Honolulu Bible Church
Morning Worship Service
March 30, 1997

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

THE CHURCH'S TRIUMPH THROUGH CHRIST

Sermon #6 - Christ's Letter to the Church at Smyrna - Revelation 2:8-11

INTRODUCTION - As the church gathers to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we should remind ourselves that every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection. We worship on the day Christ rose from the dead. We worship in newness of life, for we have been resurrected from death in order to serve the living God. Therefore, let us endeavor to apply the truths of resurrection every time we come to worship. Christ's letter to the church at Smyrna is filled with resurrection truth. It is written by the One "who was dead, and came to life." The Lord promises to these persecuted people that they shall inherit the "crown of life" and that they "shall not be hurt by the second death." Resurrection abounds in this letter, therefore, let us listen carefully to what the Spirit says to the church at Smyrna and to our own church in this letter.

1) THE GREETING TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA - Revelation 2:8 - Smyrna was a rival city to Ephesus, boasting of its greatness and beauty over all of Asia. The city was fiercely loyal to Rome and had both a large Roman and Jewish population. It is the only city, out of the seven mentioned in Revelation, left in existence today. It would be the combination of Roman loyalty and Jewish fanaticism that would make Smyrna an extremely difficult place for a Christian to live. The church here was most probably established by Paul while he was visiting the city of Ephesus to the south (Acts 19:10).

2) THE DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST - Revelation 2:8 - Christ reminds us not to forget the picture we have already seen of Him in Chapter 1. He is the ascended Lord and conquering King. In Revelation 1:17,18 we find the phrases of Revelation 2:8 basically repeated. By calling Himself "The First and the Last", Jesus is actually making a claim to deity. This is an Old Testament title for Almighty God (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12). Christ is the eternal God of heaven and earth! He also uses resurrection words to describe Himself - "who was dead, and came to life." Here is reference to His death, burial and resurrection. The resurrection of Christ becomes the great hope for the Christian, for as Christ has risen from the dead, so we shall also follow in His resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20-22). This would be especially comforting for the Christians of Smyrna who were losing their lives for the Savior. As Christ rises, so shall all rise who are found in Him!

3) THE PRAISE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA - Revelation 2:9 - As Christ walks in the midst of the church at Smyrna, He knows their works. These people were going through incredible suffering, yet the Lord reminds us that He is not unsympathetic to what they are enduring. They were a church in the midst of tribulation being comforted by a Christ who knew suffering, ridicule, pain and death.

A) "I KNOW YOUR TRIBULATION" - The church will go through tribulation. Christians are thrown right into the midst of it. In Smyrna, the famous Bishop Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, would go to the flames for his faith. Christ tells us that we are not alone in our tribulations, but that He knows them and goes through them with us.

B) "I KNOW YOUR POVERTY" - To be a Christian in Smyrna meant extreme poverty. This was probably brought about because they were thrown out of their jobs or had their businesses boycotted. Being a Christian in Smyrna meant poverty, hunger and imprisonment. Yet Christ has also known poverty for us (II Corinthians 8:9), and tells us that we should not be concerned about being poor, for we are actually spiritually rich. A Christian must focus on the eternal and not be so overwhelmed with physical things in this life (Luke 12:15; Philippians 3:8; James 2:5; Matthew 6:19-21).

C) "I KNOW THE BLASPHEMY SPOKEN AGAINST YOU" - The Jews were the enemies of the church of Jesus Christ. In Smyrna, the Jewish population took great delight in accusing the Christians before the Romans. They were trying to destroy the church. Yet look at what Christ says about these "supposed" people of God. Though the Jews could trace their lineage back to Abraham in the Old Testament, Christ tells them that they are not Jews. The Jew who persecutes the church, who rejects Christ, who curses the true people of God, is not a Jew at all! Christ rejects these people, calling them children of the devil (John 8:44). Who, then, are the true Jews? Scripture tells us that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham, and that if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed (Galatians 3:7-9; 28,29). Paul also tells us that a Jew is not one outwardly, but inwardly, through faith in Christ (Romans 2:28,29). Therefore any Jew or Gentile who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior is a true Jew, everything else is false.

4) THE REBUKE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA - Here we find that Christ has nothing to say against the church at Smyrna. It is not that this was a perfect church, rather, the Lord does not find anything worth mentioning against its works. This church has a high standing in the mind of Christ as it suffered on behalf of His glory.

5) CHRIST'S WARNING TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA - Revelation 2:10 - These Christians are encouraged not to be afraid of the oncoming sufferings, for the Lord is with them and suffering is a natural part of growing in Christ (Matthew 10:28; Romans 8:18; II Timothy 3:12). Instead, they should see that the devil is behind their sufferings. He is behind the persecution of the Romans and Jews. Yet even as they try to strike down the church, the people of God are to see that this is all part of their "testing". Therefore, God is ultimately the one controlling the tribulation, even though the devil thinks it is himself. Their tribulation is to be brief ("ten days" is a figurative phrase for brevity) and they are therefore encouraged to be faithful, even as they go to their deaths. Note that there is no promise of deliverance from tribulation, rather the Christian is taken through it as a test so that their faith might be strengthened. Whatever happens, they are called to remain true to the Savior.

6) CHRIST'S EXHORTATION TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA - Revelation 2:11 - As in the letter to Ephesus, all of the churches are to listen carefully to what the "Spirit says to the churches." We are called to learn from Smyrna's experiences and to endeavor to be a church which will persevere, even in the midst of tribulation. Smyrna teaches us how to do that.

7) CHRIST'S PROMISES GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA - Revelation 2:10,11 - "I will give you the crown of life." To those who are faithful in Christ, resurrection will be their reward. Though they are martyred and killed in this life, nothing can take away their crown in the life to come. "He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." They will experience the first death, which is physical death. Yet the second death, which is eternal destruction in the lake of fire, will never touch them (Revelation 20:14; 21:18). Such is the promise to all who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

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