WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.600 Thanks so much, John. Do have your Bibles open at Revelation chapter 2 or your phone switched on if you prefer. 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:12.060 If you're at home and you don't have a Bible, maybe grab one off the bookshelf or Google Revelation chapter 2 verses 8 to 11. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:18.260 I'm sure it'll come up. As you do that, let me ask a question, potentially quite a challenging question. 00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:23.760 What would it take for you to deny your faith in Jesus? 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:30.260 How much would you have to go through? What would you have to face? 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:36.060 If your life was on the line, would you deny him then? 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:41.340 It's the challenge of our passage today. Halfway through verse 10, you might have noticed it. 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:46.240 It said, be faithful even to the point of death. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:53.560 In 2015, Christopher Mercer walked into Oregon Community College. 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:55.620 You might remember seeing it in the news. 00:00:55.740 --> 00:01:00.820 He walked into a classroom and he began pointing a gun at those in the room. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.520 He asked them one by one whether they believed in Jesus Christ. 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:10.800 If they said yes, he shot them point blank in the head. 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:14.760 Nine refused to deny Jesus. 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:17.560 Nine died. 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:26.040 Our brothers and sisters all over the world face awful persecution, sometimes even to the point of death. 00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:32.280 Maybe you're sat there in this warm church or on your comfortable sofa at home. 00:01:32.380 --> 00:01:35.860 Maybe you're thinking, well, of course I'd stand for Jesus. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:42.300 And whether or not that is true, the reality is the persecution that we face here 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:47.200 is not the same sort of persecution, even to the point of death, that is, 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:50.539 that our brothers and sisters might be facing elsewhere. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:56.799 But imagine with me, just imagine for a second that something similar did happen here. 00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:01.379 Right now, someone walked through the doors at the back of this church. 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:08.680 They pointed a gun at me, asked me to deny my faith, and then pointed a gun at each of you 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:12.800 and asked you one by one whether you believed in Jesus Christ. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:13.560 What do you do? 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:16.099 It's a serious issue. 00:02:16.979 --> 00:02:19.439 Our salvation could be at stake in this. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.180 In Matthew chapter 10, verse 33, Jesus said, 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:28.140 Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:33.939 So in our passage today, in Revelation chapter 2, 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:38.020 John writes this letter from Jesus to this church in Smyrna, 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:43.460 and he says, persecution and suffering is coming to that church. 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:44.980 That'll be our first point today. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:48.300 We're going to dive headfirst into that persecution and suffering. 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:52.240 And whether or not they're going to be faithful in that suffering is central. 00:02:53.300 --> 00:02:59.900 So Jesus also offers two ways to help them walk faithfully through that persecution and suffering. 00:03:00.100 --> 00:03:01.600 That'll be our final two points. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:04.560 He says, lay hold of Jesus in verse 8, 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.719 and he says, lay hold of heaven in verses 10 and 11. 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:14.580 So first, let's have a look at that persecution and suffering described in verses 9 and 10. 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:16.900 See how Jesus begins verse 9, 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:19.719 I know your afflictions. 00:03:20.420 --> 00:03:24.780 Each of these seven letters, the letters that we're looking at in this series, 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:26.180 they contain that phrase. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:30.360 Because Jesus knows each of these churches intimately. 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:34.120 And here he says, I know your afflictions. 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:36.180 I know what it is that you are facing. 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:40.480 Now, Smyrna was an important, thriving city port. 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:44.360 It was the closest port to Europe in that part of the world at the time. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:46.659 And it's where it gets its name from. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:51.120 It was known for its trade in that extremely valuable perfume, myrrh. 00:03:52.140 --> 00:03:56.599 So it might come as a bit of a surprise then that Jesus says that he knows their poverty. 00:03:57.640 --> 00:03:59.340 Smyrna was a wealthy trading city. 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.879 Why would the Christians there be impoverished? 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:08.099 Well, Smyrna was also a Roman city, part of the Roman Empire, 00:04:08.259 --> 00:04:14.000 and its citizens were therefore duty-bound to take part in the worship of the Roman state. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.699 And not doing so, not taking part in this cult worship, 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:22.000 would have resulted in exclusion from things like trade guilds and public life. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:28.639 And so these Smyrna Christians found themselves in poverty because they stood up for Jesus 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:32.660 and refused to worship anyone or anything else. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:43.519 So I wonder, if your job security or your income was on the line, would you deny Jesus? 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:47.479 Say you've been invited to dinner by your new boss. 00:04:48.159 --> 00:04:51.120 You know that there's a potential promotion coming up at work, 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.019 and your boss doesn't know you're a Christian yet. 00:04:53.719 --> 00:04:57.740 They go off on one about how judgmental and hypocritical Christians are, 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:02.719 how religion is just so harmful and obviously untrue and archaic. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.420 In that moment, you have a choice. 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:11.800 Do you shrink back, gulp, say nothing, or maybe even agree with your boss, 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:15.200 and in doing so, deny your Savior, Jesus? 00:05:16.820 --> 00:05:18.420 Or do you stand up for Jesus? 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:21.460 Make yourself deeply uncomfortable in that moment. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:25.560 Put your future job, prospects, and income at risk. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:30.100 Friends, we've got to be prepared to face these things, 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:36.180 because there may come a time for any of us where we have the opportunity to stand for Jesus 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:39.199 at the detriment to our comfort in this world. 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:42.340 Are we prepared if that comes our way? 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:45.759 Do you see what comes next? 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:51.560 Jesus says, yes, I see your poverty, and yet you are rich. 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:57.139 Jesus, he sees the sacrifice that the Smyrnams have made to follow him. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:58.500 He sees their affliction. 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:00.519 He sees their material poverty. 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:02.600 But he says, you are rich. 00:06:03.840 --> 00:06:07.199 They might have very little in the eyes of the world, 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:14.300 but they have spiritual blessings in Christ that the Roman world around them could not even fathom. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.600 Same is true for us, isn't it? 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:23.260 Can we hold on to that as we ponder the potential cost of following Jesus? 00:06:23.860 --> 00:06:27.040 The material poverty that we might face as Christians. 00:06:27.260 --> 00:06:29.879 Friends, we are so rich in Christ. 00:06:31.460 --> 00:06:35.640 I know that this can be hard as we look around at the world around us. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:42.660 It is natural to ask why people who seem so utterly evil are materially quite well off. 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:48.220 How there are so many who have done so well in the eyes of the world by ill-gotten gains. 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:52.480 But friends, we are so rich in Christ. 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:59.100 Having been chosen before the foundation of the world, we've been adopted to sonship. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:03.920 His grace has been lavished on us, and we have an eternal inheritance. 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:08.980 We are rich in Christ beyond the comprehension of this world. 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:10.180 This is good news. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:12.819 Let's continue in verse 9. 00:07:12.900 --> 00:07:15.480 Do you see what else Jesus knows about this church in Smyrna? 00:07:16.139 --> 00:07:16.500 He says, 00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:21.500 I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not. 00:07:22.660 --> 00:07:26.500 Jews held a privileged position in the Roman Empire at the time. 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.680 They were able to freely practice their religion. 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:37.100 To begin with, followers of Jesus were simply thought of as Jews who happened to believe in Jesus the Messiah. 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:40.460 In fact, most Christians thought of themselves as exactly that. 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:46.020 And so they shared, at least to begin with, the Jewish privileges of religious freedom. 00:07:46.200 --> 00:07:48.840 But quite quickly, things began to change. 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:54.980 Because the Jews insisted that these Jesus followers weren't true Jews. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:08:05.900 So the irony of our passage is that Jesus describes those Jews, those who were slandering the Christians, those who were saying that the Christians weren't really Jews. 00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:10.840 Jesus describes those Jews as those who say they are Jews and are not. 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:15.259 I don't know if you've ever played this trick on your siblings. 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:17.339 I used to do it all the time growing up. 00:08:17.379 --> 00:08:18.179 It was one of my favorites. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.000 We'd have boiled eggs for breakfast. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:21.419 I'd finish mine. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:23.679 And then if you can imagine, you flip the egg over. 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:26.159 So the cracked bit is in the egg cup. 00:08:26.179 --> 00:08:28.059 And it looks like a whole egg again. 00:08:29.039 --> 00:08:35.100 Offer that to a hungry big brother and watch his disappointment as his spoon goes right through to reveal an empty shell. 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:36.939 If you've not tried it, highly recommend it. 00:08:37.059 --> 00:08:37.319 Brilliant. 00:08:37.819 --> 00:08:38.360 Simple fun. 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:43.200 In a sense, Jesus is describing the Jews as a bit like an empty shell. 00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:45.279 They look the part. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.560 They look like Jews. 