LEARNING DAILY
Revelation 2:9-10, I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but
you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are
not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do
not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of
you into prison, that you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you
the crown of life. Jesus
Read Revelation 2:8-11. Notice
that the Lord addressed this church as the One “who was dead, and came to
life”. Is this important? Yes, the people of the church at Smyrna, the
persecuted church, needed to know that He who had overcome death was with them
as they suffered because of their faith in Him.
He had been tested in all ways, been persecuted just like they were
being persecuted, defeated death and was now their High Priest in heaven.
This church had suffered greatly to the point of poverty; Jesus said
their situation economically was at a poverty level. But spiritually, He said, they were
rich. We will get to the church of
Laodicea, but notice Jesus said this church was rich but spiritually poor. This church represents the church during the
Roman Empire and Christianity was illegal at the time John was given The Revelation
to be written.
There are several thoughts about the “synagogue of Satan”. One thought is it was made of Gentiles who
called themselves Jews; they worshipped the Roman emperor and spoke out against
Christians causing them to be persecuted in Smyrna. Another thought is it was made up of Jews who
did not have the faith of Abraham nor did they accept Jesus as the Messiah;
they rejected Him. I wonder if the
greater persecution came from the Jews since the Lord addressed them
specifically. These Jews would be
serving the purposes of Satan because they hated and persecuted the true
followers and true people of God.
To the suffering church at Smyrna, Jesus gives two commandments. Be faithful and be fearless. In Matthew 10:28 Jesus says, “And do not fear those who kill the
body. But rather fear Him who is able to
destroy both the souls and the body in hell.” The Lord Jesus Christ was (and
is?) preparing the Church for a period of suffering. Indicating ten days might be comparing a time
of suffering compared to the reward of eternity with Him in His kingdom.
What does this letter to the church at
Smyrna have to do with Believers today?
Christians around the world are being persecuted and killed for their
faith, because they do not renounce their faith in Jesus Christ. In this country persecution is happening more
and more. Deception by false preachers,
false teaching, and false doctrine is being preached in churches across this
nation. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks to
Christians today the same message – be faithful even to the point of
death! His promise to His followers has
never been we would be kept from persecution, even being killed, for our faith. His promise has always been that He would be
with us and for us to be fearless and faithful.
The reward for doing so is to receive “the crown of life”
and to “not be hurt
by the second death” (that is spending eternity
in hell). This crown is translated to mean
the wreath worn by the winner of a game or event. Just to be clear the first death is about the
body. The second death concerns the soul
and where we spend eternity.
There was no condemnation for this church. Will we see persecution as Christians before
the Lord sounds the trumpet and raptures His Church? It has already begun and time will only tell
to what severity Christians in this country will experience it. Jesus’ words sound loud and clear, “Do not
fear and stand strong in your faith in Him!”
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