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The big takeaway for you that I hope you receive from this message today is that when you are facing hurt, you can maintain consistency and Jesus can and will provide you contentment and purpose. Open your Bibles to Revelation 2:8-11. And I want you to keep in mind that these seven churches say some hard things, difficult things to discuss, hard to process, hard to hear. The church of Smyrna is all that and more.
So with our seat belts firmly secure, let's roll into it today. The title of the message is "The Well-Off Poor Church."
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write the words of the first and the last who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich and the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 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 10 days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 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.
— Revelation 2:8-11
Basic Info About Smyrna
Let's start out today with some basic info about Smyrna because that can be helpful and fun, get you some perspective. The city of Smyrna was located some 35 miles north of Ephesus and it was a prosperous city. They had it going on. They had a population of over 100,000 people in John's day. That's big doings. And the location has been inhabited consecutively for 3,000 years. And you want to know something? Nobody even knows for sure how Smyrna was founded or when it was founded.
The city was destroyed by a massive earthquake a few years before the birth of Jesus. But the city was rebuilt and it thrived. See, it possessed a safe harbor where ships from all over the world came to buy and sell goods. It was called the "crown city" because it was surrounded by hills that resembled a crown. First reading of Smyrna in Revelation, you think it might be a dusty, dirty, you know, poverty-stricken community. It was far from that. The nickname it had in the area was called the "flower of Asia." And when the city chose a motto to be imprinted on their coinage, they chose the phrase "first in Asia in size and beauty."
What Made Smyrna Special
Now, several kind of cool things made the city special in its day:
- Famous for myrrh production - This substance came from a shrub-like tree that produced a bitter gum. And when the leaves of the tree were crushed, they exuded a very fragrant odor. Now myrrh was used as a fragrance for the living and then as an embalming agent for the dead. Myrrh is mentioned in association with the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ multiple times in the scripture. The word myrrh means "bitter" and it came to be associated with suffering and death.
- A planned city - We just take that for granted. Most cities of that day just sprang up without design. Smyrna in its streets were planned down to the last detail. Those of you who've been with me or on your own to the Middle East, you know that there are different villages that you go in and there's no rhyme or reason for anything. See, that type of planned city back in ancient world would attract folks from all walks of life and all religious backgrounds.
- Religious diversity - It had temples dedicated to the pantheon of gods and goddesses to be worshiped. There were temples dedicated to Zeus and Cybele and Apollo and Aphrodite among others. In fact, there was a street that was paved with gold that ran between the temple of Zeus and the temple of Cybele.
- Self-governance with loyalty to Rome - While the pagan religions dominated the life of Smyrna, there was also a thriving Jewish community there. Smyrna was a free city. They governed themselves, but they were intensely loyal to Rome. Legend has it that on one occasion the citizens of Smyrna stripped off the very clothing of their back along with all the food they could find and they sent it to the Roman soldiers who were cold and hungry on a battlefield nearby.
So now I give you that so you can picture it because I want you to come with me to the city. Here we are in this beautiful wealthy pagan city and right in the middle of it all there existed a struggling Christian community. See, the church in Smyrna was undergoing intense and scornful persecution.
The Lord Jesus comes to them with a word of comfort for their dark days. He tells them that even though they appear to be weak and poor, they are in fact rich beyond imagination. If you ever need to see some folks who were all-in with Jesus with very very very little of this world to grasp, it's the believers in the church of Smyrna. One can't help but look at Smyrna and conclude we have it really good here in free America.
Three Perspectives on the Seven Churches
Now, remember last week I told you folks that folks like to look at this through three different lenses, but most of the time they look at it through just one lens. I'm going to really want you to hear the other two, okay? Because it's important. Revelation churches can be considered from three different perspectives:
1. Prophetically
These churches, these seven churches represent different stages of the church over the last 2,000 years. Now, prophetically, this church in Smyrna pictures the terrible persecution inflicted upon believers by the Roman emperors between the years 100 AD and 312 AD. That's the prophetic timeline, which I think is awesome. I think it's very cool that the churches line up like that. That's why everybody calls us the church of Laodicea here in latter times.
2. Practically
They can also be viewed practically. These letters were sent to literal real congregations that were actually functioning at the close of the first century. Now, while they were written to real churches existing in that day, they speak to every church in existence today. God has a word for Fresh Encounter Church in these verses.
