Be Happy Blessing Of Revelation Pt 4 Series

3. It’s hard for many of us to empathize with the Jewish people who went through the Holocast. I watched the movie Shindlers List and was deeply moved and hurt by what I saw. But to live through it is another story.

a. I cannot feel what they felt! Jesus starts off His message of hope to this church by reminding them that He is the first and last. Jesus will outwit, outplay and outlast the Roman Empire and all the Jews. He will be the soul survivor! He will have the last word. His kingdom will be the only one standing at the end of time.

b. He also states a fact they need to never forget "These are the words of him...who died and came to life again."

i. He is the only one who can make this statement of FACT. He died and rose again. He holds the keys of death and Hades. He is not a dead Jesus but an alive Jesus who vanquished, destroyed, overcame, dismantled death. He beat it and he controls it. Believe in the one who defeated death and you will live.

ii. It’s ironic but He brings life through death!

iii. God knew in the time of this writing who would win the battle raging in Smyrna just like he told Abraham to trust and believe.

c. Jesus knows what’s like to be abused and He understands!

i. He was beaten, whipped, mocked, kicked, punched, stabbed, and martyred on the cross of agony. He knew what affliction was because he felt it on his back, hands, feet and legs.

d. Jesus knew pain and persecution but he also knew the Father’s Word which stated, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Jesus knew that he had to face the persecution of this world to accomplish the plan of the Father.

i. Jesus also warned the church that it to would suffer times of persecution. But even in their times of pain and suffering they need to remember He sits on the throne. When they see Him for who He is they should realize that they are not poor or in poverty. They need to not allow their focus to be on the persecution but keep their eyes fixed on His greater purpose.

ii. How will you respond to a clear cut message of Christ that says, “I see your suffering” but, “I am not delivering you right now.” He even becomes more explicit “It will last longer!

1. Will you cry that’s not fair! Lord! Here is the reality of fairness.

a. It was not fair that God had to send His Son Jesus to be abused, to be beaten, to be lied to, to be stabbed, to be nailed to the cross, to be crucified for our sins and evil deeds. It is not fair that Jesus had to leave Heaven and all its beauty behind so that we could be delivered.

b. He did nothing wrong we did! So now with that heart ringing in your heart let me ask, “Is it unfair to have to suffer for the sins of others when you have done nothing wrong?”

c. Is it unfair to suffer a little while then for Him? Is it unfair to sacrifice your time, money, reputation, family, Job, property, and life? Is it unfair to give your life for Christ, to lay it down so that in reality you find eternal life?

c. The rewards: