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“Be Faithful Unto Death” • 6.28.20 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- John has dictated a profound vision of Jesus Christ and is now dictating the Lord's thoughts to His churches. We have looked at the Lord's command to the church of Ephesus.
- Despite it's work and busyness for the Kingdom, the Lord had seen that the church had grown loveless. They needed to repent and repeat their first works.
- It's amazing to me that this next letter is profoundly different. The same God is Lord over both, but the content is incredibly different because their context is different.
- Today, we examine the shortest of the seven letters, the letter to the church in Smyrna. Let's have a look at verse 8.
Text
• Revelation 2:8 : "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write," : Smyrna lay just thirty five miles north from Ephesus, contained today within the city of Izmir in Turkey.
- Smyrna was a coastal port city. It's port was deep enough to host large vessels and could be closed and defended in times of war.
- When you looked at the city from the port, you'd see it as an ascending city. It was built around Mt. Pagus and as you looked at it, the architectural features made it resemble a crown.
- Those features betrayed a great devoted to paganism. Along the main drag of the city, called the "Golden Road," there were temples to Zeus, Cybelle, Aphrodite and Dionysius.
- Those religions however, were waning in popularity toward the end of the first century. Gnosticism was gaining in popularity, as was the worship of the Emperors.
- This was a growing trend earlier in Rome's history, as men paid homage to the "spirit of Rome," then ascribed honor to her Emperors voluntarily.
- At this point in history, as the Roman Empire expanded, Rome sought a way for people of diverse backgrounds to be united. This is how Emperor worship became compulsory.
- Once a year, Roman citizens would offer a pinch of incense to their Emporer, declaring, "Caesar is Lord," an action which issued in them receiving a certificate.
- This allowed a person to remain in business and was a proof of their loyalty to the Roman Empire. It was a move to ensure civic responsibility and Smyrna was at the very center of it.
- In 23 A.D., Smyrna competed with seven other cities for the right to build the first temple to Tiberias and in 26 A.D., they won!
- While other cities were touched by this civic responsibility, Smyrna was at the very center of it! Consequently, their loyalty issued in great wealth and favor from the Roman Empire.
- Unlike Ephesus, the church's roots are a bit more difficult to ascertain.
- Most scholars believe that Paul's ministry birthed the church here when he dwelt in Ephesus.
- Other than conjecture, save for this passage, there isn't a Biblical record of what took place here, which is encouraging. There are many more things that were going on than met the eye!
- What other churches existed during those early years which leave no other record? What other Christians served the Lord with distinction, but are unknown to history?
- The important thing about them and the Church of Smyrna is that Jesus took notice of this church and had a specific message for her. Listen to how he "Presents Himself." Verse 8.
• Revelation 2:8 : "These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:" : Jesus presents Himself to the church in Smyrna as the Author of history, the One who is capable of predicting and bringing events to pass.
- In our first study, we noted that this designation was a direct claim to deity! Jesus ascribes a title reserved for God to Himself! (Isaiah 44:6) Jesus reminds them that He is their God!
- He is divine by His association with this title, and He is human by having been touched by death. Their God had experienced death! Literally, Jesus "became" as one dead.
- There is a sense, from the word used, that Jesus voluntarily took on the assignment of death.
- You should realize and understand that Jesus did not have to die, except for the fact that if He had not died, we could not have life! He died only because WE needed Him to!
- On His own, because of His sinless perfection, Jesus could theoretically still be hanging upon the cross to this very day! Jesus surrendered His spirit and tasted death for us all.
- Then, He came to life! He rose from death and is alive, the first to rise, never to die again! Think about what that would mean to these people as we consider His "Perception Of Them." V 9.
• Revelation 2:9 : "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." : The church of Ephesus may have had a greater influence in the world, but Jesus knows the church of Smyrna with the same clarity.
- He knows completely, He understands their activities, as well as the trouble, the pressure that they were currently facing.
- He knows them from His intimate knowledge of them, but He also knows them by His own experience of the same!
- Their works and their trial are not explained to us, but consider this: Their trouble, the pressure that they withstood, did not keep them from working! Neither did their lack of resources.
