Introduction
The city of Smyrna was called “The Crown City” because it was surrounded by hills that resembled a crown. It was also called “The Flower of Asia.”
When the city chose a motto to be imprinted on their coinage, they chose the phrase “First in Asia in Size and Beauty.”
In this beautiful, wealthy pagan city, there existed a struggling Christian community.
The church in Smyrna was undergoing intense and withering persecution.
The Lord Jesus comes to them with a word of comfort for their dark days.
He tells them that even though they appear to be so weak and so poor, they are, in fact, rich beyond imagination.
So let us take a look at this “Rich Poor Church” and see how it relates to us today.
Turn with me this morning as we take our text from Revelation 2:8-11. Please stand and follow along with me in honor of the Word of God.
Scripture
8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:8-11
Prayer
A Crushed Church by Tribulation
The church at Smyrna was during the historical period where terrible persecution inflicted upon believers by the Roman emperors between the years of 100 AD and 312 AD.
When one takes a look at Christianity around the world we will see churches that are being persecuted because of their beliefs.
Even in America we are starting to see a push to discredit the New Testament church.
Hollywood portrays the New Testament church as that relies on the fables of an out of date book.
In verse 9 it says that Smyrna faced tribulation. The word tribulation means pressure.
The pressure did not come from the lost people of Smyrna alone.
It also came from the liberals, so called Christians, the Jewish community.
The Jews in Smyrna joined hands with the idolaters in that city to defeat and destroy the Christians by whatever means necessary.
Jesus calls them “the synagogue of Satan” and accuses them of blaspheme (slander) against these believers.
Why did the people of Smyrna hate the believers so? There are several reasons.
The same reason the church today is being or starting to see tribulation (pressure) from the world.
They misunderstood the church and therefore fabricated lies against the church.
Besides the Jewish community, there where liberal Christians that came against the church at Smyrna, spreading lies.
A liberal Christian is one who is willing to discard traditional values to fit into society. In reality there is no such thing as a liberal Christian, because you cannot embrace the world and Christ.
The Bible says in 1 John 2:15-17 that you cannot, Love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Today we have those that call themselves Christians, yet embrace the world’s liberal views.
When I see this happening I see a caution sign going up and I am reminded of 1 John 2:15-17 that you cannot, Love the world, neither the things that are in the world and call yourself a Christian.
You cannot embrace the world view and Christ, either you will love the one and hate the other. 1 John 2:15 says;
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
At Smyrna they accused the church of:
1. Christians were accused of cannibalism. Christians kept communion and part of that observance was eating the bread and drinking from the cup. These represented the broken body and the shed blood of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:24-26 says; 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
The Bible reminds us that the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
The Words of God almighty fall on deaf ears, to them it is a book of fables.
2. Christians were accused of being immoral. When the Christians gathered, they would often hold what they called “Agape Feasts”.
These “love feasts” were nothing but times of fellowship, where believers enjoyed one another’s company.
The pagans, however, accused the Christians of engaging in orgies.
Christianity today is considered to be pagan, because we believe in the blood of Jesus Christ washing our sins away.
3. Christians were accused of being atheists because they did not worship the many gods of the pagans and because they used no statues and icons in their own worship. So, any natural disasters other calamities were blamed on the Christians for incurring the wrath of the gods.
Today we hear it said it’s alright to embrace other religions because God is everywhere.
They may be taking down the crosses in America, but there is no power in that man made cross. It is only an icon, but to the lost world, they think they are removing our power. If they didn’t believe that then there would be no need for them to remove the crosses.
4. Christians were accused of being political enemies of Rome because they refused to say, “Caesar is Lord!” Every Roman citizen was required to do this every year. To fail to do so brought severe punishment and even death.
The day will come and is already starting when we will be required to worship as the government leaders dictate.
Have we not already seen this taking place here in America?
Here are but a few examples which have happen just in the past few months.
1. Children in public schools being prohibited from writing Merry Christmas to the soldiers.
2. Senior citizens being banned from praying over their meals in the Senior Centers.
3. The VA banning the mention of God in military funerals.
4. Numerous attempts to have veterans’ memorials torn down if they have any religious symbols, such as a cross.
5. Federal judges who threatened to incarcerate a high school valedictorian unless she removed all references to Jesus from her graduation speech and who decided that prayer before a state House of Representatives couldn't be to Jesus.
6. The government forcing Christian business to support abortion.
A Crushed Church by Poverty
They Faced Poverty – poverty – This word speaks of being “absolutely destitute”. These poor people had nothing of this world’s goods because of their relationship with the Lord Jesus.
They were denied jobs and promotions because of their testimony.
When we lived in Oklahoma City our pastor used to pastor in Idaho. Their church members where denied jobs, promotions and even lost their jobs when they got saved, because of the high percentage of Mormons in that state. Christians were considered to be the enemy of the Mormon Church.
Now with the rapid increase of Islam in America, the day is coming when Christians will be persecuted by the Islamic church because to Islam Christians are the enemy of their beliefs.
These people had nothing in a city that possessed everything.
Imagine how Satan must have mocked these people.
As they passed the ornate temples and walked down that golden street, surely he said, “Serving Jesus has cost you everything!”
Can you here him whisper to them, “Look at you! You are nothing and you have nothing. Give up on Jesus. You are starving! Deny Him and prosper!”
Do we not hear Satan whispering to the church today, “Serving Jesus is going to cost you everything, because you’re different than rest of the world.”
Look at you; you are radical about abortion, same sex marriage, nudity, gambling, and everything else that pleases everyone else.
You need to be politically correct, learn to widen your horizon, realize that we all have the right to belief what we want, it is our lives and we don’t need you to push your agenda on us.
You will never get ahead in this world because you are bucking against the majority. Your wrong and we are right.
Deny your obsolete beliefs, don’t believe everything you read in the Bible, it is a book full of myths and foolish parables. Be like everyone else and prosper.
A Crushed Church what can it do?
1. Stand strong against accusations.
We are not of this world. John 15:19 says; If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
2. Be careful about getting to close to this world
The world is out to trick you to follow their agenda. Remember what 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 says; Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
And remember what Galatians 1:10 says; For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
3. When facing tribulation (pressure)
Remember that pressure from the world comes trying to conform you too the world. Romans 12:2 says;
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Remember God will give you the strength because 1 Corinthians 10:13 says; There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
4. When facing poverty
Remember that God does not measure success like the world measures success. Remember what Matthew 6:20 says; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Or what Matthew 16:26 says; For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
5. Be strong in the Lord
For James 1:12-15 says; 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Conclusion/Invitation
Things are going to continue to be worst, before the Lord returns.
There are going to be tribulations, there is going to be pain and persecution.
But be of good cheer Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is in control and I know how the story ends.