3. Personally
And thirdly, they can be viewed personally. These letters speak to congregations. But you know what? We should be mindful that the Lord has a word to the individual in these letters as well. He has something to say to you and me about our relationship with him.
So when you look at Smyrna practically and personally, there's a word here for everyone who will ever suffer for Jesus' sake. So let's look at our Lord's words and find encouragement we need to be able to stand when and if everyone else is against us.
Point #1: Smyrna Was a Squashed Church
Point number one today is Smyrna was a squashed church. Smyrna was a squashed church. In the latter half of verse 9 and the start of verse 10, you can see it's easy to see the church was going through intense problems because of their testimony for the Lord Jesus. They were letting their light shine in a dark world and they were being persecuted for it.
I want you to notice how they were squashed:
They Faced Persecution (Tribulation)
First they faced persecution, tribulation. The word means pressure. It was used in that day to refer to crushing an object under the weight of very heavy stones. The word tribulation comes from the Latin word "tribulum." It refers to stone wheels that were used to crush wheat to separate the kernel from the shell. This church was paying the price for their allegiance to Jesus. And the pressure was on and they were suffering.
And this persecution did not come from the pagans and Smyrna alone. Verse 9 tells us that they were also suffering at the hands of the Jews. The Jews and Smyrna joined hand with the idolaters in that city to defeat and destroy Christians by whatever means necessary. Jesus calls them the "synagogue of Satan" and accuses them of slander against all believers.
Do you understand how big a doings that is? Why did the people of Smyrna hate the believers so? Well, there are several reasons, all of which are incredible exaggerations and outright twists in order to discredit the Christians at the time. I'm going to give you five of them:
- Accusations of cannibalism - The Jews and the pagans accused the Christians of cannibalism. Why? Because the Christians kept the communion and part of that observance is eating the bread and drinking the cup, right? And they represented the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
- Accusations of sexual deviancy - When the Christians gathered, they would often hold what they called agape feasts. These love feasts were nothing but times of fellowship where believers enjoyed each other's company and shared food together. There's power in breaking bread together. The pagans, however, accused the Christians of engaging in sexual deviancy.
- Accusations of being anti-family - The Christians were hated because their beliefs and practices often split families. This is what Jesus said would happen. Matthew chapter 10. Thus, Christians were accused of being anti-family.
- Accusations of atheism - They were accused of being atheists because they did not worship the many gods the pagans had. They didn't have any statues. They didn't have any icons that they used. So any natural disasters or calamities were immediately blamed on the Christians for incurring the wrath of the pagan gods.
- Accusations of political disloyalty - Christians were accused of being political enemies of Rome because they refused to say "Caesar is Lord." Every Roman citizen was required to do this every year. To fail to do so brought severe punishment and even death.
They Faced Poverty
Because of all of this, they face poverty. Real poverty. This word in context speaks of being absolutely destitute. These poor people had nothing of the world's goods. Why? All because of their commitment to the Lord Jesus. They were denied jobs and promotions because of their testimony. These people had nothing in a city that possessed everything.
Can you imagine how Satan might have mocked these people as they passed the, you know, well-to-do temples and walked down that golden street? Can you imagine Satan saying, "Serving Jesus has cost you everything." Can you hear him with his fork tongue whispering in their ear, "Look at you. You're nothing and you have nothing. Give up on Jesus. You're starving. Deny him and prosper."
They Faced Prison
If that wasn't bad enough, they face prison. In verse 10, Jesus tells them that there's more trouble ahead. They will face more persecution. The 10 days mentioned here might refer to the 10 persecutions the Christians suffered under the Romans, or it might simply mean that their persecution will be severe but brief. Either way, they are informed more pain and suffering is coming their way.
Now keep in mind prison in that day is nothing like it was today. When a person went to prison in those days, it was to await execution and you only got out by dying. Death was your way out. And it was usually death as a horrible affair. You might be killed by the sword, burned alive, thrown to wild animals, any other dozen cruel methods of torture and torment they had devised in those days.
