To the Church at Smyrna
Last week, Pastor Jonathan introduced our new 7-week series working through the letters to the 7 churches in the beginning of the book of Revelation. All seven of these churches were located in the area of modern day Turkey. The Apostle John, who was exiled to an Island called Patmos, received a vision from Jesus, and was instructed to write down what he saw and what he was told. John records the letters to the 7 churches. Jesus has a message for each of these local church. Last week Jonathan walked through the letter to Ephesus, this week we will walk through the letter to the Church in Smyrna.
The message to the church in Smyrna is a heavy letter, yet is it very hopeful. We will walk through the passage in two parts. First, who is speaking, and second, simply, what does he say.
1) Remember who is speaking (v.8)
Jesus, gives a description of himself again in v.8. He says: “To the angel of the church of Smyrna write: “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. There are 2 descriptions given here that will be especially relevant to church of Smyrna as we continue on. Let’s take them one at a time.
“I am the first and the last”
This is not the first time God is described in these terms, used in Rev. 1:17 and Rev. 22:13, but it also shows up several times in the OT, included 3x in the book of Isaiah to describe Yahweh. I want to go there for a moment to remind us of the magnitude of who is speaking. Listen to these three passages.
Is. 41:1-4 “Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment. Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod. Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.”
Is. 48:12-13 “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.”
Is. 44:6-8 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
These descriptions of God say: I’m not just the God of this moment, but of every moment. I’m not just the God that established Israel but who established the universe. I’m not just a god, I am the only God and there is no other
We see King Jesus’s absolute sovereignty, “I am the first and the last, I declare the end from the beginning.” We see his absolute power, “I laid the foundations of the earth and with my hand spread out the heavens”. And we see his absolute uniqueness, “I am the first and the last, I am the I AM, there is no rock or God beside me.”
This description of God is meant to bring comfort in the midst of trying circumstances. It is interesting how often the command to not fear is connected with the description of God being the first and the last. It shows up in Isaiah, and also in Rev. 1:17 and 2:10. Jesus says not to fear because we are hemmed in by him who knows the past and has declared the future, his is bigger than and beyond our current moment and the circumstances in Smyrna.
“Who died and came to life”
This is short hand for the description given in Rev. 1:17: “I am the living one, I died, and behold I am alive forever more, and I have the keys of death and Hades”. As we will soon see, the believers in Smyrna are experiences great suffering, suffering with the possibility of death.
But King Jesus, as their sympathizer and their forerunner, has died and lives forever more. He is with them in it. And Jesus being with them means everything for the situation they are in. He wants them to know that he has travelled this road himself, and has conquered. Both descriptions of Jesus here are meant to bring comfort and hope in the midst of persecution.
2) What does he say to the church? (v.9-11)
What does Jesus say? He speaks and reveals what is and what will be.
I’m not much of a fantasy book reader. I was the guy in college that would say when asked about having seen the Lord of the Rings would say “Are those the movies with the little guys walking around for 9 hours?” Later in life I came to appreciate the rest & refreshment of reading fantasy novels. In one of the books I read. There was a group of kids transported to another world, in this world they learn the ability to have creating powers that are something like magic. As they go through the story trying to defeat the wicked king, they increase their abilities, they learn to make ordinary things powerful weapons, they learn to strengthen and increase their physical bodies. They learn how to disguise themselves by changing their appearance as they travel around. They are also given gifts to aid them. These fantasy books all follow the same kind of plots. As they prepare to meet a powerful knight that is much unknown to them, they pull out all there stops. They come in as prepared and powerful and mature as they can muster up.
But, this knight has a sword, a powerful sword. As they approach, he greets them and then unsheathes his sword, and waves his sword across the air in between them. When he does this, it dissolves any magic and manipulation they have done to themselves. In this story, the initial reality is stripped back, and the deeper reality is revealed, and it’s just a group of rag-tag kids. This is not that far off from what Jesus is doing here in his letter to the church. As Jonathan said last week “[Jesus] peels back the part we usually see to show us the unfiltered spiritual realm.”
Jesus, with the sword of his mouth speaks, he speaks “What is and what will be” and reveals 3 things here: he commends, he clarifies, and he has a calling for them.
Commends Them
V.9 “I know your tribulation and your poverty, I know the slander against you, (but you are rich)! This is a reverse Cinderella moment for the church of Smyrna. You appear poor and beat up, but you are rich where it truly matters. Jesus waves the 2-edge sword of his mouth, and he reveals riches. He reveals saints covered in the blood of Christ. Saints forgiven, with the crown of life, set apart, in pure white line. Saints with a wealth of soul and a richness in faith. They might not believe it to be true unless Jesus was the one who said it! What a commendation! Jesus says he knows their suffering and their poverty, and reveals what it true, that they are spiritually rich, eternally rich.
What also stands out here from the other letters is that there is no rebuke, and no warning of consequence given here. Each letter follows the same 7 part pattern, with little exception and Smyrna is one of the exceptions. They do not receive a rebuke.
This is a perspective changing statement I would imagine, they are tired, suffering, poor and lacking resources, and Jesus says “I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich” The church of Smyrna embodies the description the Apostle Paul gives in 2 Corinthians.
