Well, if you're a visitor tonight, we are working through the book of Revelation, and we return to our study in the book of Revelation after a few weeks, and tonight we come to chapter 2, last book of the Bible, the church in Smyrna. And I will be reading these verses 8 through 11, the second church that's dealt with here in chapter 2. This is Revelation chapter 2, beginning at verse 8. This is the word of the Lord. And for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. And there's the reading of God's Word tonight. May the Lord bless the hearing of His Word. I began last time in our study in the seven churches here in this book of Revelation, this last book of the Bible, by observing that already in the first century, the churches were not in good condition. It's kind of shocking because we would expect, right, that the churches of Jesus Christ would be full and they would be glowing and that there would be no problems. But when we study the witness of the New Testament, We see exact opposite realities explained to us, don't we? You remember what Corinth was like? They had become the worldly church. They had become the church that bought into all the wrong things using the cultural methods of the society and the great wow stuff to try to win people to Jesus, thinking it was all about the show. We have so many churches in the New Testament that Jesus is showing us in the witness of the New Testament that there were many problems. But that's not to say that Christ was only about observing the faults in churches. And that's why I love coming to this second church tonight in the book of Revelation. That's what makes the church in Smyrna fascinating to study. Jesus has a lot of positive to say about this church. Oh sure, it was a church just like every other church that's full of sinners. But the amazing thing about this second church in the book of Revelation is Jesus has no criticism for her. Where do you find it? I find that really moving and something to capitalize on for a minute that he's not criticizing this group. There are churches out there and this should encourage us to think about there are churches out there that are being very faithful to their mission, the Great Commission. They're being very faithful to the witness that Jesus calls them to give. And we need to hear that, don't we? We need to hear that the Lord has commendations. The Lord's just not about exposing all the sin, but about also commending and building up and encouraging and pointing out the good that His churches do do. And that's very helpful for us tonight as we look at this second church here in Revelation. Jesus here sets apart this church to encourage them, and the message is really quite simple. he's encouraging this church to remain faithful to remain faithful to where what their message is and what they're doing to remain faithful in the midst of some very hard things that are going on and will happen to them and i love to emphasize that tonight and how the lord encourages this church that was being tested like no other church in these churches being tested like no other church and he gives them the encouragement and the commendation that they need to go forward. I want us to ask and think about tonight, why did this church receive this kind of treatment? Why is the Lord so encouraging and positive with this church? That should interest us, shouldn't it? You can understand this a little bit by comparing it to the problem that we considered in Ephesus, which was a church that had been strong doctrinally speaking, that was willing to defend the truth. But in everything they did, there was no love. They had abandoned the love that had originally drove them in their mission to be concerned about people, to be concerned of what was the heart of the ministry in taking the gospel out. Their love for Christ, their love for one another. The love had been abandoned even though they had continued to fight for all the right things well smyrna is somewhat different aren't they you could say what's remarkable about smyrna is that if ephesus left its first love smyrna kept it and i love to think about that tonight um smyrna this wonderful church in an environment of total persecution maintained what they were to be in their witness the most tested church as to their commitments and what it would cost them was the most faithful church the most the most tested church as to their commitments and what it would cost them is here shown to be the most faithful and i believe that's a a very powerful message for us I want to learn from the church in Smyrna tonight because Christ desires for them to know that He sees what they're facing, He sees what they're going through, and He's with them. He's strengthening them. Remember the imagery of Him walking among His lampstands. He's walking among His churches. He's encouraging them to remain strong in what they're doing even when there is extreme danger on the doorstep and martyrdom is knocking at the door of some of their own members. So that's the intro. Let's look at this and what Jesus is doing and saying to this church. In verse 8, we read that to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, the words of the first and the last who died and came to life. You remember what Jesus does is he's taking a description of himself from chapter 1 and he's holding it out, some particular description of himself in chapter 1 and holding it out to say to each church, I know your situation. I know what you're going through. I know what you're facing. So here he's directly applying what he went through to their situation. Right at the beginning of this letter to the church in Smyrna, he's reminding them that he died and that he rose. That he was victorious over the ultimate expression of persecution that ever happened, there was a victory that he won for them and that he had been through it. God's plan was working itself out to save them from the second death. And you'll notice that was the very end