The Example of Polycarp
One example comes to us from history just a few years after they received this letter from the Lord himself. In 155 AD, the leader of the church of Smyrna was a man named Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, the beloved. Hard to study church history and not know the name Polycarp. This man was arrested at the request of an angry mob that cried out, "Away with the atheist. Let Polycarp be sought out."
The old preacher, he was 86 at the time, he was given the opportunity to renounce Jesus. The magistrate, who did not want to see the old man die, said, "What harm is there in saying Lord Caesar?" But Polycarp refused.
When they entered the stadium where the executions take place, the magistrate again attempted to get Polycarp to renounce his faith. And he said, "Swear and I will let you at liberty simply renounce Christ."
To that the old man cried, "80 and six years I have served him and he never did me any injury. How can I blaspheme my king and my savior?" After a few more attempts to get the old preacher to renounce Jesus, they led him away to the stake to burn him alive. And as the flames rose up around him, he was heard to pray and rejoice in Jesus. And he died for his faith. And in doing so, he left an incredible imprint on the fabric of time.
The Reality of Persecution
Now, let me just make a statement here. This is difficult to say, especially in a world where you need encouragement when you come to worship the Lord on Sunday. But here's the fact. According to both scripture and history, listen now: Everyone who will live a wholly, separated, dedicated life for Jesus Christ in any generation is going to face persecution in some way, shape or form. Everyone who wants to live holy, dedicated to Jesus Christ, separated from the world in any generation is going to face persecution in some way, shape, or form.
Do you want to see the Bible bottom line it for you? It tells us straight up in 2 Timothy 3:12:
"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Yay, us. But this should not shock us, nor should it surprise us if you spent time in the scriptures. Jesus said it would be this way.
I want to show you this passage in John 15:18-21. And just look at it with me. And ask yourself as we read this, could our king be any more straight up and plain?
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name because they do not know him who sent me."
This is a little different than "ask Jesus into your heart," isn't it? This is a little different than "Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life and you're just so great." See, the reason the world hates the believer today is the same reason the world hated the believers then. They used all the excuses I mentioned earlier. But the people of Smyrna hated the believers for just one reason because the church in Smyrna truly loved Jesus.
And that's why the world hates us today. That is why the demonic brainwash leftists hate us. The abortion lobby and the rest of the perverted hate us. That is why the soft victimhood mental disorder folks hate us. They hate us because we tell them there's only one way to God and his name is Jesus. They hate us because we tell them that we are all sinners and can't save ourselves. We tell them we're no different from them. We've all sinned and any of us who do not have Jesus are headed to hell. So they should be like us and repent and find new life. And they hate us for it.
They hate us because we will not join them and conform to them in their abominations. They hate us because we are different. We are steadfast and we are not afraid to say so. They are angry and sad in their sin. So to see us content and joyful, it grates on them. They hate us. And now there is no longer any hidden agenda concerning it anymore in America. If you've been paying any attention, if you are of that leftist demonic ideology, please know that their stated platform is to hate God and everything the true Jesus follower would hold dear.
So please, please, please quit claiming you're a Christian or that your Jesus is this weak-wristed wuss who just lets everything slide. You're in deep, dark deception. And those of us around here want to show you love. We want to show you the truth. We want to point you to the one so you too can have eyes to see and ears to hear. Dark-hearted many are in this culture. And when we talk about the end times, it's not all good news for the soundly saved.
Now look, I'm not a prophet of doom, but I've been watching the slide, and I think there are some difficult days ahead for the authentic, faithful people in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, it is even more important that we get and stay consistent. And that's point number two today.
Point #2: Smyrna Was a Consistent Church
Smyrna was a consistent church. Smyrna was a consistent church. Even though they were paying a harsh price for their faithful love and service to the Lord Jesus, these people did not back away from what they knew would save them. They stayed the course and demonstrated a faithful testimony for the glory of God.
The Fragrance of Faith Under Pressure
Remember that Smyrna was famous for myrrh. When the leaves in the trees are squeezed and crushed, that's when the fragrance is released. These people were being squeezed under the terrible and terrifying pressure of persecution and they were releasing a fragrance of love and faithfulness to Jesus into the atmosphere of Smyrna.
Let's take a second and examine their testimony. They had a powerful and positive testimony. Jesus sent letters to seven churches, seven different of them. Five of those seven received words of rebuke and correction from the king himself. Only this church and the church of Philadelphia received no corrective words. The Lord had been observing their walk and he was pleased. They were consistent.
