Introduction:
A. It has been said that there have been more Christian martyrs in recent years than there were during the time of the Caesars. (As I share these statistics, I am using the terms “Christian” and “church” in the broadest possible way).
1. According to a study done by Regent University, in 1999, nearly 164,000 Christians worldwide were martyred for their faith, and in 2000 that number was closer to 165,000.
2. With each passing year, the number of Christians who will face death for their beliefs increases.
3. It has been estimated that since AD 70, there have been over 70 million Christians put to death for refusing to renounce their beliefs.
4. This means that on average, just over 36 thousand have been killed each year for their faith.
5. In recent decades Christianity has grown so rapidly in the non-Western world that today more than 70 percent of Christians now lives outside the West.
6. Many of these Christians are in nations with poor human rights, weak rule of law, and limited freedoms.
7. Some 200 million Christians live under the dark shadow of persecution, daily risking – and regularly suffering – imprisonment, enslavement, violence or death on account of their allegiance to Jesus.
8. A further 400 million Christians live with discrimination and non-trivial restrictions on religious liberty that create considerable hardships such as poverty and homelessness. (Some statistics taken from the website for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church).
B. In light of these statistics, I must ask myself, “What gives those men and women the courage to stand firm in their belief, even in the face of death?”
1. And that question, of course, begs another: “Do I have what it takes to face death and stay true to my convictions?”
2. I would like us to consider those questions as we spend some time today in Revelation 2 thinking about what it means to be faithful to the end, even unto death.
3. In Revelation 2:8-11, we are introduced to the church in Smyrna.
4. They certainly were a faithful church and this in spite of the fact that they were a suffering church.
5. Let’s do two things: Let’s understand their suffering, and then let’s understand their strength.
I. Smyrna’s Suffering (How did they suffer?)
A. First, they suffered PHYSICALLY
1. Notice the very first thing Jesus says to this church: “I know your affliction.”
2. Other versions use the word “sufferings”, “tribulations”, or “troubles”.
3. Now, when we in the Western world think of persecution, we think of being fired from our jobs for refusing to work on the Sunday, or being ridiculed for our belief in Jesus.
4. In this sense, I’m sure every one of us has gone through some kind of trouble for being a Christian.
5. But what the church in Smyrna faced was much more severe.
6. The Greek word used here that is translated “affliction”, literally means “to crush” or “to apply heavy pressure.”
7. In everyday terms, this was the word used when speaking of the wine and olive presses – the fruits would be put in the presses to be crushed until all of their juices flowed out.
8. Another way this term was used was to describe a form of torture whereby a person was slowly crushed under a giant boulder.
9. And so the church of Smyrna was facing more than mere setbacks in spreading the gospel, more than an interruption in their daily routine – what they faced was determined and brutal opposition, physical torture, and painful death.
B. Let me tell you a little about Smyrna and what it was like to live there.
1. Smyrna was a city loyal to the Roman Empire. It was a proud and beautiful Asian city.
2. It was at Smyrna that the first Roman temple was built in honor of Tiberius, and it was Smyrna that first accepted the principle of Caesar worship.
3. Each year throughout the Empire every Roman citizen had to burn incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar and say, "Caesar is Lord."
4. Because the Christians at Smyrna, and elsewhere, refused to participate in this act, they suffered tremendous persecution.
5. We see also that the persecution was not limited to the physical afflictions imposed upon the believers.
C. Second, they suffered ECONOMICALLY.
1. The letter to Smyrna also indicates that they were a poor church.
2. Again, this word needs to be clarified, for we are not speaking of people who had to work two jobs to make ends meet.
3. There are two Greek words that can be used for being poor.
4. One word means needy. Today we might describe it as living hand-to-mouth – getting by, but just barely.
5. But it’s a different word used here in the Greek to describe the church at Smyrna – a word which means to be in the worst possible state of poverty imaginable.
6. This is a church that has had all of their material possessions stripped away throughout the course of their persecution.
7. History tells us that under the rule of the Caesars, those labeled as Christians were ostracized in their communities; that by law, it was forbidden to buy from them, and it was equally forbidden to sell anything to them.
8. And so we find a church that is being persecuted, and is at the point of absolute destitution.
9. Now, as if the crushing physical and financial blows against this church aren’t enough, we are also told in the last part of verse 9 of Revelation 2, that the church also has “the slander of those who say they are Jews” to deal with.
D. Third, they suffered SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
1. The instigators of persecution were also the Jews. Again and again in the book of Acts we see how the Jews stirred up the authorities against the church.
2. Here we have Jesus, speaking through a prophecy to the apostle John, calling the Jews the synagogue of Satan. Jesus takes one of their favorite expressions for themselves and reverses it.
3. When the people of Israel met together they loved to call themselves “the synagogue, which means assembly, of the Lord.”
4. So Jesus is saying, “You call yourselves the assembly of the Lord, but in fact you are the assembly of Satan.” Ouch!!!
5. Whatever the specific slander that was being leveled against them, it was causing added suffering.
E. As we have seen the catalog of Smyrna’s suffering included crushing opposition, economic disparity and abject poverty, ostracism and slander; and on top of this, we read in Revelation 2:10 that there were to be imprisonments.
1. These were the daily experiences of the church in Smyrna.
2. These are the daily experiences of many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
3. Nevertheless, the church in Smyrna persevered, and so do so many today.
4. But how do they do it? Why do they do it? What gives them the courage to carry on?
5. As I read about the experience of the church of Smyrna and even Christians today, I must examine myself and my commitment to Christ.