- From the world's point of view, this church, though living in a successful city, was beggarly. The word refers to a person who is indigent, destitute. They had nothing.
- As I mentioned earlier, Caesar worship had become mandatory, and because they couldn't participate, they could not obtain a certificate, nor could they conduct business.
- Others have commented that many of their possessions had been confiscated, leaving them in a state of financial ruin. Their spiritual life was another matter.
- Spiritually, the Lord knew of their wealth! They were abundantly supplied! Whose assessment matters more to you? The Lord's value system is quite different from the World's.
- The church of Smyrna continued to minister from the wealth of their hearts, even while in a state of poverty in their wallets!
- I wonder what our excuses sound like especially in light of these two churches that we have studied. Ephesus worked under the threat of persecution and Smyrna was right there with them.
- Ephesus seems to have been a church with a fair amount of resource. That wasn't the case for the people in Smyrna's congregation, yet, works born from faith were still present.
- Wherever you are, whatever you are enduring, know that the time is always NOW to serve the Lord with your life and what you have! Let these churches be our example!
- As far as their trouble, it seems to have been coming from a group of people who claimed to be Jews but were not. Notice how the Lord's knowledge pierces through what the eye can see.
- The church of Smyrna was poor in the sight of the world, but were in reality truly rich. The people who called themselves "Jews" were such in the sight of men, but not in the sight of the Lord!
- Their ministry contributions were marked by "blasphemy," a word speaking of slander and insults against the Lord and those that followed Him.
- We saw this when we traveled through the book of Acts. Certain Jewish men sought to halt the progress of the gospel and were happy to decry those that believed upon Jesus.
- By the Lord's rendering, according to His verdict, their synagogue was not one that belonged to God, but to Satan!
- They were men who probably believed that they were doing God's work, but their mission had been perverted and commandeered by the Enemy! This has been their present.
- Jesus gives them a glimpse of their future, as He graciously "Prepares Them." Verse 10.
• Revelation 2:10a : "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." : The beginning of this verse vexes our hearts. The church of Smyrna was not to fear. In fact, Jesus commands them to "Stop fearing!"
- They are to choose not to indulge or give into fear. That part is easy, especially when, in our minds, the next part is included, "because nobody is going to harm you!" But that isn't what He says!
- "Don't fear any of those things which you ARE about to suffer!" It was going to happen!
- This flies in the face of our culturally ingrained and infected Christian belief. It is a wholesale rebuke to those that would teach any fragment of the "Prosperity Gospel."
- That teaching has entered into much of the church's thinking, as many Christians believe suffering to be a sign or symptom, of a lack of faith.
- Today, we can hardly believe that Jesus would allow any of us to suffer at any degree, for any reason. Yet, notice that the Lord prepares them for that inevitability!
- He knows about it. He acknowledges that it is going to take place. And, there is a minimal emphasis on what He is going to do to keep it from happening!
- Jesus acknowledges that the devil was going to be active against them, imprisoning some. This was going to be a moment in history when the devil would actually be culpable!
- Often, the Devil gets blamed for the poor choices we make to sin or the fleshly ways in which we choose to live. In reality, he's often not involved personally. But in this case, Jesus says he is!
- The door will be left open and the enemy will be allowed to run roughshod over their lives!
- We have something similar from the life of Job, when the door was left open for all of the possible demonic threats were made available.
- In this case and in a similar way, the Lord of this church was about to allow His church to be touched personally by demonic inspired suffering.
- Unlike Job however, Jesus allows them to know first of their impending suffering and He informs them of a purpose. He is allowing them to be "tested." We have examined this word before.
- The word was often used in the market place, when a person examined the quality of a gemstone, to prove it to be what it's owner claimed it was.
- Some of them would be allowed to suffer to prove the claims that they had of being authentically Christian. This serves dual purposes, the first of which testifies to the unbeliever.
- Whatever one thinks that they can do to snuff out Christianity need only be tried against a true Christian! Those that were about to imprison these believers were going to see the truth.
