The Suffering Church-Rev 2:8-11

Revelation, Sermons

Revelation 2:8-11; Key Verse: Rev 2:9a

“I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!” (NIV, 2011, 1984).

Last Sun (6/30/13), we studied about the loveless church in Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7). Today (7/7/13), we study about Smyrna, the suffering church. (More descriptive titles are “The Riches of Poverty ,” “Poor Yet Rich” and “Consolation for Tribulation.”)

In regards to Smyrna, the suffering church, it is crucial that every Christian knows the following, especially in times of adversity:

  1. Security – Your source of security (Rev 2:8): Jesus is the First and the Last, who died and came to life.
  2. Status – Your true status (Rev 2:9a): Though poor, yet rich.
  3. Satan – Your accusers/slanderers (Rev 2:9b): The hypocrites.
  4. Sanctification – Your assurance in adversity (Rev 2:10a): Do not fear suffering.
  5. Salvation – Your promise of victory (Rev 2:10b-11): Though dying yet living.

Jesus speaks to churches through out the church age over the last 2,000 years. Jesus, who speaks to the seven historical churches scattered throughout western Asia Minor, is addressing all churches in the church age over the last 2,000 years–the present period between Jesus’ first and second coming, also known as the “last days” and the great tribulation. In each letter, Jesus pronounces his blessing on churches which are faithful in the midst of their struggles, while he threatens curses on churches who are not. Jesus commends churches for their faith and perseverance, and confronts them with their sins.

The church at Ephesus had just one potentially fatal flaw. Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for their unwavering faithfulness in their deeds, hard work, perseverance, calling out false Bible teachers, and not growing weary or tolerating immorality (Rev 2:2-3,6). They were unwavering for 40 years since Paul planted the church. Yet they had one potentially fatal flaw for which Jesus sternly rebuked them: they had forsaken their first love (Rev 2:4). They were a loveless church . They had discernment without love . They lost their first love and fell from their lofty heights. A Christianity Today article (6/28/2013) is titled The Whole Gospel in One Word. It laments at how lame Christians are in displaying God’s love for others. An atheist perhaps aptly says, “You Christians say God is love, but we sinners are not feeling it from the likes of you.” We Christians should “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15). The Ephesians were clear about the truth (Rev 2:2-3, 6), but lacking in love (Rev 2:4). Jesus encouraged them to remember, to repent and to return to do what they did at first (Rev 2:5a), which is to genuinely love and serve and care for others, for God is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Not just dutiful service but genuine love for each other is the sure sign to unbelievers that we are Christ’s people (Jn 13:34-35). If they did not, Jesus warned, “I will come to you and remove your lampstand (church) from its place” (Rev 2:5b), i.e., their church would die. But if they overcame, they would be given “the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Rev 2:7).

Using the same template and pattern for all 7 churches, the church in Smyrna may be considered in the following way:

  1. The Church: The Suffering/Persecuted Church (Rev 2:9): The Riches of Poverty.
  2. The Christ: A Living Savior who “died and came to life again” (Rev 2:8).
  3. The Commendation: Affliction, poverty, imprisonment and death (Rev 2:9-10a).
  4. The Concern/Criticism/Confrontation/Condemnation (Rebuke): None.
  5. The Counsel/Command: Be faithful (Rev 2:10b).
  6. The Caution: None.
  7. The Consummation (Promise): The victor “will not be hurt at all by the second death” (Rev 2:11).

Persecution unto death. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (Jn 15:18, 20). In his letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus says that they will suffer great persecution, persecution even to the point of death (Rev 2:10). The devil, through the local synagogue and the local government, is aggressively conducting his campaign against the church. But Jesus is the Lord of his church, and even when persecuted unto death, his people triumph. The victor who is faithful to the point of death is promised a crown of life and safety from the second death (Rev 2:10b-11).

Poor yet rich. Amid unrelenting suffering, Smyrna is one of Jesus’ two blameless churches (together with Philadelphia). Paradox is vivid throughout Revelation (for things are not always what they seem). Smyrna is no exception:

  • The Christians in Smyrna are poor, yet they are rich (Rev 2:9a), which is in sharp contrast to those in Laodicia, who are rich, yet are poor (Rev 3:17).
  • Their opponents claim to be Jews but are Satan’s synagogue (Rev 2:9b).
  • The one who is faithful unto death is promised a crown of life and safety from the second death (Rev 2:10b-11).
  • The One who is Israel’s eternal refuge (Isa 44:6; 48:12) is the suffering savior who died and came to life (Rev 2:8).

The First and the Last, the One who died and came to life. It is Christ who commands John to write to the seven churches (Rev 1:11). To Smyrna (Rev 2:8a): “These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again” (Rev 2:8b). Jesus, the First and the Last, is Isarel’s eternal refuge (Isa 44:6; 48:12). The implication is that Jesus’ authority over his church is the same as God’s authority over Israel, because Jesus’ authority is God’s authority. Also, Jesus is the one who died for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. By virtue of his humiliation he has now been exalted to the status of King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus declares in Rev 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” To the church in Smyrna, Jesus reaffirms this glorious promise. This is especially important in the context of Satanically inspired persecution facing Christians there, with the constant threat of imprisonment and death. Those Christians in Smyrna who face death at the hands of the devil need to know that Christ alone holds in his hands the keys of death and Hades.