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:50.180 They do all the right things, but they have no inward substance. 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:57.659 In other words, they're those who claim to worship God and yet have ignored the revelation of him in Jesus Christ. 00:08:58.659 --> 00:09:03.879 They're those who are circumcised outwardly, but whose hearts remain as cold as stone. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.759 Do you see at the end of verse 10? 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:09.000 He calls them a synagogue of Satan. 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:11.840 It's pretty strong language that, isn't it? 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:14.399 But it points, I think, to an important reality. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:20.879 See, though the Jews were the primary opposition to the church in Smyrna, behind their opposition, 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:26.580 indeed, behind any opposition to Christ's church, is the work of Satan. 00:09:26.580 --> 00:09:31.600 There are many today, aren't there, who find the gospel offensive. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:35.180 People around us who disagree with it sharply. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:44.920 And it's very tempting in my experience to make those people our enemies, particularly if they target us. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:50.360 But the reality is that behind their opposition is the work of Satan. 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:54.820 In fact, human opposition to the gospel, they're not our enemies. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:56.580 They're our mission field. 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:01.820 They can and sometimes should be our friends. 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:10.360 It's easy, isn't it, to look at maybe famous atheists or those who are particularly aggressive in their stance against Christianity, 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:17.320 especially, I think, those who take issue with Christian ethics and, as a result, take issue with us and our stand on things. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.300 It's easy to look at those people and see enemies. 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:25.340 It's particularly challenging when someone has hurt us personally, 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:30.180 whether they've done that directly as a result of our faith or not. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.840 It's so easy to look at those people and see enemies. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:44.220 But no human is so alienated from God that the work of Christ on the cross is not able to reconcile them to him. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:47.879 Our human opposition is not the enemy. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.440 It's the mission field. 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.120 So let's put that together. 00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:56.519 The church in Smyrna is facing some pretty challenging times. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:03.160 They've counted the material cost of their faith and they've counted the social cost too. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:08.840 But, Jesus says, it's about to get a whole lot worse. 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:11.700 Have a look halfway through verse 10 with me. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:20.840 Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and for 10 days you will have tribulation. 00:11:21.400 --> 00:11:25.520 Again, notice quickly it's Satan or the devil who's behind their suffering. 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:33.700 And the suffering brought by that battle for the church in Smyrna includes imprisonment, persecution and even death. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.660 Indeed, we know from history that this church in Smyrna faced all of those things. 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:46.659 It might seem utterly terrifying that the devil has the ability to cause such awful suffering. 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:49.959 But did you see what Jesus said at the start of verse 10? 00:11:50.379 --> 00:11:51.139 We didn't read it. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:52.819 Go and have a look at it now at the start of verse 10. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:53.939 Do not fear. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:57.579 And he has every authority to say that. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:04.120 Because though the devil inflicts the suffering, here it is Christ who is in control. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:08.200 Their suffering has a purpose. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:11.019 Did you notice that they may be tested? 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:15.000 And their suffering will be limited. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:17.299 See, it will only last for 10 days. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:23.560 For what it's worth, I don't think that that refers to a specific period of time. 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:28.759 Elsewhere in the Bible, 10 days is simply used to suggest a limited period of time. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.980 In Daniel chapter 1, 10 days is given as a good amount of time for testing. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.559 I think that's the kind of thing that's in view here. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.139 A limited period. 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:40.080 A good amount of time for testing. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:46.980 Either way, though this suffering is enacted by the devil, Christ is very much in control. 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:51.659 He's very much in control of the suffering of the Christians in Smyrna. 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:55.840 There is a purpose and it will not last forever. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.560 However, the same is true for us. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:02.460 Make no mistake, there is a spiritual battle raging. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:06.060 And as followers of Christ, we are right in the middle of it. 00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:12.420 But it's important, I think, that we don't look behind the door of every trial that we face 00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:16.620 to over-spiritualize, to see the devil's attack in every detail, 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:22.519 or ask what we are being tested for, or why we are being tested at every junction. 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:26.500 Because our suffering doesn't always make sense, does it? 00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:31.439 I'm very aware that there's probably people in this room, people watching, certainly, 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:34.220 who will be suffering even now. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:37.759 And it will seem like there is no purpose in it. 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.079 There isn't always an obvious silver lining, is there? 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.100 And that can be so hard. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:47.879 I'm sure there are many of us in the room, and again watching, 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:55.300 who can look back on our suffering, and who can see the ways that it has tested or firmed up our faith. 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:58.879 But I think it's also okay to look back at our suffering, 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:01.840 certainly be grateful for what we've learned in it, 00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:03.580 and still hurt. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.960 Still wish that whatever happened to us hadn't happened. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:16.800 Whatever it is that we're facing, we can absolutely take Jesus' words at the start of verse 10 to heart. 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.500 Do not be afraid. 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:22.600 We should not be afraid to suffer as Christians. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.700 You may have faced truly awful suffering. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.980 You may be facing it now. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.019 You might face it in the future. 00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:33.240 Whenever you face it, do not fear. 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:38.680 Because he is in control, and whatever it is that you are facing as a follower of Jesus, 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:42.620 it has a purpose, and it will not last forever. 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:50.419 These verses in our passage today, they also offer us beautifully two ways 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:55.100 that we can walk faithfully through whatever suffering it is that we face. 00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:58.779 He says, lay hold of Jesus in verse 8, 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:02.259 and he says, lay hold of heaven in the rest of verse 10 and 11. 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:05.059 So let's first lay hold of Jesus. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:07.500 Have a look back at verse 8 with me. 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:11.980 The words of him who is the first and the last, 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:14.919 who died and came to life again. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:20.500 Jesus is the first and the last. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.840 In other words, before there was anything else, 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:26.919 he was there with the Father and the Spirit. 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:30.759 And when everything else passes away, he will be there too. 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:32.379 He is eternal. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.799 He is God. 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:38.980 He is so much more transcendent, so much bigger and beyond us than we could possibly imagine. 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:44.080 But Jesus also died and came to life again, 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:48.080 which means that the eternal God became man. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.919 He lived a very human life, even to the point of death. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:57.559 A death that paid the price for all our wrongdoing so that we can be reconciled to him. 00:15:58.819 --> 00:16:04.299 And not only that, but three days later, he smashed the grave to pieces and now lives on the other side, 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:07.319 which means that he lives today. 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:15.160 Meaning that not only is Jesus so much more transcendent, so much bigger than we could possibly imagine, 00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:23.180 he is also so much more imminent, presently dwelling with us and active in our lives than we could possibly hope. 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:27.939 Jesus is so much more transcendent than we could possibly imagine. 00:16:28.099 --> 00:16:30.059 He is the first and the last. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:33.299 And he is so much more imminent than we could possibly hope, 00:16:33.599 --> 00:16:35.620 because he died and rose again. 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:38.459 This was vital for the church in Smyrna. 00:16:38.599 --> 00:16:42.439 This is how they would walk through their suffering faithfully, 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:47.200 by recognizing who their faith was in, by laying hold of Jesus. 00:16:48.260 --> 00:16:53.480 And it is vital for us to hold these things in tension. 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:55.620 Graham touched on this last week. 00:16:55.660 --> 00:17:02.240 If we have Jesus in view, we have to have a God who is both way bigger than us 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:08.000 and a God who is totally present with us in mind as we think of him. 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:10.880 This is the Jesus in whom we put our faith. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.900 This is who we lay hold of. 00:17:13.560 --> 00:17:16.420 It's not that Jesus is a first aid kit, right? 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:22.700 That we recognize him for who he is in our suffering and suddenly everything is okay. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:25.500 That's not the promise of the Christian life. 00:17:26.300 --> 00:17:29.560 We lay hold of Jesus in our relative comfort. 