2 Cor 6:8-10 “We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” Jesus reveals their true riches.
Clarifies their situation
v.9 “those who say they are Jews, but are not slander you” They are “Synagogue of Satan” They follow their father the devil They do not know God. So if there was any doubt what was happening, Jesus says that they are being persecuted for their faith by wicked people and by Satan himself. Jesus confirms the Spiritual attack they are experiencing. This local church is under spiritual attack.
The Historical Context might have looked something like this: Jews, had certain exceptions for worship under the Roman Government. As Christianity grew, Jews likely viewed it as a perversion of their religion. They may have desired to distance themself from it and persecute Christians. Christians here were slandered by these Jews and would then would also be persecuted by the government for not following the government in worshipping the emperor, or sacrificing to their idols.
So Jesus clarifies what is currently happening and calls them to be faithful as the situation worsens.
He Calls them to suffer faithfully, (even unto death)
Jesus here moves from speaking what is, to what will be. What’s coming.
v.10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer, Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” There is an allusion to the story of Daniel here with several similarities. Daniel and his friends were tested for 10 days when he committed to not defiling himself with the kings food. Later, the Chaldean’s “maliciously accused” Daniel for not worshipping the image of gold Nebuchadnezzar had made. They said to the king Dan 3:12 “These men, O King pay no attention to you, they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up”. They are then thrown into the fiery furnace, they remain faithful up to death, and are delivered by God. Whether Smyrna’s tribulation will a be literal 10 days or not, I’m not sure, but Jesus draws Smyrna, and draws us to be reminded and strengthen by the faith of past saints and the faithfulness of God.
There was persecution in the days of Daniel, and of Smyrna, and today. There was a video sent in our pastors thread about a pastor in China who was arrested Dec. 2019 and sentence to 9 year in prison for “inciting subversion of state power”. 100 of their members were initially detained as well. Today, Lord willing, we will vote to add Kenny and Ryan to our pastoral team, and one of the vows that they will make includes this statement:
Question: Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in promoting the truths of the gospel and the purity and peace of the church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise to you on that account?
Pastor: I do, with God’s help.
Cities Church, know that your pastors today, are as committed to following Jesus and His Word as they have ever been.
This persecution is not just today but far over there. Members of our church have been persecuted. Some known to us and some unknown. Jobs have been lost because they would not bow to the idols of our city.
Jesus may call Cities Church to be a Smyrna. We don’t know. In some ways he already has. We don’t run to persecution but we don’t run away from it either. We pray that we all may live peaceful, quite lives, but may we be spiritually ready when we can’t. Whether he will call us to this level of suffering I don’t know, but there are 3 things that I want all of us to remember and be resolved to know in 2021 and beyond.
Know whatever temporal blessings you may have, they are not your Hope
The Lord gives and takes away, but he will never leave us. Rehearse this now. Build your hope on the Rock and not on sand.
Know that trials produce fruit through faithfulness
Our main concern is a vertical one. What should capture our attention is being faithful to him who has saved us and called us. This is important because he will call us to different things. Ephesus, which is about 30 miles south of Smyrna received a different message from King Jesus. That’s Lakeville, Maple Grove, Hastings, Hudson. In Smyrna, some will be thrown into prison by Satan, and some will not. And through trials, Jesus produces the spiritual richness he sees in Smyrna. In my life personally, some, if not most of any spiritual richness I may have, has been forged and purified through the furnace of trial. He is good to us, & He is worthy of it. Don’t forget the times Jesus has come through for you!
And remember, there is no rebuke, and no consequence listed here for Smyrna, no punishment, only a call from King Jesus to be faithful unto death, and a promise that they will receive the crown of life. There is much hope here. Jesus has confidence that they will be faithful, and he will bring to pass.
Know that Jesus sees your suffering, He sees you
He knows your suffering and your poverty. “He is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit” This is not a tone-death raw-raw speech. This may feel like anguish. It may fill you with fear. It may be incredible disruptive. It may wrench your gut in sorrow. Especially when persecution and suffering comes through the hands of people you may know, whether a co-worker, a neighbor, or friend. But Jesus is enough!
Trust Jesus who will always come through for us & has saved us from the 2nd death! Remember Jesus said, “I have died, and behold I live forever more.” The ultimate threat persecution can bring is death, but Jesus has defeated death! He says “I am the first and the last!”, “I hold the keys to hades and death” “ I have conquered death forever.”
Our last breath of this life will not be the victory of death over our lives, but will be the defeat of death in our lives. Our lives are hid in Christ, he died and lives forevermore. And when we die, we will raise and will live forevermore with him.
Prayer
Father, if we now are experiencing suffering, or in the future will suffer according to your will, help us to entrust our souls to you, the Faithful Creator while doing good. May we not suffer because we have done foolish works, but because we have done good works and seek to bring you glory. Father, comfort those in the midst of trial, be near to them. Father, let us be faithful unto death, for you will give us the crown of life and you have rescued us from the second death. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
The Table
Jesus also said, “Fear not little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” The bread and cup, are a reminder of the defeat of death that Jesus accomplished, and they also draw us forward to the wedding feast of the kingdom that is to come. And Jesus will be there with us, and He will eat and drink with us.
The bread and the cup are primarily for members of Cities Church, but if Jesus is your treasure then we welcome you to eat and drink with us. But if you are not there yet, we ask that you let the elements pass by, lest you proclaim something you do not believe and bring judgement on yourself.
His Body is the true bread, and His Blood is the true drink, let us serve you.