- Can you imagine the power of those images, as these believers would be imprisoned unjustly, yet without the usual displays of hostility against their captors?
- Would these unbelieving heathens have ever believed that real Christians could still retain their integrity, joy and peace, even under extreme duress and threats of violence?
- Imagine how powerful and unexpected that would be! Imagine how that close up view of authentic faith might change certain lives for eternity when nothing else could have been convincing!
- When we endure suffering graciously and faithfully, we speak a message that is far more powerful than any word can ever be to an unbeliever. But, isn't there also a benefit to you and I?
- You'll recall from our time in the book of James, that James wrote to a suffering congregation that had been scattered by persecution. He penned these famous words in his first chapter.
• James 1:2,3 : "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." : "Count it all joy."
- "Add up the benefits." Understand that when you and I experience suffering, there is a quantifiable result.
- You and I can see that our faith is real, that endurance in our beliefs is possible and proven by experience! That is the joy that a true Christian comes to know experientially.
- Charles Spurgeon, in making a comment upon this passage, noted that trials are the way that everything in life is proven. A soldier isn't a "good" soldier until he has faced battle.
- A ship isn't given the title "well built" before she has actually survived a storm. A lighthouse can be built reasonably to dimension, but years of storms will actually reveal it's strength.
˚ "Sanctified tribulations work the proof of our faith, and this is more precious than that of gold which perishes, though it be tried by fire...Experimental knowledge is the best and surest (proof). If you have seen others pass through death itself triumphantly, you have said, 'This is proof to me: my faith is no guess-work. I have seen for myself.' Is not this assurance cheaply purchased at any price? May we not count it all joy when the Lord puts us in the way of getting it? It seems to me that doubt is worse than trial. I had sooner suffer any affliction than be left to question the gospel or my own interest in it. Certainly it is a jewel worth purchasing even with our heart's blood." C.H. Spurgeon
- The church of Smyrna knew that there was a purpose for her suffering. She would reveal an authentic Christian faith to the world and she would see her own faith as sustainable against trial.
- We can also imagine the inspiration that the exercise of their faith would have on others. Your experience educates and edifies other believers as well.
- Jesus was also gracious in preparing them for their trial, even sharing it's duration! "They would have tribulation for ten days."
- As is usual with the book of Revelation, there are abundant interpretive theories to go around. One commentator believes that this speaks of 10 rounds of persecution from various Emporers.
- It's not likely that it refers to actual days. One commentator even mentions that the phrase "Ten Days" was an actual Greek idiom that referred to a "short time."
- One thing is for certain: Whatever it means, it is far less than eternity! There is a timeline for suffering. It will not last indefinitely. All of our trials on Earth last for a season.
- Even if they last our entire lifetime, they are then only a vapor before our eyes!
- What is His command to them? It is tied to His "Promise To Them." Verse 10.
• Revelation 2:10b : "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." : "Do what you can to avoid being caught?" "Save your lives at any cost!? What good are you to me if you're dead!?" These aren't His words.
- He tells the church of Smyrna, the ones who are about to be imprisoned and martyred, to be faithful unto death! Be true to your faith. Be consistent to what you have believed unto death!
- Our life on this planet is granted to us for one purpose: The glory, the reputation, the fame of Jesus Christ. If you are a believer, your hope is to enhance the Lord's reputation upon the Earth.
- Any other motivation is sub-Christian! Therefore, even our death, should it even be execution for our beliefs, enhances God's glory!
- Perhaps it won't be so in our time, but can't you see how quickly society in the United States has turned on it's Judeo Christian foundation? How long before Christians are martyred here?
- Again, please understand that I am NOT saying that this is NOT happening in other countries. It is! Our brothers and sisters are in danger of losing their lives at this very hour!
- There are countries where being a Christian is a death sentence should our brothers and sisters be caught! Shouldn't we be willing to at least be "cancelled" for our outspoken faith!?
- If a Christian understands the nature of their citizenship, the greatness of their King and the power of His life, we must learn to be more loyal to our faith than to our own lives!
- Listen to and remember the words that the Lord spoke to His disciples.
