Smyrna The Martyr Church

[0:00] Good morning. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior.

[0:15] And it is again good to be gathered in the house of the Lord to be encouraged. It is, I'm glad to be in the house of the Lord.

[0:34] And for me it's always a special privilege to worship on Sunday morning. Thank you, Kevin, for reading our scriptures in Revelations chapter 2.

[0:48] As we get back into the series that we're in. So we had a couple weeks ago the first letter to the seven churches in verses 1 through 7.

[1:05] And this morning we're into the second letter to the church in Smyrna. Smyrna. I appreciated the song choices this morning as they spoke very directly into our topic this morning.

[1:25] So the title of the message, Smyrna, the Martyr Church. And the persecuted church, the martyr church. Okay, as we start, begin with a question.

[1:50] How long do you deserve to live? Not another second? Okay. Does anyone agree with her?

[2:08] See some nods? Okay. Do our minds and our hearts tell us different things? Are we ready to die?

[2:25] Are we ready? Yeah. Yeah. See, our head knowledge from scripture knows we don't deserve.

[2:44] Right? It is the gift of God. But our hearts tell us, I'm not ready to die. And God has given us a desire to live.

[2:58] It is from Him as well. But as we look at our temporary lifetime here on earth, we need to keep it in perspective.

[3:13] For whose life is it? Who died for you? Who bought us? Who owns us?

[3:28] Who owns us? And who is wanting to take us home? Has a plan for that. And as we look at the whole concept of the persecuted church, it's good for us to keep these thoughts in mind.

[3:48] For we all know, as scripture says, that it is appointed unto man to die. And after that, the judgment.

[4:01] And so all of us know that it's coming, and yet we're there. And it'll happen when I'm 80, or 85 maybe.

[4:13] And yet, the awareness that God may choose to make it today. We don't know.

[4:25] But it's for His purpose, and for His glory, His decisions. So that affects young and old.

[4:36] Whether you're a child, or a young adult, or in between, or an adult, or a grandpa.

[4:49] It affects all of us. In the first letter, we looked at how the church in Ephesus had left their first love.

[5:10] They had cooled off for Jesus. And Jesus warned them to turn back, to ignite the fire. Now in the second church, we have persecution for their faith.

[5:32] And it is one out of two of the seven where there's nothing negative said about the church. No criticism by Christ, but just encouragement.

[5:48] And this is the first of two. All the other five, they all, Jesus finds an area where they're struggling, and they need to pick up.

[6:01] They need to turn back to Him. As we look at this this morning, does God use persecution to purify us, to test us?

[6:22] Just keep that in your mind as we go through this. So let's briefly look at the church in Smyrna. In verse 8, And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things say is the first and the last who was dead and came to life.

[6:44] George, if you can pull up the map again, just briefly, just to show us where Smyrna is. So we had Ephesus.

[6:56] So this whole area is Turkey. Back then it was called Asia Minor. And the Mediterranean Sea. So we have Ephesus. They left their first love.

[7:08] And now we're at Smyrna. They're north, about 35 to 40 miles north of Ephesus. And they're also a seaport city, a finger of the Mediterranean Sea, just as Ephesus also is a seaport city.

[7:25] And it gives us a bit of an idea where it's located. Smyrna is still existing as a city today, but it has a different name today.

[7:38] And I actually didn't write it down, so I don't know what it's called today, but it is still existing. Whereas Ephesus is no longer there. Okay? Thank you, George.

[7:50] So a few things about Smyrna. The name Myrrh or bitterness. The name Smyrna. And at the time of John's writing, this city was considered the glory or the crown of Turkey or Asia Minor.

[8:14] They were a prominent city, very, very well-known, well-traveled too. And so they were a glorious city, a highlight maybe, or a jewel for Asia Minor.

[8:30] Smyrna was the home to a huge sports stadium. Olympic Games.

[8:42] And so very well-known for that as people would come to watch sport. And unfortunately, during the first two centuries, this stadium came to be used to make sport of believers.

[9:02] And this stadium was used where Christians were put in the arena on white wild animals. So not used to God's glory, but against God as well.