of this little section here to this church in Smyrna. We'll consider that. What was this church facing? It's fascinating to do somewhat of a historical study and background in these particular cities where these churches were. Let me give you a sense of the city. Just to the north of Ephesus, 35 miles, was the city of Smyrna. The city was known as the pride of Asia. Of all the seven cities mentioned, this one was the most glorious. In fact, there was said to have been a great rival between Ephesus, Pergamos, and Smyrna to be known as the most prestigious city in the Roman Empire. In fact, their coins in Smyrna claimed it. They dig these things up all the time over there, and we get more insight every dig they find. And in these coins, they claim that they were the first city in Asia in size and in beauty. Why is that important? Well, the simple fact that here, Smyrna had become one of the most known, loyal cities to Rome. Do you know that there was a massive temple there called the Dia Romana? And what made this temple so unique was that it was the only temple to have personified Rome as a goddess. a big massive temple sitting in this city it was a temple for worshiping rome now about 80 25 all the cities were vying for the right to build a a temple for the emperor tiberius and lo and behold smyrna was awarded the privilege so in addition to the dia romana there was a massive temple there dedicated to the Roman emperor. Tacitus, a historian, wrote in his annals that Augustus and Tiberius, emperor from 14 to 37 AD, had allowed a single temple to be erected in their honor during their lifetime. Such a temple would not only contain a statue of the ruling emperor that would be venerated in godlike fashion, but the temples were dedicated to the Roman people. This matters because it was just expected in these cities that you would worship and be involved in the cult worship of Caesar as God. It was expected. Julius Caesar had a statue built with the Latin inscription Deo Invicto, to the unconquered God. The people would walk into these temples and they would sprinkle incense on a fire and they would burn before the emperor's bust. Smyrna was a patriotic city. You had all there the emblems of Rome's great accomplishments. This would be like putting up a Smithsonian there with all the accomplishments and you would have to go to the Smithsonian and bow before the symbol of Rome. Guess what the symbol was? An eagle. It's kind of interesting, isn't it? Bow before this stuff. all of this was worked into the people it was taught to the people it was expected of the people here's christ i want undivided allegiance to me you don't bow to caesar and bow to jesus you don't bow to caesar in his kingdom and bow to jesus in his uh-uh that's not how it works jesus wanted undivided allegiance to him they couldn't worship caesar as lord behold israel the lord your god the lord is one remember that so jesus what do you think started happening well jesus recognizes it jesus observes what's happening to these christians in smyrna in their particular environment he says in verse 9 notice it i know your tribulation and your poverty but you're rich and the slander of those who say they are jews and are not but are synagogue of satan such a mouthful there he is really exposing exactly what they're going through and knows what they're facing i see what you're going through i see what you're going through in that city this church was counting the cost they it had awful consequences in smyrna they were counting the cost for their commitment to Jesus. And Jesus says, I see it. I know your works. I know your tribulation. I know your poverty. They got together as a church. They met together. They worshiped. And they said, we can't be involved as Christians in the temple cult. We can't bow to Caesar. So they did what Acts 2 said. They devoted themselves to prayer and the breaking of bread and the word. And they did this and separated themselves in this way and the city responded what began to happen well it wasn't that the church was poor because these people were just peasants with no money it was that these people had a lot and became poor because as the christians stood against things and as the christians refused to do some of these things the government began to take it well you know how easy this could all start happening don't you you know how easy this could all start happening the situation could became so bad that the only way you could share in the city's wealth and the city's prosperity was to be involved with these temples this is how even business was done so economic prosperity and social acceptance was determined by your involvement in the roman cult the worship of these things that was a great pressure for them wasn't it it's a great pressure you know the city began to ban the christians from trade the city began to ban many of you have businesses here all of a sudden your businesses are now taxed and banned and they're taking from you taking your property it's what they were doing to them taking their property taking their their trade away taking their money all for a stand and believing jesus the christians became poor i see it jesus says i see it but i want you to know you're rich i mean what an encouragement in the right in the right way isn't it that often though we have to recognize here that what is a result of poverty in this life is often going to be a direct cost of christian discipleship that's something we have to think about that often loss in this life of stuff and things is part of the cost of christian discipleship christians refuse to do this stuff they refuse to be uh involved in the shady business practices and in the things that were were going on so they lost materially and they were known as the poor church that's the first thing they faced jesus then adds another thing and i see something else i see something else i see the slander against you i see the slander by those who say they're jews but are not