• Matthew 16:24-26 : "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?'"
- If you are not willing to believe this now, you will never be able to live it when it matters! Jesus calls out to you now, in the face of your trouble, "Be faithful!"
- You may not be successful. You don't have to be influential. You may not be incredibly useful. All you must be is faithful, reliable, willing to identify yourself as a Christian no matter the cost!
- Today, for us here in America, there isn't an imminent threat of persecution or death. That doesn't mean that we aren't called with the exact same calling and for the exact same duration!
- You and I can commit today to being faithful until our death! Would you do that in your heart?
- May we have the grace to embrace that because the Lord reminds them that there is a reward, the "crown of life!" This isn't the first time that we have seen this promise.
- James used this exact expression to the scattered Jews much earlier in church history.
• James 1:12 : "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." : The "crown of life," from the perspective of scripture writers, is that which is given to those that give their life in martyrdom! There is a crown for that.
- A crown in the ancient world was reserved for champions of athletic events but the same word referred to what a Bride and Groom wore on their wedding day!
- There is also a very real intersection for the church of Smyrna with this phrase, as it pertained to their city.
- We mentioned earlier that there were architectural achievements in the area which were called "the crown of life." It's undoubtedbly true that there was a community pride in that.
- I can imagine someone thinking that if they gave up their lives for Christ, they might never be able to see "the crown of life" again!
- The might never again taste freedom or have their children enjoy the fruits of the labor in Smyrna. That "crown of life" wasn't worth living for, much less sacrificing their relationship to Christ!
- Jesus alone has the power to give the true "crown of life" to His people, especially those that lose their lives for His sake! Verse 11.
• Revelation 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.’" : There are some who are sitting here today that resonate with all that has been said.
- You have heard the call to be faithful to God despite the circumstances and consequences.
- "Though none go with me, still I will follow!" You have been given spiritual ears to receive this and that is something to thank the Lord for.
- Jesus concludes His address to the church by reminding them that overcoming, being victorious over the circumstance, would keep them from true death! It is the other side of the promise.
- Yes, there is a reward, but there is also a pass: They will not be injured by the 2nd Death!
- This phrase is used three more times in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 20:6,14, 21:8) It is best described by the last of these verses.
• Revelation 21:6-8 : "And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 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.'" : The second death is to end up in hell, spiritually dead for eternity! The crown of life is for the faithful overcomer, who may born twice and die once. The faithless coward will be born once and die twice!
Conclusion
- Jesus has presented Himself
as the "First and the Last, the One who became dead and was now
alive." He had tasted death, even the death of the Cross!
- He perceived about them that they were working despite their pressure and poverty.
- Smyrna was poor in the world's eyes, but rich in the Lord's! Whose assessment is more important to you? Where is your treasure stored?
- The Lord prepared them for what they were about to suffer. Some would be imprisoned, some would be executed. All were to shun fear and live faithfully until death.
- Only a God who had experienced their suffering and had conquered death could say such a thing! But then we come to His promise!
- Jesus promised those that overcame a "true" crown of life, an eternity of reward, where no other death could threaten them ever again!
- As a postscript, let me tell how this story ended. Between 100 and 300 A.D., historians say that nearly six million believers were martryred for their faith.
- The most famous of these was the Pastor of Smyrna, a man who was a disciple of John's, whose name was Polycarp.
- The church attempted to protect their Pastor and moved him from house to house, until one of the young men charged with his care, gave away his position after being tortured.
- Polycarp was arrested and brought to the arena in Smyrna. Being an old man meant nothing to the mob, but it lent to some leniency among his captors, who asked him to simply decry his faith.
˚ "86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?" : At this, the men proceeded to burn Polycarp at the stake, the fire proving his faith's authenticity and doing much more.
- It was said that Polycarp's example inspired an entire generation of martyrs, who eventually took the teeth out of Roman persecution because they loved not their lives unto death!
- God's men suffered for a moment and then were translated to a place where suffering would never touch them again! Will we live for the moment or live for eternity?
- Let the church of Smyrna speak to us and help us to arrive at the answer to that question!