[9:16] So just a little bit background on this church. So it had a lot of human glory, so to speak. And so as Jesus writes this letter, or tells John to write, and sends the message, he introduces himself.

[9:35] He says, These things, says the first and the last, who was dead and came to life. Jesus introduces himself as the one that died for us, but is alive.

[9:56] He came out of the grave. And it's significant that he uses this introduction because in the same letter, he says, Do not fear death.

[10:13] Why? Because I resurrected from the dead. And I have power to resurrect you from the dead.

[10:25] And so, hence, he opens with that comfort that the first and the last who was dead and came to life.

[10:37] And the first and the last referring to his eternal nature. He will have been and will continue to exist as our God. And so this is the introduction in verse 8.

[10:53] And then in verse 9, he goes into the circumstances. And he says, I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but you are rich.

[11:07] And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. So, a few thoughts about the church in Smyrna.

[11:22] He says, I know your works. And by the way, the church in Ephesus had good works as well. They were serving the Lord.

[11:35] They had works. And so did the congregation in Myrrh. Or in Smyrna, sorry. And, but he says further, works and tribulation and poverty.

[11:52] So he adds more words here. And tribulation meaning persecution. And when we look at that word tribulation, it literally means a pressing pressure.

[12:13] and referring to serious trouble or a burden that wants to crush us.

[12:25] That's the root of that word. To feel the weight of life circumstances that they want to crush us. And in this case, it's in regard to persecution because of their faith.

[12:43] Okay, so he knows their tribulation and their poverty. Now, poverty, the first thought that maybe comes to our mind is, well, they're poor.

[12:54] They're not rich folk. The word here actually means to be poor to the point of being in beggary.

[13:07] To have to beg for food. Coming from one that is so poor they're unable to put food on the table.

[13:21] They've hit rock bottom. And as we look at this church, we'll understand why. Because under the Roman Empire in the time of Smyrna, in the time of John's writing, they were called to go and pledge allegiance to the Roman Emperor annually.

[13:51] To go and say, I bow down and worship you as Lord to a human leader. Caesar. Now, we often look at today's society and the oppression that's there and increasing and we think we have it tough.

[14:17] These guys were told to pledge allegiance and say, Caesar is Lord. and if they didn't, they were stripped of all their belongings.

[14:32] They lost houses and lands and material things. And they were treated like a non-citizen. You have no rights in our empire.

[14:47] You're not a citizen anymore. And so hence, poverty followed. With that, perhaps workplaces would be closed to them as there's persecution.

[15:06] And so this is what they face. You know, it reminds me of back in Daniel where Daniel's three friends refused to bow down to the image that was made and they were cast into the fiery furnace.

[15:27] You know, that's just the story, right? In Scripture and it's way back and it's just a story. It isn't just a story. It happened.

[15:39] There was persecution by the Babylonians at that time. You will come and bow down to this image upon your life. You're dead.

[15:53] And so again here 500 and some years later, 600 years later, they're facing, Christians are facing this as under the Roman emperor.

[16:07] Okay, so that was their condition as they received this letter written by John. He goes on, I know your tribulation and poverty, but you are rich.

[16:25] And they're rich in faith and their heritage from God. They're rich in the treasures laid up in heaven.

[16:37] and yet, if you can't feed your family, it's a struggle.

[16:50] It's something that we have never faced. And so that is the condition here. But he says, inwardly, you are rich. And then he says further, and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan or congregation of Satan.

[17:15] So now in Smyrna, there are Jews who are not in the faith. And not only are they not in the faith, they are blaspheming the Christians that are in the faith.

[17:33] So these are Jews by being born physical Jews. So in the blood lines, they would come from Jewish descendants by their heritage, and yet they're not Jews as in Abraham by faith.

[17:53] And what they are doing is blaspheming the Christians, and the word blaspheme there means to slander, to injure with speech.

[18:06] And so the Jews there are coming down on the Christians and calling them out in bad language. Calling them out.

[18:17] And so this is further persecution. So this is not the Roman government, this is now Jews who've left Israel also for persecution reasons, but in the faith.

[18:42] Okay, then our text goes on in verse 10. Do not fear any of these 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.

