Smyrna: The Suffering Church

Part 3

Revelation 2:8-11
“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.” – NIV

Two weeks ago I asked a question at the end of the service:

· “When you stand before God will He commend you for standing firm and refusing to give into the pressure around you?”

Smyrna was faced with all kinds of pressure from both sides of the fence and yet they did not budge when it came to God and Jesus Christ. They stood firm when it came to the Word and when it came to worshipping other gods rather than worshipping the one True God.

Last week we looked at how the church was slandered and ridiculed. How lies were spread around about the church. Taking the Word out of context and using it to persecute them even more and yet they continued to serve the Lord and refused to stop seeking God. A question I give you tonight is:

· “Will you continue to serve God, follow His ways, even if it means no one around will like you and have nothing to do with you?”

I think a lot of times Christians are afraid to live out their faith in fear that someone may ridicule them, someone might call them a fanatic or slander their names across the city or even church. Some may be concerned that people will think they are “holier than thou” so they don’t live their lives fully the way that God calls them too. I have been called “holier than thou”, I have been ridiculed for what my beliefs are concerning my life and the way God has called me to live. But that is ok. Because I am here to serve God not man. I am here to please God not man. Because I am here to please God then I should not worry about those who come against me as a Christian. Those in Smyrna didn’t feel threatened by the opposing sides. They knew who was in charge. God. They knew who called them there in the midst of the darkness in that city.

Matthew 10:24-28
“²⁴ The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – NIV

Those in Smyrna and we today should not fear man, but fear God. Man can only destroy what is tangible, the here and now, but man cannot destroy what is eternal! During the times of Smyrna, during this persecution and tribulations that the early Christians were suffering from one man stood out in his time. This man studied under the Apostle John and others who served directly under Jesus Christ, his name was Polycarp, who was appointed Bishop over the church in Smyrna.

Polycarp's greatest contribution to Christianity may be his martyred death. His martyrdom stands as one of the most well documented events of antiquity. The emperors of Rome had unleashed bitter attacks against the Christians during this period, and members of the early church recorded many of the persecutions and deaths. Polycarp was arrested on the charge of being a Christian -- a member of a politically dangerous cult whose rapid growth needed to be stopped. Amidst an angry mob, the Roman official took pity on such a gentle old man and urged Polycarp to proclaim, "Caesar is Lord". If only Polycarp would make this declaration and offer a small pinch of incense to Caesar's statue he would escape torture and death. To this Polycarp responded, "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" Steadfast in his stand for Christ, Polycarp refused to compromise his beliefs, and thus, was burned alive at the stake. Polycarp's martyrdom is historical reality. He died for one reason - his unyielding faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:11-12
“¹¹ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – NIV

Paul said,

Philippians 1:21
“²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” - NIV

Polycarp understood this, those in Smyrna understood this. It wasn’t about them it was all about God and not compromising anything for the sake of losing salvation. These early Christians were Kingdom minded people.

Do Not Fear/Be Faithful

Revelation 2:10
“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.” – NIV

In this last part of this text Jesus is giving two commandments for these persecuted Christians to follow. Do not be afraid and be faithful.

Do Not Fear

Notice He doesn’t say “if you suffer.” He is telling them that they will suffer and during this time of suffering “do not be afraid.”

In the King James it says to “fear none”. This word for fear in the Greek means: to put to flight by terrifying, to flee, and to fear (hesitate) to do something.

During the time of suffering there were two things this church and us as Disciples of Christ today are not to do – we are not to run from what God has called us to do because we will go through some hard and difficult times and we are not to live in fear where we hesitate to do what God has called us to do!

I understand that there will be times when we as Disciples must be tactful and sensitive to certain situations, but there are also times when we must stand and stand therefore on the foundation of the Word, foundation of Jesus Christ and not budge one inch because God said so! This is what those in Smyrna were doing…not budging! Not bowing down to man…not pleasing man, but pleasing the One True Lord Jesus Christ! They did not run and they did not hide their love for the Lord.

Jesus said in,

Luke 12:4
“⁴ I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.” – NIV

Do not be afraid of those who will persecute you, do not be afraid of those who ridicule you and slander you because that is all they can do and they can do no more! Do not hesitate to do what God has called you to do for fear of man! Man can only destroy what is tangible…the here and now, but man cannot touch your eternity with Christ Jesus in Heaven! Job understood this concept.

Job 13:15
“¹⁵ Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” – NKJ

Job was determined to maintain his cause and defend his character, though his sufferings should be so increased that life would be the forfeit. Those in Smyrna were not afraid of what was to come because of their actions. They were to be thrown into prison. It was common to cast those who were persecuted into prison. Acts 12 tells how Peter was imprisoned and Acts 16 tells how Paul and Silas were imprisoned. Prison meant torture, depravation, and possibly death. But this did not stop them. Why? Because they knew the Truth of Jesus Christ and they were doing what God called them to do, making disciples. This is why Jesus didn’t have anything to say against this church. They were in the will of God. As long as you are in the will of God it doesn’t matter what people say or do…all that matters is what God says and God says “do not be afraid!”

Isaiah 41:10-11
“¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ¹¹ “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.” – NIV

2nd Timothy 1:7-12
“⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ⁸ Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, ¹⁰ but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” – NKJ

Be Faithful

Not only were they told not to be afraid, but to be faithful as well. Be faithful to Christ and be faithful to God not running, not giving up and throwing in the towel. Be faithful even to the point of death.

Revelation 2:10b
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” – NIV

A lot of those from the Smyrna church had been killed and martyred for their faith in God. As I said earlier Polycarp was one who was faithful even while he was being persecuted and tied to the stake to be burned. He refused to give up his faith in God. There is another who refused to give up as well…Paul.

2nd Timothy 4:6-8
“⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – NIV

All the disciples died a martyr’s death save for one, John who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. They all had faith in God even to the day that they were martyred. These disciples risked their lives to speak out about what they had no doubts about -- that Jesus had risen from the dead, proving that he was everything he claimed to be...the Son of God!

A few weeks ago I told you what they called the city of Smyrna. Remember—it was called the “crown of Asia?”—well, Jesus KNEW about that claim—He walks in their midst and knows about the city in which they live so He says, “Be faithful and keep following Me no matter how hard it is—even if it costs you your life—because I have defeated death so I can and will give you a CROWN OF LIFE! The crown of Asia is nothing compared to what I give to those who put their faith in Me.”

And then—do you remember the other thing I told you? The residents of Smyrna bragged that their city came back from the dead. It was destroyed and they rebuilt it. Well, Jesus says, “I’ve heard that one too—and bringing a CITY back—piling a few rocks on top of each other to rebuild—that’s nothing! Anyone can do that. I can bring a PERSON back to life forever! And I’ll do that for you!”

Revelation 2:11
“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.” - NIV

These in Smyrna held to their faith no matter what came at them, until the point of death they clung to the cross of Christ and refused to be removed from the promise of eternal life! They knew what awaited the in Heaven. They knew about the streets of gold. They knew about the many mansions of God. They knew Jesus was preparing them a place!

Mother Teresa
“In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel.”

They endured and we can endure because we know that this place in temporary and our reward is eternal.

2nd Corinthians 4:16-18
“¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – NIV

Romans 8:18
“¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – NIV

Whatever we go through here on this earth is nothing compared to what awaits us in Heaven. This church in Smyrna is a great example of that. Let us learn to just trust in God and remain strong in our faith that He will do what He says He will do.

Question: “Will you remain faithful to God during the hard times?”