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"Smyrna: Poor but Rich"
(A Study of the book of Revelation - Lesson 4)
Revelation 2:8-11
by Joseph "Mike" Willmouth
(This Sermon was preached at Eastview Baptist Church
during the Evening Service on February 8, 2004.
All Scripture references used in this sermon are based
upon the NKJV®, unless otherwise stated)
Introduction: Last week
we saw the Church who had Left it's First Love, Jesus Christ.
This week, we are going to look at the church of Smyrna and see what
the Lord reveals about it as He walks among their candlestick.
Let's see what we can learn about this church, and ultimately, what
we can learn about ourselves and our home church too. . .
I. The Church And The City (v.8a).
8a "And to the angel
of the church in Smyrna write. . .
1. Its Location.
A. The name Smyrna means "bitter" and is related
to the word "Myrrh" which carries the meaning of suffering (BKC).
1) "myrrh," was also an ordinary perfume, that
was used in the anointing oil of the tabernacle, and in embalming
dead bodies ( Ex. 30:23; Ps. 45:8; Song 3:6; Matt. 2:11; Mark 15:23;
John 19:39).
2) While the Christians of the church at Smyrna were experiencing
the bitterness of suffering, their faithful testimony was like myrrh
or sweet perfume to God.
B. The City was an old city, dating back to the 3rd millennium B.C.,
and was located about 40 miles north of Ephesus (Today its Izmir).
C. Smyrna was a very patriotic city.
- Each time there was a Roman civil war, Smyrna
was fortunate enough to pick the winning side, therefore it was made
a free city with no Roman garrison so the people had the freedom to
basically do as they pleased.
2. Its religion.
A. Because of its patriotism, they won the privilege
of building the first Roman temple in honor of Tiberius, and quite naturally
they readily accepted the principle of Caesar worship.
B. It was perilous to be a Christian here because of their zealousness
about emperor worship.
1) Each year every Roman citizen had to burn
a pinch of incense on the alter to the godhead of Caesar and say,
"Caesar is Lord."
2) Many Christians refused to participate in this act of worship,
thus being charged with disloyalty to Rome, which resulted in being
killed at the stake or by wild beasts in the arena.
3) Therefore, the Christian at Smyrna were suffering tremendous
persecution.
- Probably nowhere in the Roman Empire was
it more perilous to be a Christian than in this city of very zealous
emperor worship.
Transition: The second part of verse
8 gives us. . .
II. The Lord's Description (v.8b).
8b . . . ' These things
says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
1. He is the First and Last.
A. Christ is portrayed as the eternal One (1:8,
17; 21:6; 22:13: BKC)
B. The phrase, "The first and the last" means that there was nothing
before Him and there will be nothing to follow Him (McGee).
- He has the final disposition of all things.
2. He was dead but now alive.
- Christ has the real message for martyrs, because
He is the One "who was dead, and came to life."
Application: The persecuted believers needed
to know that He was the One in charge and that the persecution was in
the planning and purpose of God (McGee).
These aspects of Christ were especially relevant to the Christians at
Smyrna who, like Christ in His death, were experiencing severe persecution
(BKC). In fact, Fox's Book of Martyrs tells us that 5 million
Christians were martyred during this time period. Christ was triumphant
over death and can save to the uttermost those who are enduring persecution
and martyrdom (McGee). Christ was resurrected,
He was the first fruits of those who have died; 1 Corinthians 15:20, "But
now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those
who have fallen asleep." Christ was resurrected, and
so He is the Christian's hope; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, "Behold,
I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed
-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put
on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in
victory.' ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?'
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
This is the hope of all believers, and the believer can find comfort in
this promise in any circumstances in life.
Transition: Christ continues with.
. .
III. The Lord's Counsel (vv.9-10)
1. His commendation (v.9).
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.
A. He knows their work (v.9a)
B. He knows their tribulation (v.9b).
1) Tribulation:
{thlip'-sis} which means "pressure" or "to be crushed."
A) It's the idea of constant aggressive pressure
or persecution
B) Our Lord was saying that He KNEW the pressure of the persecution
that the Smyrnan Christians were facing.
C) The Lord KNEW every sorrow, counted every tear, felt every
pain and completely understood the physical and mental anguish
which His people were enduring, because He had experienced all
of this persecution while He was here on earth.
- Hebrews 4:15, "For
we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
C. He knows their poverty (v.9c).
1) Poverty:
{pto-khi'-ah), which means extreme poverty or beggary; "possessing
absolutely nothing."
A) The Smyrnan Christians were probably deprived
of a right to make a living because of economic sanctions imposed
against those who refused to participate in emperor worship.
B) It is also possible that part of their persecution was having
their property confiscated.
2) In spite of all this poverty, our Lord parenthetically adds, "but
you are rich."
A) Though Smyrnan church was extremely poor,
they were rich in the wonderful promises Christ had given them (BKC):
(1) Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and
persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for
My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward
in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before
you."
(2) 2 Corinthians 6:10, "as sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having
nothing, and yet possessing all things."
(3) 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For you know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich,
yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty
might become rich."
(4) James 2:5, "Listen, my beloved brethren:
Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love
Him?"
B) Christians hindered by poverty in this life can take consolation
in the fact that they possess great spiritual riches in Christ (NIBC).
D. Christ knows the lies and the liars (v.9d).
1) There was a large and hostile Jewish community
at Smyrna, and from the early days of the church, the Jews hated and
persecuted Christians.
A) The Book of Acts gives evidence of the hostility
of the Jews towards Christians:
(1) Acts 14:2, "But
the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their
minds against the brethren."
(2) Acts 14:19, "Then Jews from Antioch
and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes,
they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing
him to be dead."