[19:00] Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. life. So we have a verse that where Jesus says it will get worse.

[19:13] You are about to be tested, and the test will be that the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. And so the persecution will increase.

[19:29] And he makes a comment here, you will have tribulation ten days. Now, is that symbolic? Was it a literal ten-day period?

[19:41] Or was it symbolic of a larger period? We can't be sure of what is meant here. Some view that as ten years of persecutions under he was one of the Roman emperors that came.

[20:02] More commonly, there was ten distinct periods of persecution under ten Roman emperors. And beginning with Nero, who was responsible for Paul's death, and ending, so that was in 54, where Nero started to reign, and ending with Deocletian in 284 A.D.

[20:28] there was ten specific edicts or orders of persecution. And so we don't know if Christ was referring to that, but regardless, they would face periods of trial.

[20:46] This church would face hardship in that way. So as we look at this, that's not good news.

[20:57] That's a very somber letter. And if God would write that to us this morning, what would it do to you?

[21:11] you're going to face severe persecution for ten days. And so that's the letter that they received.

[21:28] Going back, going back to my introductory comments, do I deserve to live?

[21:39] or do I see my life in the hands of my Savior? From Scripture, let's look at a few examples.

[21:57] The apostles, there was twelve of them, but two of them were brothers, James and John. And in Mark three, these two brothers are called the sons of thunder.

[22:15] And they were called to follow Jesus, and he would make them as disciples, and he would make them sent ones. And so they would carry on the ministry when Jesus went back to heaven.

[22:31] The sons of thunder, James and John. And the two of them happened to be in Jesus' inner circle along with Peter.

[22:42] So it was Peter, James, and John. And Jesus took more time with those three than with the other nine. And they were privileged to witness more than the others did.

[22:58] And we have that repeatedly in the Gospels as that happened. and then towards the end of Jesus' life, their mother comes to Jesus and she says, I have something to request of you.

[23:16] I want you to grant that my two sons, James and John, that you will allow them to sit, one on my left hand and one on your right hand, when you get into your kingdom.

[23:35] Find that in the book of Matthew, chapter 20. I won't turn there, but this is the mother's request.

[23:47] I want you to elevate my two sons and give them a special privilege and glory, one on the right hand and one on the left. And it says, Scripture says, the other ten were greatly displeased.

[24:01] And no doubt, there was a rift. This is selfishness. But these are the two brothers, the sons of thunder.

[24:17] Now, one of them is the author of the book that we're going through, Revelations, John. Let's turn to Acts, chapter 12.

[24:29] Acts, chapter 12.

[24:47] And we're roughly into the church age. After Pentecost, after Jesus went back to heaven, approximately ten years. Now, about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.

[25:03] And then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also.

[25:15] Now it was during the days of unleavened bread. These two brothers who asked for glory, who were serving Christ as apostles, James is the first to go.

[25:40] And he's ten years into his ministry, and Herod comes along, the king, the Roman king there, and he takes him into custody, and he's killed.

[25:54] he's martyred for his faith. The brother is the last of the twelve to go.

[26:06] And he dies, he's the only one to die of old age that we know of. And he lived to be an old man. Through much hardship and persecution, mind you, but we see, we see the Lord is in control of our lives, not we ourselves.

[26:30] James did not make a decision, I want to die now. I'm sure if he would have had a choice, he would have kept serving the Lord. John the Baptist, he was on the scene about a year, and Herod took him into prison.

[26:59] And he was beheaded. But while in prison, he too had, he had thoughts of doubt maybe, when he sent to Jesus, are you truly the one?

[27:13] But his ministry came to an end after one year. the point I'm making is we are not in control of her.

[27:29] And as we give ourselves to the Lord, there is only glory waiting, whether it's a short time or a long time.

[27:43] in light of eternity, it will be short. If it was 10 years or 80 years, it will be short.

[27:57] So when we think of persecution, it often strikes fear into our hearts, because growing up in Canada, we haven't had it. Not in severity, at least.

[28:11] we don't hear of Christians being persecuted unto death. There may be the odd example, but rare. And yet it was the norm in the early church as God strengthened the church through that, their faith.

[28:32] A few scriptures to maybe build on. John 17.