but are synagogue of satan Whoa. Guess who was causing all the grief for them? The Jews. Does this all sound familiar from this morning? Mark was written to Roman Christians who would face the same thing. Look at what we're looking at tonight. The Jews were the one religion exempt from the worship of the emperor. And they were exempt from that worship because Rome loved antiquity. Rome loved old stuff. Rome loved old. If you were old, you were established, you were accepted. But they didn't like new. And the way that the Jews slandered the Christians was to pitch them to Rome as a new religion, a new novel thing. And this was their way of bringing down upon the Christians, the early Christians, who claimed the Old Testament, who claimed everything of the Old Testament, but now in fulfillment, was that they were novice and new. And Jesus here recognizes exactly what they're doing to them. They say they're Jews, but I want you to know, this is so fascinating, for how Jesus looked at the New Testament church. We have a whole group out there that wants to rebuild the temple and restore the kingdom to national Israel. Jesus totally is done with that project in that way the temple is above the temple is a the jerusalem above which is the mother of us all notice how jesus says they say they're jews they're not a true jew is one inwardly whose circumcision is that of the heart and the spirit romans 2 they're not jews they're a synagogue of satan they're doing satan's will by assaulting the christians so they were totally being slandered as a sect they were slandered as deviant to the Jewish religion Jews wanted nothing to do with Christianity and Jesus says I see it this church is remarkable because it's unwavering in its commitment they're out there they're involved they're not tucked away they didn't close their doors. They're out there speaking in love to their neighbors. They're out there involved with their neighbors. They're out there taking stands. And the sufferings because of it were great. So what does Christ do? Well, He calls them to courage. He knows how discouraging this all can be. And you'll see how this applies to us here in a minute. What does He say? You'll notice that he essentially says, don't fear any of the things that you are about to suffer. And then he tells them what they're going to suffer, showing he's king. He holds the future and he is the one in charge of all that. And he says, there are certain things that are going to happen here. Look at what he says. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested and for 10 days you will have tribulation remember when i said that uh at the beginning one of the principles of revelation is to say he's borrowing and using the language of the old testament with sick uh with symbols and figures to help us understand present realities 10 days you're going to be tested what's on jesus's mind i believe this but daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's portion of delicacies nor with the wine which he drank remember this all had to do with idolatry and bowing down to things therefore he requested of the chief priests of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself remember here this is what it says please test your servants for 10 days and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink then let our appearance be examined before you and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies as you see fit so deal with your servants so he consented with them in this manner and tested them 10 days and at the end of the 10 days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies the test 10-day test and it was these very figures daniel who'd be thrown in the lion's den and not touched and and the three of his friends thrown in the fire and not touched. See, I believe the Lord's using this to say to this church, you're going to be tested, but you're going to be protected by me. I'm going to guard you. I'm going to help you. Ultimately, there's nothing the wicked can do to harm you. Ultimately, nothing. So Jesus just looks at this church that has been very faithful and standing against idolatry has suffered poverty for it has suffered slander and now he says you're really going to get it 10 days the devil himself is going to focus all his energy on you now imagine if this were here imagine tonight if this message came to the escondido urc and said 10 days and some of your very members are going to be taken out and burned at the stake sober us up a little bit wouldn't it we'd have to think about counting the cost, wouldn't we? Some of you will die. That's what Jesus just said to this church. Jesus says, this is all going to happen so that you may be tested. I think about this a lot, that often, and we don't reflect on this as we should enough, but that often the church is tested and faces periods of testing. And how do those tests usually come? Well, it usually comes in controversy, doesn't it? The church has to say something's wrong. The church has to direct people's lives. What happens when people hold tight to idols? What happens when people want to do what they want to do and elders have to step into that and say that's wrong? You know how that's viewed today. What happens when the church doesn't support certain things? what happens you ever thought that all these things that come around to a church and all of a sudden you're faced with this controversy is a test that the lord has brought on the church they're going to come you don't escape it we always say this to elders and deacons being installed you're going to get hit you're going to have a test uh the church goes through some great trial and and what happens i mean we could go down the line some member of a of maybe be a family in the church has gone out and is living in sin and now is going to face discipline and what happens everyone rallies around their family member anger happens we're gonna have all sorts of this stuff along the way we have all