B) The Lord makes it clear that some of the Jewish community used
malicious lies to incite persecution upon the saints of Smyrna.
2) The Lord added, "who say they are Jews and
are not, but are a synagogue of Satan"
A) Christ calls these particular Jews in Smyrna
the synagogue of Satan, which clearly reveals that Satan is the
author of all persecution of Christians.
B) Evil people are simply his instruments.
2. His condemnation (None).
A. Smyrna is one of two of the 7 churches to which
our Lord gives no word of condemnation (Philadelphia is the other).
B. They may not have enjoyed the approval of men, but they received
the praise of God.
3. His command (v.10a).
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. . .
A. Do not fear.
1) The Christian's at Smyrna did not experience
the approval or praise of men, but they certainly received both from
God.
2) However, the tribulation was not yet over, so our Lord commands
them, "Don't be afraid"
A) The phrase do not fear, is given in the
imperative mood, present tense, is a command to stop being afraid
right now, and don't be again!
B) The a person has the Lord, they have nothing to be afraid
of in this world!
B. Know that the period of testing will be short or limited.
1) The Lord knew ahead of time of the devil's
plans to have some of the believers imprisoned and tried as traitors.
2) The Lord said that their persecution would be for ten days
A) Some interpret this to mean 10 specific
persecutions under Roman emperors, from Nero to Diocletion.
B) It is more probable that it refers to a short or limited period
of time.
Application: The problem of
human suffering, even for a limited time, has always perplexed faithful
Christians. Suffering can be expected for the ungodly, but why should
the godly suffer?
The Scriptures give a number of reasons. Suffering may be;
(1) disciplinary (1Cor. 11:30-32; Heb. 12:3-13),
(2) preventive (as Paul's thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7),
(3) the learning of obedience (as Christ's suffering, Heb. 5:8; Rom. 5:3-5),
or
(4) the providing of a better testimony for Christ (as in Acts 9:16).
Regardless of the reason why we might suffer, we can find assurance
in the fact that the Lord knows the devil's plans and is in complete
control of the situation.
IV. The Lord's Promise (vv.10b-11).
10b . . . Be faithful until 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. He
who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."
1. Christ encourages these believers to be faithful until death, that
is, to be willing to die rather than renounce their faith in Christ
and they will be rewarded (BBC).
2. Listen to what God has to say.
- As in all the letters, the comfort is given
to any individual who will listen and respond to what is being said
(BKC).
3. The Promises.
A. Crown of life
(v.10b); (living, partakers of eternal and immortal life).
1) Some interpret this to mean that only those
that are faithful unto death will be saved, however this verse has
nothing to do with being saved; it concerns rewards and it gives assurance
of their salvation.
2) The church at Smyrna was commended by the Lord for their faithfulness
to the Lord under persecution, and many would experience martyrdom.
A) In light of this persecution, the Lord gives
them encourages them by promising the believer-overcomer a crown
of life.
- The apostle James says the same thing in,
James 1:12, "Blessed is a man who perseveres
under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the
crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
B) The word for "Crown" (Stephanos) was used of the victor's wreath,
something earned and merited by effort in the games (RSK).
(1) This crown speaks of a special degree
of enjoyment of eternal life.
(2) Eternal life is a quality more than a duration, and the
degree of its experience is dependant upon our faithfulness
to Christ.
Transition: Not only will martyrs receive a crown,
they also have Christ's promise that they will be. . .
B. Not hurt by the second death (v.11)
1) The First death is physical death
2) Christ reaffirms to these believers that they will share in
the resurrection and not in the torment that awaits the unbeliever.
A) Revelation 20:13-15, "And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave
up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one
of them according to their deeds. And death and Hades were thrown
into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life,
he was thrown into the lake of fire."
B) The certainty of this promise is emphasized by the use of
a double negative in the Greek text "shall not" ou me (REV).
C) Dwight L. Moody put it like this: "He who is born once will
die twice; he who is born twice will die once."
3) This is an illustration of the use of litotes (a figure of speech
in which a positive statement is made by negating its opposite).
- In effect what is being said here, "the first
death may hurt you, but only briefly, but the second death will
not harm you at all" (RSK).
Application: The lost person lives to die,
but the believer in Christ dies to live. The second death is the
death which no believer in Christ will experience (John 5:24). This
second death actually is separation from God and from every good thing
that He intended for His children. Contrary to much of the "prosperity
preaching" today, even the very best of Christians with the most faith
have trials, suffer, and endure poverty. The certainty of heaven makes
the Christian bolder under persecution. The enemies of the church can
kill the body, but not the spirit. The overcomer will be richly
rewarded for whatever sacrifices they are called upon to make in the present
(RSK). It is better to prove the reality of our faith
by choosing to go to heaven with a good conscience rather than stay on
earth with a bad one (BBC).
Invitation:
1. Does your church function as if Christ is death or alive?
2. How does your personal faith come across to others, is it dead or
alive?
3. Is Christ the First and Last (the Sovereign Creator) of your heart
and life? Is He the First and Last of your Church?
4. Would the Lord commend you for your personal labors for Him?
How about your church as a whole?
5. Would the Lord find no fault with your church? Or you?
6. Is your faith rich or poor, in the sight of the Lord?
7. What is more important to you, the approval or praise of men, or
of the Lord? Does your life really reflect your answer?
8. Knowing that those who are faithful will receive a reward from the
Lord, does it really matter to you? If so, how has it impacted
your daily walk?
9. How would you describe your personal relationship with Christ right
now?
10. If any of these questions have convicted your heart, what are you
willing to do about it?
Study References
BBC - William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary.
BKC - John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, The Bible Knowledge
Commentary (New Testament ed).
McGee - J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary
NIBC - New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers
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