Message to the Message to the Seven ChurchesSeven Churches

Today Today

The Message The Message to Smyrnato Smyrna

““The The Persecuted Persecuted

Church”Church”

Revelations 2: 8-11Revelations 2: 8-11 Rev 2:8Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the And unto the angel of the

church in Smyrna write; These things church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; dead, and is alive;

Rev 2:9Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.

Revelations 2: 8-11Revelations 2: 8-11 Rev 2:10Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things Fear none of those things

which thou shalt suffer: behold, the which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. thee a crown of life.

Rev 2:11Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. not be hurt of the second death.

IntroductionIntroduction The church is sometimes called upon to The church is sometimes called upon to

suffer terrible persecution. This has always suffer terrible persecution. This has always been true down through History and it was been true down through History and it was certainly true in Smyrna.certainly true in Smyrna.

This Church was under severe attack from This Church was under severe attack from community leaders and city officials.community leaders and city officials.

Smyrna was told in VS 10 that more Smyrna was told in VS 10 that more horrible persecutions were coming and horrible persecutions were coming and that the church was to stand firm for truth that the church was to stand firm for truth against all attacks.against all attacks.

Smyrna is the picture of what a dynamic Smyrna is the picture of what a dynamic church should be. One that makes a mark church should be. One that makes a mark on society and leaves no doubt about the on society and leaves no doubt about the communities condition.communities condition.

1- The Recipient1- The Recipient

The Church Leader in VS. 8The Church Leader in VS. 8 To the angel of the Church of SmyrnaTo the angel of the Church of Smyrna The Word in the Greek is “Angelos”The Word in the Greek is “Angelos” ““Angelos” Means both Angel and Angelos” Means both Angel and

minister in the new testament.minister in the new testament. The message is being given to the one The message is being given to the one

Christ holds responsible for the church Christ holds responsible for the church he has been given oversight for.he has been given oversight for.

The Church LeaderThe Church Leader

Is responsible to stand forth for Is responsible to stand forth for Christ & teach his people to Christ & teach his people to stand for Christstand for Christ

He is not to buckle under & deny He is not to buckle under & deny Christ: He is to lead his people Christ: He is to lead his people strongly no matter how sever the strongly no matter how sever the persecution may be.persecution may be.

2- The Speaker2- The Speaker Jesus Himself is the speaker to Jesus Himself is the speaker to

the Churchthe Church His message is wrapped up in His message is wrapped up in

two exhortationstwo exhortations

1.1. He is the first and the last He is the first and the last (Supreme ruler over all (Supreme ruler over all government officials) government officials)

Heb 9:27 says all men will face Heb 9:27 says all men will face death and after that they will be death and after that they will be judged by Christ judged by Christ

This MeansThis Means

all persecutors, all those who afflict, all persecutors, all those who afflict, all those who cause trouble for all those who cause trouble for others better take heed.others better take heed.

They shall be judged if they usurp They shall be judged if they usurp authority and take power over authority and take power over human life into their own hands.human life into their own hands.

There is one authority over all lifeThere is one authority over all life

Commendation to the Commendation to the ChurchChurch

Four CommendationsFour Commendations1.1. The Church Bore up under terrible The Church Bore up under terrible

sufferings, tribulations, Slander, sufferings, tribulations, Slander, 2.2. The Church continued in spite of poverty The Church continued in spite of poverty

2 Cor 6:10, Matt 8:20 2 Cor 8:102 Cor 6:10, Matt 8:20 2 Cor 8:103.3. The Church Bore up under all kind of The Church Bore up under all kind of

slander, ridicule, mocking, lies, rumors, slander, ridicule, mocking, lies, rumors, accusations, backbiting, criticism, accusations, backbiting, criticism, murmuring, discrimination, and divisions.murmuring, discrimination, and divisions.

4.4. The Church was Spiritually wealthy. Had The Church was Spiritually wealthy. Had God’s approvalGod’s approval

Smyrna leaves a strong Smyrna leaves a strong message to every church.message to every church.

We are either an assembly of God’s We are either an assembly of God’s people or a synagogue of Satan and people or a synagogue of Satan and rejected of God.rejected of God.

It all depends on whether we worship It all depends on whether we worship and serve the Lord Jesus Christand serve the Lord Jesus Christ

Let’s take a look at some Let’s take a look at some scripture:scripture:

Mat 10:32Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. also before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:33Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:34Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. peace, but a sword.

Let’s take a look at some Let’s take a look at some scripture:scripture:

Mar 8:38Mar 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.with the holy angels.

2Ti 2:122Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us: deny us:

Let’s take a look at some Let’s take a look at some scripture:scripture:

2Pe 2:12Pe 2:1But there were false prophets also But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:22Pe 2:2And many shall follow their And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Pe 2:32Pe 2:3And through covetousness shall And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. slumbereth not.

Historical FactsHistorical Facts Smyrna means Bitter. Smyrna means Bitter. It received it’s name from myrrh, one the It received it’s name from myrrh, one the

chief commercial productschief commercial products Smyrna was a proud city- proud of it’s Smyrna was a proud city- proud of it’s

culture, it’s beauty, it’s commercial culture, it’s beauty, it’s commercial wealth, it’s social life.wealth, it’s social life.

Smyrna was persecuting the Church Smyrna was persecuting the Church severely. Large numbers of Jews who were severely. Large numbers of Jews who were influential in city politics were steeped in influential in city politics were steeped in the Old Testament beliefs and prophecies. the Old Testament beliefs and prophecies.

The reaction to Messianic Jewish converts The reaction to Messianic Jewish converts was severe, (Christians lost jobs, unable to was severe, (Christians lost jobs, unable to trade, mocked and scorned.)trade, mocked and scorned.)

The Message to Smyrna The Message to Smyrna

God did not chide the Church at God did not chide the Church at Smyrna knowing that the sufferings Smyrna knowing that the sufferings would draw them closer to Him and would draw them closer to Him and ultimately would set a proper ultimately would set a proper Christian witness before the people Christian witness before the people of Smyrna and the surrounding of Smyrna and the surrounding communities.communities.

God’s promise to Smyrna God’s promise to Smyrna

He is always with themHe is always with them He knows about their sufferingHe knows about their suffering He limits the time of sufferings.He limits the time of sufferings. He rewards the overcomer with eternal He rewards the overcomer with eternal

rewards.rewards.1.1. Crown of Life (Eternal Life)Crown of Life (Eternal Life)2.2. Delivered from the “Second Death”Delivered from the “Second Death”3.3. Given a “white stone of approval”Given a “white stone of approval”4.4. Given a “new name”Given a “new name”

Acts 5:40-42Acts 5:40-42 Act 5:40 Act 5:40 And to him they agreed: and And to him they agreed: and

when they had called the apostles, and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. let them go.

Act 5:41Act 5:41And they departed from the And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. his name.

Act 5:42Act 5:42And daily in the temple, and in And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. preach Jesus Christ.

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