Side note, if Jesus was to comment on our church, would he have any words of correction for us? Would he come to us with a positive word of encouragement? Maybe a little of both.
Their Powerful Testimony
Their testimony they had was powerful. Jesus said to them, "I know thy works." The word works refers to that business which occupies a person's life. In spite of all the darkness around them, these people continued to be the light for Jesus in the midst of an ever darkening world.
- They were not intimidated by their enemies.
- They were not frightened by the hatred of their opponents.
- Did you catch that? They were not afraid.
- They were not afraid to call it like it is.
They proved they were genuine and that their faith was real by the way they carried themselves in society. Their testimony was powerful because they stayed the course and they stuck to the task of glorifying God with their lives. They were a consistent body of believers.
Our Challenge Today
So what about our world? In this modern culture where darkness, wickedness, and opposition to our way of life abounds, there's a tendency to then back away from the message, right? To kind of tone it down. The visible church has now withdrawn from the public square, from the public schools, from the public arena. We have moved within the walls of our building where we are safe from the critics and the enemies of the truth. What we failed to see is we cannot impact the world if we never put our message out into the world. If our message is maintained within the walls of the churches and never shared with a lost and dying world, we can never make a difference for the glory of the Lord.
The message is strong here at Fresh Encounter Church. Yes. So, we need to step out of our comfort zone and re-enter the world with the message of salvation. One of the easiest things you can do is invite your people, whoever they may be, to come to church. We can start here. We can get strong here. But we need to publicly proclaim without fear the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, how do I say that? Share the gospel any way you can. It was Paul's desire as well, and it should be ours. Let's look at Philippians 3:8-10 as kind of a spiking the football on this point:
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him in the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
The Cost of Discipleship
If we want to be a powerful witness for the Lord Jesus, then we must live out our profession. Regardless of the personal or public cost, those men who walked with Jesus paid a terrible price for their faith. Every one of the disciples, with the exception of John, died a horrible death for their testimony. And John didn't have it much easier. If you look into his life, they had a failed martyr of him and then they banished him to the island of Patmos.
Down through the years, some 70 million believers have died for their faith in Jesus Christ. Every year, some 300,000 believers are martyred for their faith. And one day, it may be our turn to take a stand for Jesus. If that day comes, are you ready to stand? Are you ready to die if necessary? Are you prepared to live out a powerful testimony?
An Honest Assessment
You want to hear what I think regarding myself in this truthfully? Will I for sure stand in the face of intense persecution? No, I don't think I can. I don't think I have it in me. There's only one way I believe I will withstand the kind of persecution Smyrna faced and other martyrs faced for the faith. If somehow that comes to my door, there is only one way, and that is the supernatural strength and presence of the Lord Jesus intervening directly into that situation to hold me up in that hour should it come.
Now, I know I should be all rah rah bravado. I love Jesus and I'd die for him. But you know what? Honesty is precious and helpful. And I know that I'm vulnerable to betraying him. Just think of Peter and the rooster crowing. See, I need him every day to be able to say that regardless of what comes our way, we will not bend the knee and we will not deny him.
So, I ask the Lord to help us be consistent and faithful to him. When bad things happen, we need to stand on the promises of God and trust that his love will comfort us. And that's our last point today.
Point #3: Smyrna Was a Comforted Church
Point number three, Smyrna was a comforted church. Smyrna was a comforted church. Jesus comes to this beleaguered little church and gives them a message of comfort they desperately needed to hear.
Direct Involvement of Heaven
Look at verse eight. He tells Smyrna that they had something really awesome. They had direct involvement of heaven. When Jesus comes to this church, he comes as the first and the last. He comes as he who was dead and is alive. If you remember from chapter 1, the title first and last identifies Jesus as the I AM. It labels him as the one who is in control of all things. And the people in the church of Smyrna might have thought things were out of control, but they were in the hand of the Lord.
The statement "was dead and is now alive" identifies Jesus as the one who has been there. He's telling these saints, look, I know what you're facing because I've already faced it. The people hated Jesus. They persecuted Jesus. They crucified Jesus. They poured out all their wrath, hatred, and anger upon him, and he prevailed. Since he is the one who has been through the trials and conquered them all, he is able to help his people when they face the fires of persecution and hatred.
