Smyrna: The Persecuted Church (Faithful In Suffering) Series

## **INTRODUCTION — A CHURCH THAT KNEW WHAT IT MEANT TO DIE AND LIVE AGAIN**

As we begin this morning, before we listen to what Jesus says to Smyrna, it is important to look back at where we have been.

We started our study by stepping into Revelation chapter 1.

Before Jesus corrects His church, He reveals Himself to His church.

We saw Him walking among the lampstands. We saw Him holding the stars in His hand. We were reminded that the church is not the light — the church is the lampstand. Jesus is the light.

And we established the question that frames our entire study:

The question is not, “What kind of church are we?”?

The question is, “Are we listening to what Jesus is saying to His church?”

Revelation 1:3 gave us the pattern: Read. Hear. Heed.

Last week, if you watched the video, you would have followed me as we listened to what Jesus had to say to the church in Ephesus.

Ephesus was hardworking. Discerned. Doctrinally sound. Resistant to false teaching. But they had left their first love.

They were busy for Jesus — but no longer burning for Jesus.

And Jesus called them to renewal with three simple words: Remember. Repent. Do.

Renewal begins not when we do more for Jesus, but when we return to loving Jesus first.

This morning, we turn to Smyrna, and we find a very different message to the church.

Ephesus was strong but loveless.?

Smyrna is suffering but faithful.

Ephesus needed correction.?

Smyrna needs encouragement.

And what Jesus says to this church under pressure will help us understand what faithfulness looks like when obedience becomes costly.

Before we get into Scripture, let’s take a few moments and let our video from Lineage Journey tell us about ancient and modern day Smyrna, and how the Jesus’ words might relate to the universal church’s history.

Video Ill.: Smyrna — The Persecuted Church by Lineage Journey

In Revelation 2, Jesus says:

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 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.

11 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. (Revelation 2, NIV)

The church in Smyrna was not symbolic. It was a real congregation in a real city under real pressure.

Scholars and historians tell us that Smyrna had been founded as a Greek colony around 1000 BC, destroyed around 600 BC, and for nearly four hundred years existed only as scattered villages. Around 200 BC, it was rebuilt as a unified city and came back to life.

So, in very real terms, Smyrna knew what it meant to die. And Smyrna knew what it meant to live again.

That history matters, because Jesus is about to speak to a church that understands loss, endurance, and faithfulness under pressure. Let’s dive into this letter to see what message Jesus has for Smyrna and us today.

## 1. **THE GLORIOUS CHRIST — THE ONE WHO DIED AND LIVED AGAIN**

As we begin, we see Jesus describing Himself as the Glorious Christ — the One who died and who lived again.

Jesus begins by addressing the church, saying in verse 8:

8 … These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. (Revelation 2, NIV)

Therein lies the heart of the gospel — the God who loved us, sent Jesus to this world — to die to pay for our sins, to fulfill the Old Covenant — to conquer death, rising again on the third day, and then returned to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. All because He loved us.

God, who is all powerful, all knowing, all amazing could have done anything He wanted in order to fix the relationship that was broken in the Garden of Eden. He could have waved His hand and made us perfect. He could have just destroyed mankind completely and started over. He could have just given up and said, “Oh well. I tried.”

But He didn’t.

He sent His one and only Son.

Jesus came, walked among us, lived with us and as one of us, suffered and celebrated as one of us.