The Church in Smyrna
Notes
Transcript
Thank you for joining us today. We began a series last week on the seven churches that Jesus writes to in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Today our focus is on the second church. If you have your bibles go to the book of Revelation, chapter 2. I will begin at verse 8.
As an American church and as American people we don’t think much about persecution. We get to choose whether we want to go to church in the morning. We get to choose whether or not we want to read our bible or pray. We get to choose whether or not we want to go to work or if we want to send our children to public or private or even home school. That is the freedoms that we have as American citizens. We don’t fully understand persecution. So, what is it?
Webster defines it this way.
Persecution - the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook.
Persecution - the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook.
What you see happening to Israel is a type of persecution. The people that are coming against Israel hate them and they want them gone from the region. Israel has been fighting for their place of land for years.
In 1947 Israel became a nation and since that time they have been fighting to keep their spot because the Islamic groups do not want them there. Israel is under extreme persecution.
We do not understand that. As Americans we get to come and go and worship and do as we please within the laws of our union.
Look at our text.
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
The Christians in Smyrna were workers for the Lord. They were workers who were suffering a great deal of persecution. The city was a center for the worship of Zeus and the worship of the mother goddess Cybele Sipylene. These persecutions that they faced affected their jobs and reduced them to extreme poverty.
The Christians in Smyrna were also persecuted by Christ-rejecting Jews who claimed to worship God but really were under the control of Satan. Jesus refers to them here as a synagogue of Satan. These Jews were actually dishonoring God by their treatment of believers.
Look at what Paul wrote about them in Romans 2:23-24
23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
This is what the church at Smyrna was facing at this time. They were under extreme persecution. And Jesus writes this to tell them don’t be afraid because its about to get worse.
Isn’t that something we all want to hear. Don’t be scared! It’s about to get worse!
Does anyone here like jump scares? I don’t like them. I won’t go in haunted houses because of jump scares. I don’t like when things come at me in masks. I don’t like it. And let me tell each of you something, if you plan on jumping out at me, you are likely to get punched. I tend to react when someone jumps out at me. I’m going to defend myself so don’t do it.
But I hate jump scares. Now what Smyrna was dealing with was quite a bit more scary than a jump scare. It was going to possibly be life threatening. The worst hadn’t come yet and they were already afraid. But Jesus tells them do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
And He doesn’t sugar coat it either. He doesn’t give them false hope. He doesn’t give them a false hope of peace and prosperity. He tells them like it is. He says, “it’s going to get worse. The devil is after you and some of you are going to prison and it’s going to last for 10 days. And there is a possibility that some of you are going to die.”
Then Jesus gives a word of encouragement. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your’s victor’s crown.
The word “crown” here in verse 10 is not a king’s crown, but a crown, or wreath, placed on the head of the victor, or winner, in a race or athletic contest. And Jesus is telling them that even if these Christians die, they are victorious.
I love what Paul says in Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
In other words whether I live or I die, I’m gaining Christ either way. Because if I die I go to Heaven, win. If I continue to live on this earth, I’m a believer and I have a future hope, that’s a win too. So, my only hope as a believer in diverse times is to be faithful. And Jesus is telling them that if they are to be faithful then they will receive a victor’s crown.
And Jesus closes this like He does the other letters. He says...
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
When Jesus says whoever has ears, He is talking about all the churches. Even the churches today. And He is reminding us that there is something worse than physical death. There is a “second death,” a final separation.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
This death will mean separation forever from God’s plan, God’s promises, no more God’s love, none of God’s mercy, and God’s grace. Faith or trust in God will no longer exist. Hope for change or hope for the future will no longer exist. There will be no fellowship with God or anyone else. Those in the lake of fire will undoubtedly be filled with hate for themselves and for all who helped send them there.
This will be a horrible time because those that did not accept the love of Jesus will forever be separated from God.
However, on the other hand, those who keep winning victories as they abide in Christ’s love by faith need never fear that second death. God has a place reserved for them in the New Jerusalem and in the new heavens and the new earth.
God never meant for us to spend eternity in the everlasting fire. God has given us every opportunity to repent of our sins and follow Him. A blood sacrifice had to be made and so, He sent Jesus, God’s son to be the sacrificial lamb.
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew tells us that the eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. But those who refuse to repent, those who rebel, and those who turn away in unbelief will share Satan’s doom. So, right now, while they still have a chance is the time for them to repent and change. Because after death, only judgment awaits.
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
I want to be very clear, now is the time to repent. Now is the time to stop living the way you are living and to turn back to God. Don’t let your sin separate you from God’s love anymore. Turn from the way that you are living your life and follow Jesus.
