The Seven Churches Revealed—Last Man Standing. Revelation 2:8-11NLT
I titled this message 'Last Man Standing' because when your faith is completely shaken and trials are chasing your peace away and tribulations are pressing your hope into despair. When all your friends have walked away, when your family abandons you. If everyone you know as a Christian were to suddenly abandon the faith could you still say "Thou none go with me, I will still follow!" Are you determined that if all others fall that you would be the last man standing?
Under the caption in my Bible—The Persecuted Church in Smyrna.
Today we’re looking at the seven churches of Revelation. They were real churches just like Crane Eater Community Church. They existed at the end of the first century in what is today the nation of Turkey. According to my sources—This church of Smyrna still exist today, and is the only existing of the seven.
I believe—these seven churches help us understand what it means to be the church.
The first letter to Ephesus taught us that the church is to love God and its fellow members.
“A church may have many admirable qualities, but if it lacks love for God and believers, it is in danger of God removing His hand of blessing.
To be His church, she must love.” P.H
Smyrna has a different message—The church will suffer for Christ. There is no criticism of this church. Of the seven churches, only two escape any criticism: Smyrna and Philadelphia.
Key point—At sometime in your Christian journey you will be tempted to lose heart and quit. Christ encourages us to trust Him. Johns writes:
Revelation 2:8NLT “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
Going back for a moment—Last week we said the stars—that are held in the hands of Jesus are the Messengers, pastors, or shepherds of the church.
Also—we stated, the golden lamp stands were His churches—the Seven Churches of Asia.
Revelation 2:8TM Write this to Smyrna, to the Angel of the church. The Beginning and Ending, the First and Final One, the Once Dead and Then Come Alive, speaks:
Jesus stated this about Himself. John 11:25NKJV Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
We serve—The ‘One’ that resurrects, that brings life back to dead things—That my friend is a miracle!
He’s—The first and the last. He’s from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
When everything is all said and done, everyone, ‘all His created ones’ will answer to Jesus! P.H
Revelation 2:9NLT “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.
The importance of your spirituality can be found in this scripture. Again, Revelation 2:9a I know about your suffering and your poverty.
Jesus doesn’t linger there long, but He rewards those that suffer, He rewards those rich in Him, but poor in wealth.
Revelation 2:9a…but you are rich!
Proverbs 10:22KJV The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 10:22TM God’s blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.
Again, Revelation 2:9b…I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.
The Jews who persecuted the Christians rejected Christ. They claimed to be Jews, but they really were under the control of Satan. The phrase “synagogue of Satan” reveals that the ultimate source of the persecutions was Satan himself. Jesus rejected them and in very strong terms said they were not true Jews.
Listen to the Apostle Paul’s words about true Jews. Romans 2:28-29NLT For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
A true Jew has to have a Jesus awakening. Repentance and conversion become everything! PH
Again, according to the apostle Paul, A true Jew was one inwardly, whose heart is right with God.
The Lord takes notice of the fruit we bear.
In verse 9, the Lord states, He’s well aware of their tribulations and suffering.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed!
Revelation 2:10NLT Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
I wonder— how many here would walk through a plague, or disaster, or gun fire, or an angry mob to get here this evening? How many would stay if many hundreds of people lined up outside the windows to scream at you? Or if they were able to infiltrate the church to disrupt our service who among you would be determined to stand up and praise God anyway? If everyone gave up would you be determined to be the last man standing?
Jesus states—suffering is enviable but don’t fear. Refuse to bow to anything inferior to Jesus.
God say’s—I see that you kept the main thing the main thing.
Revelation 2:10…Do not be afraid.
Revelation 2:10TM “Fear nothing in the things you’re about to suffer—but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing—ten days. It won’t last forever.
James 1:12NKJV Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:2-4NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
As I read this several times out-loud yesterday and today—I was reminded that my true statement of confession, my belief system is of the upmost importance.
Revelation 2:11NLT “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Again Revelation 2:11 “...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,.."
Christian history from Foxes book of martyrs teaches us about the pastor of the Smyrna church who was a disciple of the apostle John, his name was Polycarp.
It was his custom to spend the whole day and night in prayer for all the churches throughout the world. Three days before he was arrested, while he was praying, he had a vision of the pillow under his head burning in flames.
He said prophetically to those who were with him, "I will be burnt alive." His pursuers followed him when he left to another house and when they couldn't find him they captured two young men from his household and tortured them into confession.
Herod was impatient to bring Polycarp to the stadium, so that he might fulfill his special role, to share the sufferings of Christ, while those who betrayed him would be punished like Judas. The police and horsemen came with the young man at suppertime on the Friday with their usual weapons, as if coming out against a robber. That evening, they found him lying down in the upper room of a cottage. He could have escaped but he refused saying, "God's will be done." When he heard that they had come, he went down and spoke with them. The posse was amazed at how old he was and wondered why did we go through so much trouble to catch an old man like this? They granted him an hour to pray and he prayed for two hours and the men were embarrassed that they had arrested such a godly old man.
When he was taken away several people heard a voice say "Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!" We often hear the phrase "Take responsibility. Be a man!" That is essentially what the voice told Polycarp.
He was later ordered into the stadium and to say "down with the athiests!" (nonbelievers of roman gods) He pointed to the crowd and said "Down with the athiests" The proconsul said, "reproach Christ, and I will set you free." he said "86 years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?"
They said "we will throw you to the wild animals if you don't repent." "Call them" Poycarp replied. "Its unthinkable for me to repent from what is good and turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness." His captor said "If you despise animals I will have you burned" Polycarp replied "you threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring it on whatever you want."
The crowd gathered wood for the fire and nails and Polycarp said "Leave me as I am, for he that gives me strength to endure the fire, will enable me not to struggle, without the help of your nails." he then prayed and the fire was lit and the flame blazed furiously until an amazing miracle happened the flame became an arch, like the sail of ship when the wind is in it. Polycarp didn't wilt or turn black but instead looked as if he was baked and turned golden, rather than the smell of death everyone smelt the scent of frankincense. Out of fear of what they were witnessing the men took a dagger and thrust into him when so much blood came out that it actually extinguished the fire.
Revelation 2:11TM “Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you.
Once again in closing—Would you be willing to be the last person standing?
Benediction.