[28:46] The Gospel of John chapter 17. It's Jesus' high priestly prayer.

[29:00] prayer. It's the night before he goes to the cross. And verses 14 through 17. And he's praying for his disciples.

[29:15] He says, I've given them, I've given them in your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

[29:27] I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth.

[29:44] So as Jesus is praying for the church, as he's preparing to die for the church, he's praying for those that will believe, and he's praying that I recognize that the world will hate them because they are not of the world.

[30:08] We have a different outlook in life, a different worldview as we view eternity as the ultimate.

[30:19] we don't live for the here and now, but we live in faith for the one that died for us. The world does not understand that. They're convicted by the Christian's life, and rightfully, he says, they will hate you.

[30:38] So when we received Christ, did we expect this? Were we told that there's going to be a cost to following Jesus?

[31:02] The Bible teaches us to count the cost, to expect it. because the world will be against you. Jesus further says, I do not pray that you'll take them out of the world, but rather that you'll keep them.

[31:19] And so the Father will give us strength through our life here, however long it will be. And then he ends with, sanctify them by your truth, set them apart by your truth, the Word of God, as they live holy lives here on earth.

[31:39] Not set them apart as separate them physically, but set them apart in the way they live, as they live in truth. And that is the Lord's will for us this morning.

[31:55] God seeks to sanctify us, to set us apart in the way that we live and obey Him, and the world will hate us for it.

[32:08] 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 12, 2 Timothy 3 verse 12, here Paul says, who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

[32:42] So as we are sanctified, as we strive to live godly in Christ, it's not optional, it's not maybe, you will suffer persecution.

[32:58] We are to expect it. We are to expect it. And there's a lot more scriptures that teach us about the church facing persecution.

[33:15] We look at the nation of Israel today. Why are they suffering? Why does the world hate Israel?

[33:33] God has chosen them. Because God has chosen them. That's crucial.

[33:47] Good picture. They disobey. Okay. Can you name a country country in the world that is not disobeying God?

[34:08] The Jews are living in disobedience to the Savior, and yet they are persecuted chiefly because they are God's chosen ones.

[34:22] Jews. And all the end time events will play out in Israel. They are literally hated without cause because the Jews left alone are one of the more peaceful people in the world.

[34:45] God. They have a deep reverence for God but not understanding the plan of salvation which God will reveal to them through the tribulation period.

[35:04] They are God's elect but they are hated by every nation basically. And we see today in the last few weeks and even in the last week more and more demonstrations in America, in Canada, in Europe, in South America pro-Hamas, anti-Israel.

[35:34] By the hundreds of thousands huge influencing governments do not take a stand with Israel.

[35:46] And we are told in Scripture that they will in the end be left for themselves. You know, the Jews as God's people that He chose way back with Abraham and said He'll be blessed.

[36:05] they have gone through many hardships, many struggles, but they have also struggled in obedience to their God.

[36:20] And they faced many attempts to get rid of them. Jews and in the scriptures, where was the first attempt to annihilate, to get rid of all the Jews?

[36:40] With Haman. Yeah. In the book of Esther. And so we're maybe 450 to 500 years before Christ and it was an effort to wipe them out, to get rid of God's people.

[36:56] Because through this people group the Messiah would come. And since then it's happened multiple times as different countries in Europe have tried to get rid of all the Jews.

[37:14] In the 1400s the Spanish Inquisition where thousands and thousands of Jews were martyred, killed, and forced to flee. Other countries did that too.

[37:28] And then more lately in World War II it was originating it. And there we have the number 6 million Jews that were killed. What's going through the Jews mind today?

[37:46] We're on our own. If God doesn't help us we're done. We're on our own.

[37:58] Canada has never felt that. To be abandoned to be hated by all nations around you. See the Jew is waiting for peace.

[38:16] peace. And God wanted to give them inner peace through the Messiah. By and large they rejected that.

[38:32] They wanted a Messiah who would give them national peace. A kingdom where they would live at peace finally. God still wants to give them personal peace in their hearts.

[38:50] And He will reveal that to them during the tribulation period. But in the meantime there's nothing the Jew does not want more today than peace.