The only way that you will be able to overcome any and everything is to live a life that is pleasing to God the father. God loves you and He has made every way possible for you to follow Him and if you don’t follow Him and if you don’t make Jesus your Lord and Savior then you are sealing your doom for all eternity. Come to Jesus today.
And for those of you that are Christians. You love Jesus. You know that if you died today you would spend eternity in Heaven. Let me tell each of you. Persecution is coming. I’m not here to just bring you all the bad news, but according to scripture, persecution is coming and you need to be ready. Be ready to be faithful.
Some people think they can’t handle it now, but it is easy right now. We are headed for a time that is close at hand.
I don’t have time to go into everything here right now, but I want to hit some highlights. I have an entire series on YouTube called Return of the King. Go check that out. I preached it about 2 years ago.
Seven Signals that Jesus is Returning
Signal #1 - Israel has Blessed the World
Signal #1 - Israel has Blessed the World
The 4,000 year-old prophecy of blessing has been fulfilled, and continues to be fulfilled every day. Any time someone puts their trust in Jesus, the nation of Israel is blessing the world.
72 years ago, something happened that fulfilled an ancient prophecy. In Ezekiel 37, God showed Ezekiel a valley full of dry bones.
5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.
6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
This is talking about something dead coming back to life.
Verse 21 makes it more clear. Israel was conquered and scattered in the 6th century B.C., but God brought them back together 70 years later. It was a miracle. And, that same thing happened to them a second time. In 70 A.D. the Israelites were living under Roman rule. They rebelled and then defeated and exiled them, scattering them through the nations. God wanted everyone to know that He wasn’t done with Israel, so He said to Ezekiel, “Write this down.”
21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.
Signal #2 - Israel Came Back Into Their Land
Signal #2 - Israel Came Back Into Their Land
They were scattered by the Babylonians in 606 B.C. under King Cyrus of Persia, they were reunited with their land in 536 B.C. Then fast-forward 2,500 years, and God did it again. The Israelites were scattered by the Romans. But after the Holocaust of World War II, Jews from around the world needed a place where they could be safe and free. So in 1947, the British, who controlled what was then called the Transjordan region, granted the people of Israel the right to constitute their own nation. On May 14, 1948, this is what they did.
Not only did Ezekiel foretell this event, Isaiah did too. And if Ezekiel’s prediction of Israel becoming a nation seems miraculous, Isaiah’s prediction seems over-the-top. Because Isaiah asks these questions in Isaiah 66:8
8 Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.
Signal #3 - Israel Was Reborn In One Day
Signal #3 - Israel Was Reborn In One Day
Israel went from being a people scattered with no homeland, to a self-sustaining, self-sufficient nation recognized by the General Assembly of the United Nations. God said it would happen and it did.
Then Zechariah prophesied something that happened as well.
2 “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.
Signal #4 - The Surrounding Nations Have Been Staggering
Signal #4 - The Surrounding Nations Have Been Staggering
The nations that surround Israel have vowed to drive her into the sea. The people all around Israel are going crazy. We’ve seen happen this past week.
This prophesy from Zechariah was made some time around 500 B.C. At a time when Israel wasn’t a threat to anybody. They weren’t driving anyone crazy. And once the Romans scattered them, there was no Israel to drive anyone crazy. The prophesy in Zechariah 12 could only be fulfilled after Israel was reconstituted as a nation. May 14, 1948 was a significant day in history. It was a day God foresaw and planned for. On that day, God sent a signal to say things were coming towards an end.
Another significant day came 19 years later. In Revelation 11, the Bible predicts that before the Messiah returns, Israel will own its Temple Mount.
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers.
2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
42 months is 3 1/2 years. The book of Daniel tells us that the final 7 years of the history of our planet will be a time of Tribulation. And the final 3 1/2 of those 7 years will be the Great Tribulation. During that time, all sorts of judgments will come on the peoples of the earth.
An interesting part of this time is, according to Revelation 11, Israel will possess a Temple. But, Israel won’t possess the property around the Temple. That property will belong to “the nations.”
So, Israel is back in their land. And Israel controls the land where the Temple will reside. And something astounding happened in 1967.
In May of that year, Egypt’s president Gamal Nasser ordered the U.N. Security Forces that were serving as a buffer between Egypt and Israel to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula. He then cut off Israel’s access to the Straits of Tiran, severing Israel from a shipping route that was vital to Israel’s interests and endangering their national security. As Nasser did that, he began lining his elite troops along Israel’s southern border. At the same time, Jordan and Iraq mobilized forces on Israel’s eastern border. At the same time, Syria mustered her troops on Israel’s northern border. Israel has no western border. That’s called the Mediterranean Sea.
