SMYRNA
10/04/18 09:59
8 “ And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘ These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: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. 10 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. 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.” ’
(Revelation 2:8-11 NKJV)
We see the description that this is definitely Christ writing the letter “Him who is the First and Last, who died and came to life again” (Rev 2:8).
This is one of the two churches that have no reproof from Christ
The church was dealing with afflictions and poverty (Rev 2:9). The city of Smyrna was under the rulership of Rome. The leaders of Rome, during this time, was persecuting the church in Smyrna. The Christians were having their property taken from them and even being put to death. Why was this happening?
Yeshua seems to make a couple connections here. First, there’s a connection between the afflictions and poverty and those who called themselves Jews (Rev 2:9). The Jew’s did not like the Christian church; we see the Jewish leaders fighting them all through Scripture. The Jew’s could not do anything about the gentile Christian church so they took their case to Rome and accused the Christians of viewing a King higher than the ruler of Rome (which is true) and accused them of being dangerous (which was false). We see these accusations made in Acts, with Acts 17:6-7 as an example:
Christ said these Jews are a part of the synagogue of satan. This is not a new accusation from Christ. He called the Jewish leaders of satan in John 8:44. The Jewish leaders are so under the influence of Satan that they do his work of slandering the Christians so effectively that the Roman authorities think them a real threat to the empire and arrest them.
There also seems to be a connection between Rev 2:9 and Rev 2:10. The Jew’s are slandering this church, causing afflictions and the plundering of their property. In verse 9 Christ calls them from the synagogue of satan and in verse 10 he says “the devil will put some of you in prison to test you”. Satan himself is not going to put them in prison. He will work through his “synagogue” to do this. The slandering, the lies, are so bad, people in that church will be imprisoned and even be killed for their profession of faith to Messiah Yeshua.
It’s ok. This life is short. We’ve only about 70 - 80 years in a span of eternity. We all will have an eternity but only 70 - 80 years here on Earth; and it’s the 70-80 years that determine our eternity. This life is so short. What happens here does not matter when we look at eternity.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us
(Romans 8:18 NKJV)
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV)
There is an eternal life given here; eternal life and a crown of victory (Rev 2:10). How do we obtain that? Notice that Yeshua does not say to do it by a confession of faith. He does not say do it by being as safe as possible. He does not say do it by avoiding persecution or fighting with the devil over persecution. Christ says to “be faithful, even to the point of death”. That is how we receive eternal life - being faithful - even if it cost us our lives. We don’t fight back, we don’t avoid them, we are faithful to God and stand strong - like Daniel when a decree was made against praying he threw open his windows and prayed anyway. This is what the church in Smyrna was doing amidst persecution. The ironic and tragic response of many modern Christians in that atmosphere of conflict is to simply disappear. And to think that they are doing God a favor by stirring up no opposition to His name.
That is not the way the Christians in Smyrna responded. Jesus said in verse 10 that some would soon be cast into prison and that they would be tested to the point of death―all brought on by slander―by people who stood up and called them names. Jesus 'counsel to them was not to lay low and disappear. His counsel was, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life."
Notice that this is a condition statement. Messiah Yeshua is saying to this church, "IF you are faithful to death, THEN I will give you a crown of life". Since a condition is given, the opposite must be true also. "IF you are NOT faithful to death, THEN I will NOT give you a crown of life". Understanding that Yeshua gave a condition statement and that condition statements have an opposing argument, we then see how a "once saved always saved" theology doesn't even work with a church who has nothing wrong because what is being said is, your standing and you must continue to stand. If you do not continue to stand, you do not get a crown of life.
Today’s church is starting to be called dangerous. By the minorities that do not like the message and do not want to repent, those who want to remain in darkness, we are being called bigots, haters, troublemakers, even homegrown terrorist; because our message of light does not agree with their darkness. The sad thing is, the church is not being faithful, they are not enduring. Instead, they are giving into the pressure and allowing the darkness inside. We must stand strong or we will miss the prize. This is MUST be the stance in the face of afflictions - Be faithful.