[39:06] Guess what will happen as they're starting to lose this war and the Antichrist comes in after the rapture and makes world peace.

[39:25] What's going to happen? This is the Messiah. This is the one we've waited for. He's finally accomplished what we wanted.

[39:38] World peace. And then three and a half years later they will find out they were horribly deceived as the Antichrist offers the abomination in the temple.

[39:54] And they realize this is a deceiver. We fell for it. And then that last three and a half years God will protect them but they will get to see their Messiah.

[40:12] That is what the Jew is waiting for. But God desires to give us inward peace. And as Christians we are so privileged to be blessed with peace in our hearts.

[40:31] Most of us here have a Mennonite culture or background. Our Mennonite background we have a people group that is known to look for national peace.

[40:50] Now we've never been a country. There's no country named Mennonite. But our people have moved to flee persecution from country to country and to seek for peace.

[41:06] And they moved from Prussia to Russia for opportunity and to be left alone. the Jews would find a place where they would just be left alone.

[41:22] But our forefathers signed an agreement with the Tsar of Russia that we would not evangelize the Russian people and you will let us live in peace.

[41:38] this is documented history. And since then our Mennonite people have moved time and time again searching for a place where we can do our own thing.

[42:01] We'll be the quiet in the land. Don't worry we won't evangelize but just let us live in peace. I'm speaking in generalities.

[42:14] I know there's been many Mennonite evangelists throughout the years and praise the Lord for that. But you see to be earthly bound minded means that we don't have time for the things of God.

[42:33] And so as we have our hearts are bound with God we will face persecution and we need to endure it.

[42:44] We need to endure it. Let's go back to our scriptures and revelations to finish off. You know we may ponder why is there no word of warning to Smyrna the persecuted church.

[43:17] You know persecution strips us of all vanity. Should I say that again?

[43:28] Persecution strips us from all vanity for emptiness for life that leads to emptiness the things that don't matter it strips us of that and we're focused on the Lord.

[43:45] There was no need for Jesus to rebuke them. They were stripped of vanity. They had nothing else left in life but God.

[43:59] Jesus says do not fear any of these things which you are about to suffer.

[44:11] Indeed the devil is into prison that you may be tested and you will have tribulation ten days be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.

[44:24] He says do not fear and be faithful. Do you know what it means do not fear? It means stop being afraid.

[44:40] Stop being afraid. Literally. I will be with you. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.

[44:59] I'll give you the crown of life. Jesus rose from the dead and he will bring us out of the grave as well. So verse 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.

[45:23] So it's a promise that the second death will not touch us and we may ask what is the second death or what is the first death?

[45:34] death. What's the first death? That's a physical death. And then what follows?

[45:45] What's the second death? Okay. Right.

[45:57] So the first death is when your soul and spirit part from your body and the second death is when they're separated from God forever and ever cast into the lake of fire the second death.

[46:13] And he says Jesus encourages he says he who overcomes who remains faithful through persecution shall not be hurt by the second death.

[46:27] Satan cannot touch you. And so we have words of assurance words of comfort from our Savior. And I realized this morning this is maybe a topic that we don't enjoy and perhaps one that we haven't taken too seriously in the past.

[46:53] And yet there's every evidence we will see more of it in the days to come. Bearing the rapture comes very quickly.

[47:08] Are we prepared to suffer if called upon? As we're going through the evangelism course here there's a good number that are attending that and praise the Lord for that.

[47:27] But as we start to practice that we will see more persecution. We will.

[47:40] Because there is rejection to the message of God. So we are to expect it as we do the Lord's will. may the Lord guide you and direct you and keep you strong.

[47:56] Let's pray. Father, this is a teaching that we need to hear.

[48:16] Yet Lord, it's hard for us to hear it. And yet it is good in that it makes us focus on what's eternal.

[48:33] And it weeds out what is vanity, meaningless. May your will be done, Lord, God, as you continue to guide the world, the events, bringing it to a time when there will be no more time but eternity.

[49:02] And Lord, as we move towards that, Lord, that our faith would increase, that we would be strong in the power of your might.

[49:16] Keep us, Father. Draw us to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.