Sensing an imminent attack, Israel launched a preemptive strike. From June 5th to June 10th, 1967, Israel pushed back their Arab enemies on all three sides. They won on every front.
An unexpected result was that Jordan’s forces were so overwhelmed, they feared the annihilation of their entire armed forces, so instead of just withdrawing into their section of East Jerusalem, they moved their troops all the way back to the Jordan River, conceding East Jerusalem to the Jews without a fight.
Without meaning to, on June 7th, 1967, Israel found herself in possession of the Temple Mount. Without fanfare or acknowledgment from the world, June 7th, 1967 may be the most important day of our lifetime so far. Because since that day.
Signal #5 - Israel Owns the Temple Mount
Signal #5 - Israel Owns the Temple Mount
In Luke 21, Jesus explains the significance of this. Speaking about what will come from the Jewish people for the next 1900 years.
24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
From the time of the Roman occupation until June 7th, 1967 Gentiles ruled Jerusalem. But on that day, East Jerusalem was united to West Jerusalem under the sovereignty of the Jewish nation. And the time of the Gentiles was fulfilled.
According to Jesus, we are no longer living in the “times of the Gentiles”. Because Jerusalem is no longer being trampled by Gentiles. The next step is for the Temple to be rebuilt. There’s great opposition to that ever happening. But, there are two groups in Israel that are diligently working on it.
Signal #6 - Today the Capital of Israel is Jerusalem
Signal #6 - Today the Capital of Israel is Jerusalem
For 50 years, there were claims that Jerusalem wasn’t really ruled by Israel, because the capital of Israel was Tel Aviv. No one was willing to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s legitimate capital. But, on May 14th, 2018 President Donald Trump did what the previous 3 presidents promised to do, but never followed through: he moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to downtown Jerusalem. Google it and you’ll find a picture of our embassy there today.
After Trump’s lead, several other nations followed, so that today, Jerusalem is recognized as the capital of Israel. And why is this important? Because the city of Jerusalem is no longer ruled by, or “trampled by” Gentiles. It’s ruled by her own people for the first time since 70 A.D.
If this is the first time that you have been exposed to Biblical prophecy, then it might sound crazy to you. But it’s all true.
Here’s the last signal.
According to Numbers 19, the only way to cleanse and sanctify the Temple is by the ashes of a red heifer—a red cow. According to Jewish tradition, there have only been nine red heifers sacrificed since Moses, and the tenth will herald the Messianic Age. Three years ago, on August 28, 2018, a red heifer was born in Israel for the first time in 2,000 years.
Signal #7 - A Red Heifer Has Been Born
Signal #7 - A Red Heifer Has Been Born
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
2 “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.
3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.
4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.
Some people think that all this talk is either ridiculous, scary or they don’t know what to think. If you are a believer, Paul gave us some encouraging news.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
God didn’t tell us about the end to scare or discourage us, but to encourage us. If we’re going to live in it, or through it, God wants us to be encouraged! Remember what Jesus said to the church at Smyrna, persecution is coming. And God is coming soon.
So, if God’s return is soon, here are four ways for you to prepare.
1. Don’t Be Deceived
1. Don’t Be Deceived
Jesus warned us what would happen during the end times
11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
We are already seeing this today. God never changes. What God says in the Bible is always true. If you hear someone claiming something counter to scripture don’t be deceived.
2. Remain Faithful
2. Remain Faithful
Keep following Jesus. Resist thinking that this is a time to withdraw from following God or serving God or assembling together for worship. don’t let Him sink to a secondary priority. Make Jesus first in your life.
Remember what Jesus said to the church at Smyrna.
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
3. Pray for Revival
3. Pray for Revival
There are two things that happen during revival. One is that Christians turn to God in deep sincerity and flush out any sin that has been hindering their relationship with Him. The other is that people who don’t know God come to Jesus in large numbers.
Many times in history, when a civilization was at a moral low, like we are today, God’s people prayed and God sent revival. I believe these are our two choices: Either we revive or He returns. Either we come back to God or God comes back to us.
Revival never comes by surprise. Revival always comes in response to concerted prayer by God’s people. So, I ask you again this week to join me every day in praying for revival and pray that it starts with us.
4. Draw People to Jesus
4. Draw People to Jesus
The reason God will let all kinds of terrible judgments loose in the final years is to cause people to see their need and turn to God. If we are here during this time in history, it means we have a chance to be more fruitful than any other generation.
You need to tell people today more than ever about the love of Jesus. Jesus gives us a promise before He left this earth.
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Let’s Stand.
Our worship team is going to come up this morning and I want all of us to sing the song Overcomer. Can we all come across the front here?