‘ These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: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. 10 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. 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.” ’
(Revelation 2:8-11 NKJV)
We see the description that this is definitely Christ writing the letter “Him who is the First and Last, who died and came to life again” (Rev 2:8).
This is one of the two churches that have no reproof from Christ
The church was dealing with afflictions and poverty (Rev 2:9). The city of Smyrna was under the rulership of Rome. The leaders of Rome, during this time, was persecuting the church in Smyrna. The Christians were having their property taken from them and even being put to death. Why was this happening?
Yeshua seems to make a couple connections here. First, there’s a connection between the afflictions and poverty and those who called themselves Jews (Rev 2:9). The Jew’s did not like the Christian church; we see the Jewish leaders fighting them all through Scripture. The Jew’s could not do anything about the gentile Christian church so they took their case to Rome and accused the Christians of viewing a King higher than the ruler of Rome (which is true) and accused them of being dangerous (which was false). We see these accusations made in Acts, with Acts 17:6-7 as an example:
Christ said these Jews are a part of the synagogue of satan. This is not a new accusation from Christ. He called the Jewish leaders of satan in John 8:44. The Jewish leaders are so under the influence of Satan that they do his work of slandering the Christians so effectively that the Roman authorities think them a real threat to the empire and arrest them.
There also seems to be a connection between Rev 2:9 and Rev 2:10. The Jew’s are slandering this church, causing afflictions and the plundering of their property. In verse 9 Christ calls them from the synagogue of satan and in verse 10 he says “the devil will put some of you in prison to test you”. Satan himself is not going to put them in prison. He will work through his “synagogue” to do this. The slandering, the lies, are so bad, people in that church will be imprisoned and even be killed for their profession of faith to Messiah Yeshua.
It’s ok. This life is short. We’ve only about 70 - 80 years in a span of eternity. We all will have an eternity but only 70 - 80 years here on Earth; and it’s the 70-80 years that determine our eternity. This life is so short. What happens here does not matter when we look at eternity.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us
(Romans 8:18 NKJV)
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV)
There is an eternal life given here; eternal life and a crown of victory (Rev 2:10). How do we obtain that? Notice that Yeshua does not say to do it by a confession of faith. He does not say do it by being as safe as possible. He does not say do it by avoiding persecution or fighting with the devil over persecution. Christ says to “be faithful, even to the point of death”. That is how we receive eternal life - being faithful - even if it cost us our lives. We don’t fight back, we don’t avoid them, we are faithful to God and stand strong - like Daniel when a decree was made against praying he threw open his windows and prayed anyway. This is what the church in Smyrna was doing amidst persecution. The ironic and tragic response of many modern Christians in that atmosphere of conflict is to simply disappear. And to think that they are doing God a favor by stirring up no opposition to His name.
That is not the way the Christians in Smyrna responded. Jesus said in verse 10 that some would soon be cast into prison and that they would be tested to the point of death―all brought on by slander―by people who stood up and called them names. Jesus 'counsel to them was not to lay low and disappear. His counsel was, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life."
Notice that this is a condition statement. Messiah Yeshua is saying to this church, "IF you are faithful to death, THEN I will give you a crown of life". Since a condition is given, the opposite must be true also. "IF you are NOT faithful to death, THEN I will NOT give you a crown of life". Understanding that Yeshua gave a condition statement and that condition statements have an opposing argument, we then see how a "once saved always saved" theology doesn't even work with a church who has nothing wrong because what is being said is, your standing and you must continue to stand. If you do not continue to stand, you do not get a crown of life.
Today’s church is starting to be called dangerous. By the minorities that do not like the message and do not want to repent, those who want to remain in darkness, we are being called bigots, haters, troublemakers, even homegrown terrorist; because our message of light does not agree with their darkness. The sad thing is, the church is not being faithful, they are not enduring. Instead, they are giving into the pressure and allowing the darkness inside. We must stand strong or we will miss the prize. This is MUST be the stance in the face of afflictions - Be faithful.