Look, none of us know what we will be called to face before we leave this world behind. But we have blessed assurance that no matter what comes our way, the Lord has already been there, has already secured the victory for us. He will meet us there and we will arrive at that place.
Three Encouraging Scriptures
Three scriptures to encourage you today:
Romans 8:37 says this, "In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
2 Corinthians 2:14, "But thanks be to God who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere."
We got to roll from the position of victory because we've already won. Glory to God. I can face anything if I know he is with me.
Romans 8:31 says, "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
"Here Be Jesus"
You know, many hundreds of years ago in the days when people were just starting to take to the seas, their maps did not show the world as we know it today. The maps were only able to represent the places man had already sailed. So in the places where men had never been before, those unexplored unknown areas on the edges of the map, you know what they would write on those maps? They would write the words, "Here be dragons." And it indicated that it was unknown, that they didn't know what was there. The little phrase, "Here be dragons."
When you and I voyage on the seas of life and when you come to spots you've never been before when you come to the unknown places in life across the map of your life you can write "Here be Jesus" wherever you go Jesus Christ has been there and he is there.
So to this church of Smyrna the Lord says I want to encourage you with my person. I am the first and the last. I was dead and I am alive forever more. That's pretty encouraging, right?
Faithful Unto Death
The day may come when this world will take us in our property. The day may come when they threaten us with death. Listen now. The day may come when our testimony becomes a death sentence to this world. You want to be in the end times? That's what it says in the scriptures. Your testimony will become a death sentence.
If that day ever comes in our time here, take comfort that all you are giving up is what you would have lost at some point anyway. If everything you have is taken away, including your life, the treasures you have laid up for in heaven, are safe, and your soul will merely be liberated to fly home to glory. Therefore, do as Jesus says in verse 10. You be faithful unto death.
I want you to think about it now. All we really have is what we've given away for Jesus. A certain wealthy believer had given away great sums of money over the years and when the stock market collapsed in the Great Depression, he lost the remainder of his resources and was left penniless. Fellow asked him a question. "Aren't you sorry you gave away all that money?" The man answered, "Oh no, what I gave away is all I have left."
May our total lives be an offering in the kingdom work of the Savior. Jesus is telling the church in Smyrna and he's telling us that, you know, that while we may lose it all down here, they might even take our lives, but we will live forever on the other side.
The Crown of Life
He is telling us, the new life believers, that we can't die but once. He promises the crown of life. The word for crown refers to a laurel crown that was given to victors in the ancient Greek games. You see, this church looked like a bunch of losers to the world around them. And in reality, they were mighty victors waging spiritual warfare in the name of the King Jesus Christ.
See, the lost person is going to die twice. They will live without God in this world and then they're going to die after death. They will go to hell. Then they will stand before the Lord at the great white throne judgment and be sentenced to the lake of fire for all of eternity. Preach that every Sunday. Your church will get smaller and smaller in this culture. But look it up for yourself in Revelation 20. That's the second death.
The saints of God never need to fear that happening to them. And we never have to worry about that happening to us. We have passed from death unto life. The faith we have has brought eternal life and we will be crowned with victory and glory when we arrive home. That's what he's telling the church of Smyrna. That's what he's telling Fresh Encounter Church. And that's what he's telling you and me, brothers and sisters.
Our Blessed Hope
Thank God there is far more waiting for us there than there ever will be for us down here. Listen, it might get bad down here before we get to leave this world. And every day, part of our devotion time, Emily and I are like, "Jesus, could you just come today? That'd be nice." We're just waiting. We want to be faithful while we wait any way we can. Cuz why? Because there's going to be trials and there going to be tribulations. There's going to be pain and there may be persecutions. "Lord, why are you letting this happening to me?" But I want you to know that at the end of the road, we're going home to be with Jesus.
So press on, my brother. Press on, my sister. It won't be very long and we will leave this world behind and we will enter that precious land of songs of praise. Let me close by showing you verse 11 from our text again. Says it all:
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. And the one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."
What else do you need? What else do you need? Let us live in victory because we have eternal life found in Jesus Christ himself.