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Church @ Smyrna• 5 Points1. The End Game2. Focus of Revelation—JESUS3. Definition of Revelation4. Literal Interpretation

5. Revelation can be divided into 3 sections:1. The Cover Letter – explains how John received

the revelation, and his reason for sending it (Chapter 1).

2. Letter to the 7 Churches – this was a letter dictated to him by Jesus. This letter contains special instructions to each church (Ch’s 2-3).

3. The Prophecy – This is the revelation itself which is recorded in chapters 4-22.

• Tonight, we are going to continue our examination of the letters to the 7 churches of Asia. 1. Ephesus2. Smyrna3. Pergamum4. Thyatira5. Sardis6. Philadelphia7. Laodicea

• Specifically we are looking what Jesus said to the Church at Smyrna.

• 7 Specific Churches• 7 Divisions of Church History

Ephesus—Apostolic Church (AD 30-100)Smyrna—Persecuted Church (AD 100-313)Pergamos—State Church (AD 313-590)Thyatira—Papal Church (AD 590-1517)Sardis—Reformed Church (AD 1517-1790)Philadelphia—Missionary Church (AD

1790- 1900)Laodicea—Apostate Church (AD 1900--?)

• In each of these letters, there is a 5 part pattern in how Jesus deals with the churches.

• Description of Jesus—Jesus reveals a different aspect of His nature which that church needs.

• Praise/Commendation – Jesus commends the characteristic He likes in the church.

• Issues – Jesus calls attention to what displeases Him about the church. (Fire in His eyes)

• Counsel/Directives – Jesus calls for repentance and what to do to make it right. (parenting)

• Challenge – gives the blessings of obedience or warnings of disobedience.

• Revelation 2:8-11 – 8 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive: 9 "I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 10 Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

• 11 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

• Smyrna was a very wealthy commercial city on the coast. (Modern Izmir)

• It was also on the major trade route between Rome and Persia & India to the East.

• Archeologist found many coins when they excavated the city which reveals there was great wealth there.

• Smyrna was a city of manufacturing and most of the craftsmen were organized into guilds much like our unions today.

• It was difficult to get work if you were not in one of those guilds.

• Keep that in mind because we will get back to it in a moment.

Church of St. Polycarp, disciple of Apostle John

• Church History – Smyrna represents the period of Church History from A.D. 100-313, which is known as The Persecuted Church.

• This was one of the greatest periods of persecution in Church History.

• Many are being persecuted today, but what makes it different today is that the persecution is localized.

• Then, it was throughout the Roman Empire. • Church Historians tell us that around 5 million

believers were martyred for their faith in Jesus during this era.

• Despite the persecution, the Church grew exponentially during this period.

• It grew so large, in fact, that it literally conquered the Roman Empire.

• Think about what happened during this period. • The Christian Faith grew from an insignificant

sect within the Jewish Faith from the backside of the Roman Empire to converting the Roman Emperor Constantine in A.D. 313 when he legalized the Faith.

• Even the most agnostic, secular historian is amazed at what happened in that short period.

• Why? 3 of the many reasons:1. Tertullian who lived around A.D. 200 was a

Roman lawyer who converted. • After his conversion, he wrote a defense of the

Christian Faith as a lawyer presenting a case before the Roman magistrates.

• Among other things he coined the phrase: The Trinity, 3 yet 1.

• And he stated that abortion was morally wrong.

• Another Key Phrase: The blood of the martyr is seed.

• In other words, the more you persecute the Church, the more it will grow.

• For example, when Mao and the communists in China kicked all the missionaries out in the 1950’s, there were only around 1 million believers.

• Then, the Church went through a period of intense persecution.

• Today, there are around 130 million believers in China.

• The Thundering Legion Audio

• Some call it “the mystery of martyrdom.” • Why would seeing 39 believers who were willing

to die for their faith inspire a highly-trained soldier, in the prime of his life, to give it all up to follow Jesus?