00:17:29.780 --> 00:17:31.340 We recognize him for who he is. 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.680 And as a result, as we trust him, 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:38.700 when we suffer and continue to lay hold of him in our suffering, 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.380 we face it without fear. 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:47.480 Because we have a God who has all the authority and power to give our suffering a purpose 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.880 and a limited time frame. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:54.840 And we have a God who walks with us through our suffering. 00:17:54.839 --> 00:18:01.539 This is the first thing that Jesus says to lay hold of in order to walk through suffering faithfully. 00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:03.379 He says, lay hold of me. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:08.799 Second thing that he says is to lay hold of heaven. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:11.639 You see at the end of verse 10, 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:14.220 be faithful even to the point of death, 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:18.240 and I will give you life as your victor's crown. 00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:22.680 In other words, if you make it to the end as a faithful follower of Christ, 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:25.799 you will receive eternal life. 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.180 Throughout the Roman Empire, 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:35.279 crowns of laurel wreaths were given to victorious athletes and victorious generals returning from battle. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.700 And we are in a battle, 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:41.519 but it is a battle that has already been won for us by Christ on the cross. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.700 So be faithful to him. 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:46.099 Trust in that victory. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.859 And the victor's crown, 00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:51.579 eternal life after death, 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.160 is ours. 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:58.860 We've already seen that the suffering of the church in Smyrna will be for a limited time. 00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:00.680 For some, 00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:04.980 that must have meant that their faithful suffering would end in death. 00:19:06.040 --> 00:19:06.380 In fact, 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.840 there was at least one famous Christian martyrdom in Smyrna. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.740 You might have heard of him, 00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:11.519 Polycarp. 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.540 He was a disciple of John, 00:19:13.620 --> 00:19:15.360 the guy who wrote this letter, 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:17.980 and a leader of the church in Smyrna. 00:19:18.540 --> 00:19:19.040 In fact, 00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:22.080 he was probably one of the first to read this letter. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.119 And if he was, 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:26.460 he certainly took the words here to heart. 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.720 Refusing to deny Christ, 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:33.000 he was burned at the stake for his faith. 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:38.259 One account of his martyrdom claims that as he burned, 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:44.519 he reminded his accusers that the fire beneath him would not torment him forever, 00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:49.179 but that the fire of eternal judgment that they faced would. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.839 In other words, 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:53.279 he was looking ahead to eternal life. 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.279 He had laid hold of heaven, 00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:57.500 and as he faced suffering, 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:59.500 even to the point of death, 00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:01.059 that is what kept him going. 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:04.099 The end of verse 11 says something similar, 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:04.439 really. 00:20:04.959 --> 00:20:09.819 The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. 00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:13.839 We are victorious by faithfulness to Christ, 00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:16.639 who won the victory for us on the cross. 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:19.800 And so we will not be hurt at all by the second death, 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:29.160 which is to say we will not face that eternal fire of eternal judgment that Polycarp warned his executioners would burn forever. 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:31.600 That's what the second death is. 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:31.779 That's what the second death is. 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:37.120 To miss out on eternal life and to face an eternity of suffering. 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:40.339 Because of who Jesus is, 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:43.519 because he stands on the other side of death, 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.299 those who follow him can be certain that they will too. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:55.180 We can be certain that we will stand on the other side of death in a perfect place with perfect resurrected bodies, 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.139 because that is where he is. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:04.279 That we will be eternally with him in a place where there is no more persecution or suffering, 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:08.579 where every tear that those things have caused will be wiped away. 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:15.220 And it's this hope of an eternal life where suffering is completely done away with. 