. The only way for any of us to get to that crown is by death. This is the way to life. The way of death. • Death to self • Death to sin • Dead to the world But alive unto God. All of us must be faithful unto death. And Jesus says that for those who remain faithful unto death…they don’t have to fear the final death. The second death. The second death is described later in Revelation as the lake of fire. A place of eternal death. And eternal separation from God. Revelation 20:14 "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire." Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Everyone will die the first death. Physical death in this world. But those who are faithful to Jesus will be saved from the second death. CONCLUSION One such person who was faithful unto death was the pastor of Smyrna…the Bishop Polycarp. And at the age of 86, Polycarp was arrested and brought before the proconsul in Smyrna. On the way their the chief of police tried to persuade Polycarp – you don’t have to go through this “what harm is there in saying “Lord Caesar” and offering some incense and save yourself?” But Polycarp refused. When he was brought before the proconsul, he to tried to persuade Polycarp: Take the oath, and I shall release you. Curse Christ.” Polycarp responded: Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? The proconsul replied: I have wild beasts. I shall throw you to them, if you do not change your mind.” But Polycarp said: “Call them.” I will not recant. Well then, the proconsul replied, “I shall have you consumed with fire, if you despise the wild beasts, unless your change your mind.” But Polycarp said: “The fire you threaten burns but an hour and is quenched after a little; for you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and everlasting punishment that is laid up for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Come, do what you will.” And they did. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, was faithful unto death. And millions of Christians have followed in his footsteps. Because they knew that what was awaiting them on the other side of death was worth the cost. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Don’t be fearful…remain faithful.