Revelation 2:8-11
Nobody likes to think about religious persecution, seemingly impossible, and then a pandemic strikes and everything changes. Our view moves from improbable to strikingly possible. As Jesus continued His victorious walk among the churches holding them with a powerful grip spoke to Smyrna and those suffering persecution for all time.
The only letter without a correction along with commendation is given to Smyrna; they didn’t need it since their name means suffering. It comes from the word ‘myrrh’ which was the embalming spice gifted by the Magi to the infant Christ; suffering was inevitable.
Jesus’ words of comfort and love began with reassurance that He was indeed the First and the Last who died because of His faith but also came back to life. He reminded them, as He does every church, that He knows, He’s fully aware of the stressful situations they’re experiencing; they’re extremely poor and constantly have their reputation slandered by malicious lies. Why?
This city was renown for their idol worship including self-mutilation, bloody rituals, and mandated submission. Christians refused and paid the ultimate price of a bloody death as they were massacred in stadiums by gladiators and wild beasts.
If that wasn’t enough these suffering Christians were constantly harassed by ‘fake Jews’ called a synagogue of Satan. Jesus is clearly referring to Jewish people who don’t follow the Law and Prophets but use the title to stir up pagan worshippers to attack Christ-followers. Jesus saw them as a gathering of His adversaries (devilish), opposing the truth, and directed their attention to spiritual warfare. Jesus didn’t instruct them to pray it away, confess it away, or believe it away; He forewarned them of it’s inevitability but to ‘fear not’ as their faith is tested for a distinct period of time (ten days). Being forewarned is being forearmed: Satan is real and spiritual warfare, standing in faith, is necessary: We are the Nike Church.
The promises of reward after death, a crown of life, is prepared for every Nike believer: overcomers. As He lived, died, and rose again, so will every believer; there’s no second death with punishment for us, it’s reserved for the rebellious.
The axion goes like this: born once, die twice, born twice die once. A Christian has been born twice, once naturally and once spiritually (John 4), therefore, we only die once. There’s no fear in death, Jesus said we’re immortal as He is:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
As we listen to the Spirit speaking to all the churches for all time may our answer be “Yes!” We may not live in Smyrna now but life can change quickly.
American believers, pray for the persecuted church all over the world since they are the church in Smyrna all over again: persecution.com will get you started.
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