2. The Early Church Fulfilled their Roles as Salt and Light – a Roman Proconsul, A.D. 150 wrote the following letter describing the early believers:

The Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country nor language nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own nor employ a peculiar form of speech nor lead a life which is marked out by a singularity . . . They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and the land of their birth as a land of strangers . . .

They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws of the land and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men and are persecuted by all . . . They are poor yet make many rich . . . To sum up in a word: What the soul is to the body, that is a Christian in the world.

• No wonder the early Church conquered the mighty Roman Empire!

3. The Early Church Had Much Spiritual Power!

• St. Francis of Assisi visits the Vatican.

• Pope: No longer does the Church have to say, “Silver and gold have I none.”

• St. Francis: Yes, and no longer can the Church say, “Rise in the name of Jesus and be healed” either.

8 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive.• Description of Jesus• At the beginning of each of the 7 letters Jesus

reveals an aspect of His character which He had revealed of Himself in Chapter 1.

• That aspect was what that specific church needed.

• If you are lacking anything in your life, His sufficiency will meet all of our inadequacies.

• To Smyrna, He emphasizes 3 things about Himself:

1. Eternal Nature – I am the first and the last.2. His death for our sins – I was dead.3. His Resurrection – I am alive forever (Rev. 1:18).• We serve a Risen Lord who is a very present

help in our times of trouble. • Since He died a violent death and many during

this era will die a violent death, they too will live forever as Christ does.

• This was a message of hope for this church.

• Praise and Commendation • This is the shortest of the 7 messages because

Jesus does not have any issues with them. • That in itself is her best praise.

9 "I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

• 3 “I Know’s” – That is a comforting thought. • In the midst of your struggles, Jesus knows!

• I know . . . 1. Suffering – I know about your suffering . . . I see

it and I am with you!2. Poverty – I know about . . . your poverty, yet you

are rich! • Remember: Smyrna had many guilds, and if you

stood for Jesus, you were kicked out of yours. • You could not find work. • Why there was poverty in the church @ Smyrna. • You had to count the cost to be a believer.

• We often measure by how big our bank accounts are.

• But, what is true wealth? • Love • Joy • Happiness • Clear Conscience • Contentment• Peace.

• Those are things that the world seeks, but no amount of money can buy them.

• Believers were poor but they made many rich!

2 Corinthians 6:10 – Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (NIV)

• They may have been marked by poverty, but they possessed great spiritual power.

• Today, we have wealth, but you often have to wonder where is our power?!

• One way to counteract this is by giving. • The spirit of giving will break the paralyzing grip

that money has over your life. • You need to use money not let it use you.

3. I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.

• They were opposed by false teachers who claimed they were Jews, but Jesus said they were not.

• Romans 2:29 – No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. (NIV)

John 8:39, 44 – 39 "Our father is Abraham!" they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.(NLT)

• Just because someone says they are a Christian does not mean they really are.

• Their lives must match what they claim.

• You can tell a tree by the fruit it bears.

• The same is true of churches today, if they are not preaching the Word of God, they are on thin ice.

• During this era, 2 main heresies were emerging.• All cults fall under 1 or both of these:1. False Doctrine of Jesus – Not totally God and/or

totally man (J.W.’s & Mormons).2. Adding to Salvation – We are saved by grace

through faith and not by our works (Judaizer’s).• Jesus commended them because they did not

fall for these false teachings.

• Counsel/Advice of Jesus10 Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

• Jesus accurately predicted what was about to happen and gave them several words of advice.

1. Don’t be afraid – Whatever you need, I will be with you!

2. Be faithful to death and you will be rewarded with the crown of life.

• 10 Days?1. 10 actual days of

persecution which this church endured.

2. 10 Periods of Persecution—there were 10 Roman Emperors who persecuted the Church during this period.

1. Domitian 2. Trajan 3. Hadrian 4. Antonius Pius 5. Marcus Aurelius6. Septimus 7. Severus8. Maximin9. Valarian10.Diocletan

• The Challenge11 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

• They may be able to kill your physical body, but they cannot harm your soul.

• You will not experience the 2nd death which is eternal separation from God! (Romans 20)

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