Those who say they are God’s people but are Satanic. “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!” (Rev 2:9a). The Smyrnan church’s tribulation and poverty resulted from physical and economic assaults, which will be symbolized in the beast that attacks the saints and makes submission to his “mark” the condition for enjoying the prosperity of his evil empire (Rev 13:7, 16-17). This church’s affliction was brought about by “those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9b). Though ethnically descended from Israel’s patriarchs, the opponents’ actions show that they are not God’s people but Satan’s synagogue. Birth from the flesh is not the issue, but birth from the Spirit is (Jn 3:6), just as circumcision that marks God’s people is not being cut in the flesh of the foreskin, but a cleansing of the heart by the Spirit (Rom 2:28-29; Phil 3:2-3). Gentiles, once not a people, have become “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Pet 2:9-10; 1:6). Titles that once set Israel apart (Ex 19:5-6) now belong to all who belong to Jesus, who abide in him as branches in the true vine, bearing fruit pleasing to the Father (Jn 15:1-8; Isa 5:1-7). The apostles were often initially welcomed by the Jewish communities of the dispersion (Ac 13:5, 15-42; 14:1; 17:2, 10-11; 18:4). But in one city after another their message of a crucified Messiah and the welcome of pagans apart from circumcision led to expulsion from the synagogue (Ac 13:44-45; 18:12-13; Heb 13:12-14). Traditional Jewish culture prized social stability and viewed new religious movements as political threats. Thus, Christians–perhaps viewed as loose and liberal–were pushed out from the umbrella of established Judaism. They were regarded with suspicion from neighbors and intimidation by religious leaders and local officials.

Reward of death is better than freedom from imprisonment. Difficult persecution and imprisonment awaited the church at Smyrna. But Jesus assures the faithful that the tribulation will be brief, a mere 10 days. To comfort them, Jesus gives them the following promise: “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. 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” (Rev 2:10-11). The news that Christians will suffer may hardly sound like a word of encouragement. So Jesus tells the Smyrnans that their suffering will be of a limited duration–ten days. He also tells them that those who are faithful unto death will receive the crown of life. Roman authorities used incarceration not for long-term containment, but for short-term custody of those awaiting trial or the sentence of death. Jesus’ prediction of coming affliction closes with the exhortation, “Be faithful, even to the point of death.” Thus, the release that he promises after “ten days” may not be a return to freedom to their families or church; it is something better: martyrdom. This apparent defeat is, paradoxically, the supreme victory. The “crown of life” is the laurel wreath that honors the triumphant athlete when the contest is completed (1 Cor 9:25; Jas 1:12; 2 Tim 4:6-8). It also has overtones of royal authority (Rev 4:4, 10; 6:2; 12:1; 14:14). The Smyrnan martyrs are a preview of the host of martyrs, slain for the testimony of Jesus and God’s word. They share in the first resurrection and enjoy Christ’s protection from the second death (Rev 2:11; 20:4-6).

Personal application. Satan can never win no matter what Satan does to the true children of God–forcing us to live in poverty, turning the government against us, causing religious authorities to slander us, even taking our lives.

  • If we lose our material goods, in Christ we have the riches of heaven.
  • If the state turns against us, Christ is our king; to Him, the nations are but a drop in the bucket.
  • If we are slandered, Christ rebukes them, strips off our filthy rags and clothes us with his perfect righteousness.
  • If we lose our lives, we come to life with Christ and reign with him for a thousand years.

The application is simple. In Christ we are rich. In Christ we overcome. In Christ we never face the second death. In Christ we have already received the crown of life. Therefore, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:11). Amen! (Interestingly, Smyrna is the only one of the seven cities still in existence today, modern Izmir in western Turkey: The letter to the church at Smyrna.)

If you are “poor,” do you realize how rich you are in Christ? Are you faithful to Jesus even to the point of death?

Questions:

  1. What does “the first and the last” mean (Rev 2:8; 1:17; 22:13; Isa 44:6; 48:12)?
  2. What afflictions and poverty did the church face (Rev 2:9a)? Why does Jesus say they are rich when they are poor (Rev 2:10b-11)?
  3. What is it blasphemous to say you are a Jew when you are not (Rev 2:9b; Rom 2:28-29; Phil 3:2-3)? Why the reference to “a synagogue of Satan” (Rev 13:7, 16-17)?
  4. What did the future hold for the church (Rev 2:10)? What were they admonished to do? What is the stated purpose in their persecution? Is the reference to “ten days” literal or figurative? Is the “crown of life” salvation or a reward? Have you ever been persecuted because you are a Christian? Are you willing to be “faithful until death” (1 Cor 9:25; Jas 1:12; 2 Tim 4:6-8)?
  5. What does “he who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death” mean (Rev 2:11; 20:4-6)?

References:

  1. Johnson, Dennis E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation. Pillipsburg: P&R Publishing Company. 2001.
  2. The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1-20).
  3. Christian, Listen Up! (Rev 2:1-3:22).
  4. I Have This Against You (Revelation 2-3). Brief synopsis of the seven churches.
  5. The Riches of Poverty (Rev 2:8-11). Preached in Manila on 3/30/2013.
  6. The Letter to the Church at Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11). Sam Storms, Nov 5, 2006.
  7. Sermons on the Book of Revelation. Kim Riddlebarger, Sr. Pastor, Christ Reformed Church. Anaheim.
  8. Questions on Revelations chapters 2-3 .
  9. Eschatology: 3 views.
  10. We cant all be panmillenial: Interview with Sam Storms (July 2013) on his book, Kingdom Come: The Amillennial Alternative (Christian Focus, 2013).
  11. Why I changed my mind about the millennium. Sam Storms (Jan 2013).
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