The Seven Churches Revealed—last Man Standing.

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!