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:20.699 It's this hope that helps us walk faithfully through suffering today, 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:25.059 by laying hold of Christ and by laying hold of heaven. 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:32.000 And so, someone were to walk through those doors at the back of the church 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.720 and point a gun at each of us in turn. 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:40.440 If our lives were on the line, what would we do? 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.880 Or perhaps more realistically, 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:47.680 if our reputation was on the line, 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.960 if our job was on the line, 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:52.960 if our marriage or our family or our home or whatever it is, 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.400 was on the line, 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.299 what would we do? 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.720 Deny Christ? 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:04.779 You might be sitting there thinking that this is all getting a little bit uncomfortable, 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.180 a little bit too challenging. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.220 Perhaps you're a new Christian. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:14.099 Or perhaps things have been particularly tough for you at the moment or recently. 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:16.359 Maybe you believe that it's true. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.500 You have a faith in Jesus. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.920 You would call yourself a Christian. 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:22.480 You know you are a Christian. 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.639 But if you're honest, 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:25.259 if you're honest with yourself, 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:30.240 you're really not sure how far you'd be prepared to suffer for this faith. 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:32.740 You certainly wouldn't die for it. 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:35.220 And if that's you, 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:38.079 well, I've certainly been encouraged by this verse. 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.960 In 1 Peter chapter 4, it's verse 14. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.039 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 14 says, 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:47.160 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.859 you are blessed. 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:53.279 For the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:59.619 In that moment where our faith is tested to such an extent, 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.740 God shows up. 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:05.200 And he strengthens us in moments like that. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:07.779 Just a brilliant story to illustrate that. 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:10.319 Corrie Ten Boom, you might have heard of her. 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:16.259 She was a Dutch watchmaker who helped many Jews to escape from concentration camps during the war. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:23.220 One evening before, the night before a great and terrifying attempt to help some escapees, 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:26.480 Corrie was understandably, I think, getting cold feet. 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:29.559 To be honest, she was utterly terrified. 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:33.400 And her father sat on the edge of her narrow bed. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.940 Corrie, he said to her gently, 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:37.960 When you and I go to Amsterdam, 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:41.259 when do I give you your ticket for the train? 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.839 Corrie hesitated and then replied, 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:47.539 Well, you give it to me just before we get on the train. 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.279 Exactly. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:55.399 And our wise father in heaven knows when we're going to need things too. 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.599 Don't run out ahead of him, Corrie. 00:23:58.139 --> 00:24:00.839 When the time comes that some of us will have to die, 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:05.939 you will look into your heart and find the strength that you need just in time. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.819 Deny Christ? 00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:10.639 No. 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:14.220 Because the Holy Spirit will show up and strengthen us 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.799 and we will lay hold of Christ 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.880 and we will lay hold of heaven 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:21.460 and we will walk faithfully through our suffering. 00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:25.000 Friends, remembering who he is 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:27.339 and what he has won for us, 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:28.539 be faithful 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:32.319 even to the point of death. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.960 Let me pray. 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:40.839 Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your son, Jesus Christ. 00:24:42.139 --> 00:24:44.579 Thank you for who he is. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:48.700 Thank you for what he has done for us, 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:51.859 for the prize that he has won for us in dying on the cross. 00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:55.419 Lord, I pray that we would lay hold of him, 00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:57.799 that we would lay hold of that prize 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:00.220 and that each of us would be faithful 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:02.799 right to the end of our lives. 00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.000 Amen.