6. I wonder, were I in a situation like those in Smyrna, would I stay true, or would I succumb to the pressures surrounding me?. How about you?
7. What would we do if as we left this building, people were outside waiting to beat us with clubs?
8. What would we do if we arrived at work only to be told we were fired, that our house was being repossessed, and that all that we worked for in this life was being confiscated?
9. What would we do if the very person sitting in the pew next to us went to the police and laid slanderous charges against us?
F. See, these are hard questions that we must ask ourselves, and we must be certain that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is capable of withstanding these kinds of fierce and crushing blows.
1. True, they may never come to these extremes, but the enemy of souls has a thousand ways to crush the spirit of the believer.
2. The church at Smyrna knew it – they experienced it first-hand –and yet they were victorious.
3. Do we want to be victorious Christians today? Of course we do!
4. We can leave here this morning more ready to gain the victory over whatever Satan or this life throws at us.
5. So, let’s take a look at what the church of Smyrna possessed, which made them the victorious church that they were.
II. Smyrna’s Strength
A. First of all, we notice that they were strong because they had the right view of Jesus.
1. They trusted in Jesus who identified himself as “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” (vs. 8)
2. Jesus truly is the Lord. He is number ONE!
3. All of this speaks of His power, His position, His authority, and His Immortality.
4. Jesus, indeed, is someone who can be trusted.
5. We must have the correct view of Jesus, and understand his promises, if we are going to be able to be faithful to the end, even if our earthly end is persecution and death.
B. Second, they were strong because they had the right view of their circumstances.
1. Even though they were afflicted and poor, they knew that they were very rich.
2. How were they rich? They were rich in grace and truth. They were rich in the things of God.
3. When you have a personal relationship with Jesus, it feels like you are rich.
4. Knowing that Jesus loves you…Knowing that you are living your life in the center of His will…the peace of mind that comes from these is worth more than all the money in the world.
5. Additionally, the right view of their circumstances included viewing their sufferings as the path to growth and reward.
6. It is interesting to see what happens to many a believer and church when they face persecution.
7. In most cases, we act like children. And what do children do when they are hurting? They run to their mother or father.
8. The church responds in much the same way. The more we are crushed the more we run to Jesus.
9. So, instead of destroying the church, afflictions and persecution make us even stronger, because they make us closer to God.
10. Have you noticed that happening in your life? When do you find yourself really leaning on the Lord? When things are going well?
11. No, most of us experience our greatest growth and a sense of being close to God during our times of greatest pain and difficulty.
12. That’s why King David said, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (Ps. 119:71)
13. James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)
14. Now please understand me, I do not say any of this to minimize or trivialize suffering. Suffering hurts and suffering is hard.
15. Many of you have suffered far more than I have, but if we have the right view of our sufferings, then it can make all the difference in the world.
16. This world is not our home. The greatest riches available to humans are not earthly riches.
17. It takes spiritual eyes and a spiritual mind to see and understand these truths.
C. Finally, they were strong because they had the right view of their rewards.
1. Jesus told them very clearly, “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 10 days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life…He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” (vs. 10-11)
2. We wish that their promised rewards were: no imprisonment, and no death, but that is not what was promised.
3. What they were promised was that suffering would be temporary.
4. What a blessing it is to know that the trials we face won’t last forever, don’t you agree?
5. I wish I could tell you that God’s promise is that when God promises to protect us, it means we become invincible; but the Word of God doesn’t say that.
6. I hope that I never have to face death for my beliefs, and I pray that none in this gathering today will either.
7. But if it ever comes to that, may we hold to the promise given to this church: that even though our lives may be taken away from us, yet our future is secure in the hands of Jesus.
8. The promise is that, even though we may die in this life, yet there awaits for the faithful a crown of life that will never pass away.
9. Over the years, the church has been inspired by the martyrdom of a church father named Polycarp, who served as bishop of the church of Smyrna.
a. The old man, Polycarp, was brought one last time before the Roman proconsul and given one last chance to deny Jesus Christ.
b. His reply echoes across the years: “Eighty-six years I have served the Lord Jesus Christ, and He has never once wronged me. How can I now deny my King who has saved me?”
c. When the proconsul threatened to burn him at the stake, the old bishop replied, “You threaten me with a fire which will burn for an hour and then go out. Do what you will, my purpose is unchanged.”
d. And with that, he was set on the platform, and the fires were lit.
10. How could he face death and remain unchanged? Because his trust was in the Lord Jesus Christ; the One who declared to the church of Smyrna, “I am the one who was dead, and has come back to life.”
11. He could face death unflinchingly, because he knew that the One in whom he had believed had gained the victory over death itself.
12. And once we understand our promised reward, we can be faithful to the end.
Conclusion:
A. Dear friends, we can be certain that there will be persecution and pain.
B. But more than that, we can be certain that in the face of persecution, we can have complete victory.
C. We can have victory because we can be sure that no matter what we may face, that God is with us through it all.
D. And we can have the victory because we know that evil and suffering will only be allowed for a short time, and even if it comes to death, we will inherit eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
E. Jesus is the Lord, the First and the Last; the one who died and came to life again.
F. It costs to be a dedicated follower of Christ, more in some times and places than in others.
G. The reality is that all of us must turn our lives over to Christ in order to be saved.
H. In that sense we are a living sacrifice rather than a dead one. And in some respects it is easier to die for our faith and go out in a blaze of glory, than to serve the Lord and give up our life for him, minute by minute.
I. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Lk. 9:23-25)
J. Lord, teach us to be faithful to the end.
Prayer
