UNDER THE SIGN OF DEATH
Revelation 2:8-11
The Persecuted Church – 100AD to 312AD
Previous parts of this series are found in The Bride folder
Last time we left our study we were looking at suffering. This time let’s look deeper into Christ’s message and see how what Smyrna was going through impacts us.
First of all our problem is that when the pressure (thlipsin) becomes too great, rather than falling at His feet we tend to fall into fear.
Rev 2:10 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.
Immediately after acknowledging that He knew who was responsible for their persecution Jesus told them not to fear. The actual translation is “stop being afraid;” fear nothing. He wanted them to take courage because they were rich in “faith” and “hope.” He commanded them to be “faithful unto death” for the reward is far greater than the suffering they were about to endure. And not hidden in His statement is the fact that while He did not promise them exemption from suffering, He did promise that it would not go on “forever;” the end of suffering will be the crown of life.
It was common to cast those who were persecuted into prison (Acts 12:3-4; 16:23). As John had been banished to Patmos from Ephesus persecution was raging in Smyrna and many were being thrown into prison; that ye may be tested (peirastheete; tried with temptation). The same event is often both a temptation from the devil and a trial from God. From God’s perspective it is separating the chaff from the wheat while the devil is sifting to show that there is nothing there but chaff.
Luke 3:17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
God is the one who tests our faith to show to “us” whether it is genuine or not; He just allows Satan to do it. We need to think back on verses 8 and 9; Jesus was there in the beginning of our trial and He will be there at the end. The believers in Smyrna could have turned to the city “that died and lived again” for their comfort but they didn’t — they turned to the one who was there at the outset and would be there when it all came to an end. Why? Because He walked in their shoes and was their fellow sufferer, and therefore all of their hope and riches were in Him. Are we any different and should we face our trial — whatever it is — in any other way? So why do we suffer?
2 Tim 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Suffering, even for a short time, has always perplexed Christians. We here in the 21st century, not unlike all the Christians that have preceded us, always ask the same question; we expect the ungodly to suffer but why should we suffer? When tempted to ask that question we should recall that suffering is for the purpose of learning obedience as did our Saviour and we should expect no less:
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Think about these purposes:
To Glorify God Dan 3:16-18, 24,25
To Discipline for known sin Heb 12:5-11; James 4:17
To prevent us from falling into sin 1Pet 4:1-2
To build faith 1Pet 1:6-7
To cause growth Gal 4:15; 6-11
To teach obedience and discipline Acts 9:18-16; Phil 4:11-13
To equip us to comfort others 2Cor 1:3-4
To prove the reality of Christ in us 2Cor 4:7-11
For testimony to the angels Job 1:8; Eph 3:8-11; 1Pet 1:12
Source: Chuck Missler: The Book of Revelation
What we value most is where we put our heart.
Matt 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
However, in the midst of our trial we always ask the same question; How long? Well, Jesus is saying the same thing to us that He said to those in Smyrna; it will last 10 days. Some believe this represents the suffering of the church under the ten Roman emperors. Others believe that it means “a few.” The suffering will come on suddenly but it will not go on forever. In the first century that usually meant Christians might be left alone for a long time and then suddenly something would erupt around them and they would be persecuted or thrown into prison; which was just a prelude for death. Terror for them was the continual state of “not knowing.” For us… take heart, it won’t go on forever.
Perhaps we should also be mindful of Jesus’ last words in verse 10 — Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Isn’t that what it’s all about? As hosts of the annual Roman games those in Smyrna understood what He meant; a crown for the victor. Those participating in the games competed for a crown; stephanos. Those who believe in Christ also run a race for a crown (stephanos); a crown of life.
Smyrna knew what it was to be faithful to Rome but Jesus told the believers to be faithful to Him for the reward is not temporal happiness but eternal joy. Those words could not be more appropriate for a group of believers that witnessed suffering constantly; perhaps no more so than in the martyring of their leader, Polycarp, who refused to say that Caesar is Lord and disavow Christ. Witness his final words as they prepared to burn him at the stake; he knew what crown he desired.
Eighty and six years have I served him and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me? You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. Why are you waiting? Come, do what you will.
As they were going to bind him to the post he said:
Leave me as I am, for he who gives me power to endure the fire, will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved even without the security you will give by nails.
Smyrna, a city that died and thought it had come back to life. How poignant that the name Smyrna is tied to the word myrrh (Hebrew; mur), which was used in embalming dead bodies. Its sweet aroma was only brought about by “crushing it.” Here we had the church, persecuted to death and lying embalmed with the same ingredient that Jesus was given at his birth (Matt 2:11) and was used at His death (John 19:39). It was also offered to Him on the cross (Mk 15:23), which He refused as did the believers refuse the pull of Smyrna. While they were experiencing the bitterness of suffering their faithful testimony was like myrrh or sweet perfume to God.
This speaks volumes for what Christ did “not” say about the church at Smyrna. He didn’t have anything against them nor did He have anything to say about any special works or achievements they may have accomplished. His words to them should ring loud and clear in our ears… Don’t Fear… Be Faithful.
Rev 2:11 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.”
How different is our reward than that of the world. The world “lives to die” and we “die to live.” This phase — the second death — appears only here in the Book of Revelation and in 2:11; 20:6, 14; and 21:8. It is all that we need to know to sustain us in our trials. When our earthly trial is ended we have the assurance from Jesus that suffering will not follow us beyond the grave and His life is proof of His promise — we need not worry about the lake of fire. To the persecuting Jews in Smyrna the meaning was very clear:
Deut 33:6 “Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few.”
All the Chaldee paraphrasts refer this to the other world: Let Reuben live in life eternal, and not die the second death; or Let Reuben live in this world, and not die that death which the wicked die in the world to come (the Jerusalem Targum). What does it mean for us? Exactly what Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans; words that hold special meaning for each one of us:
Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So although our trials may pale in contrast to those of our brothers and sisters in Smyrna, we too may take comfort in the fact that we will not be “hurt” (adikeethee; unjustly hurt or suffered wrongly) by the second death — spiritual death.
1Cor 15:55-58 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Perhaps there are no better words to close this message with than those of Joni Eareckson Tada, who with a broken body and a glorious spirit captured the essence of this message to the believers in Smyrna and her brothers and sisters in America today.
God is a Master Artist. And there are aspects of your life and character — good, quality things — he wants others to notice. So without using blatant tricks or obvious gimmicks, God brings the cool, dark contrast of suffering into your life. That contrast, laid up against the golden character of Christ within you, will draw attention; to him. Light against darkness. Beauty against affliction. Joy against sorrow. A sweet, patient spirit against pain and disappointment — major contrasts that have a way of attracting notice. You are the canvas on which he paints glorious truths, sharing beauty and inspiring others. So that people might see him.
Perhaps this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote his letter to the Ephesians:
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The word for “workmanship” is poiema, from which we get our word “poem.” We are, each of us, God’s poem… the work of the creator. Each one “wonderfully” made like the words of a poem. Paul uses this word one other time in his letter to the Romans:
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, (poiema) even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
What then, as His poem, are we to do then when suffering comes our way? What is the message that Jesus has sent down through time to encourage us in our trials?
First and foremost we need to remember who is in control. While the devil may be the power that orchestrates the suffering, his power is limited. We too will have our “ten days” of suffering and we must face them for what they are as did the Christians in Smyrna; they are not always in God’s will. The freedom that God has given the world is the very thing that has made evil possible, but don’t forget that it has also made faith, hope and love possible as well. In all cases this message makes it very clear that the last word in all things belongs to God.
In practical terms it means that we are to stand up and face our trials no matter what suffering is involved. As a Christian we are not to build up defensive walls and pretend that it isn’t happening; call pain what it is… pain. We have before us a crown of life (stephanos) and that is all we need to enable us not to lose hope. We don’t need to walk in fear. This letter to Smyrna is all we need to stand on; every resource we need we have in Jesus and they are “all” that we need.
God has promised to keep us “from” His wrath as we explored earlier with regard to the rapture of the church. But we would be in error of we were to assume that He is going to keep the church from persecution. It is the trials and challenges of this life that God uses to sharpen us and build our faith. It is only through the fire of the trial that we are “tempered” and made strong in our spirit. We must keep the “crown of life” ever in our sight; as the joy set before us.
We cannot afford to allow the devil to steal the joy that is within us; joy that is our very strength (Nem 8:10). The enemy uses fear to cripple us and keep us from walking in faith. As I have said many times, the two cannot exist at the same time. We, just like those in Smyrna, are not to fear “any” of those things which we are about to suffer. Jesus will be there when it begins and He will be there when it ends; and it will end. He makes no attempt to explain away suffering; it exists in this world and we cannot avoid confronting it.
There is a time of suffering for each of us and as the days grow short that suffering is going to increase. As a whole the bride of Christ has suffered persecution in the past and she will in the future. When that time comes for each of us let us reflect back on Jesus’ words… do not fear those things which you are about to suffer. As His bride let us wait and watch, not fearing the dark of the night because He has given us His lamp. Therefore let us tend it carefully and be ready for His sudden call to come forth.
Next time we’ll move on to the next stop along the Roman postal route and pick up our next Love Letter.