sorts of things and the lord is telling us that what you should expect in the life of the church are periods of testing that the devil will then come in and seek to destroy he's like a mutt a dirty dog he's like what i did the other day at the parsonage i went and stepped in it and then drug it all through the parsonage it was awful it was absolutely awful you can ask my wife we were scrubbing it up for a long time this is the devil this is what he does in the church he tracks it all through the church he disrupts the church. He uses these periods of testing. What do compromised churches do when they face these tests? Nothing. Nothing. Peace at all costs. Why rock the boat? Why rock the boat? We're going to be tested. We're going to be tested. Every church is tested in some way don't you know that it's the testing even personally of your faith that produces what perseverance you don't think that's true for the church what the devil means for evil god means for good how has this testing fared for us in the u.s how's our witness it all ties together doesn't it you know when the church has its most effective witness in the world? When under testing, when under trial, when under persecution, when you look at it and think this whole thing feels like it's going to fall apart, the Lord loves to show power right there. Always has. It's a witness to, and we don't think that way. We think, well, let's look at the numbers and the lights and the dramas and that, that's where it's happening. No, this is not the church in the phone book you'd be headed to, by the way. This church looks weak. This church looks powerless. This church is poor. The church has the most effective witness under testing. It's a witness to the gospel we confess and of who we are in the world. Do you know right now that there are very few Christian churches in Turkey and you know there are only a few as far as I know I'm only really know of one in Smyrna do you know there's a church there in Smyrna to this day you know what it's called the protestant church of Smyrna the pastor is a Westminster grad Fikrit Boschek he was interviewed by Dr. Clark and you know ISIS has threatened that church ISIS has marked that church do you know what he said in that interview you can listen to it don't pray for us not to suffer well that's what we all want to try to avoid right that's what we all pray when we have something go wrong in life take it away lord take it away he says we're ready to die for our faith and they very well could the church is often tested with hardship and persecution to train a body to remember in this world that we are to expect this it's part of discipleship that's how witness comes often because when everything's going well and everything's great you think you're out doing much no it takes times of testing to put you on your knees doesn't it takes time of testing to take away the groaning and the mumbling and to realize what's most important wasn't it jesus who said Woe to you if all men speak well of you. We all want to be the good old boys, don't we? We want everyone to like us. We want everyone to view the Escondido URC as positive and liked. Woe to you, says Jesus, if all men like you and speak well of you. For so they did the false prophets. So they do the false churches. You're going to be hated by the world. It's part of your cost. We're calling people to repent. We're saying that Jesus is the only way. Think about it. Think about this for a minute. We promote honesty in business. We promote honesty in marriage between a man and a woman for what? Life. That's what we promote. That's what we teach. Contentment, self-control, sacrifice, disciplined lives. You can't live and go do what you want. You're not your own. You're bought with a price. you don't have the right to kill the unborn god created man and a woman with different roles we disagree with the ideals of feminism because true equality comes through the gospel but god made men men and he made women women you can't destroy those distinctions we don't believe that those are worldly philosophies because we've there they're harmful to people's lives we believe bruce jenner did something harmful to his life because that's not what god made him you see those values in the world does the world value the gospel that says we're sinners and need a savior why did john the baptist get his head put on a platter john the baptist got his head put on a platter because he told herod you can't marry your brother philip's wife and she persecuted him to the grave you could avoid all that i could avoid all that but you know if you don't stand for something in your life what kind of life are you really leading i mean we all know the saying if you don't stand for something you'll believe everything what a waste of a life what a waste of a church that's no existence as a church that's no existence as a people that's a compromise people doing nothing in the world but pampering themselves and that's why the church is i believe largely ineffective in america today the great problem today is that we can avoid a lot of things if we only remain silent in what we say regarding sin so jesus says you've been faithful but i need i'm going to encourage you now to be strong in this verse 8 i'm the first and the last who was dead and came to life i died i died for speaking the truth remember jesus said that do you hate me because i tell you the truth when jesus says this here, I'm the first and the last. I wonder what went through their minds. I know where he's taken it from. He took it from Isaiah 44. Listen to Isaiah 44. Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, I am the first and the last. Besides me, there is no God. Jesus just took it to himself, didn't he? And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for me since I appointed the ancient people and the things that are coming and shall come let them show these to them do not fear nor be afraid have i not told you from that time and declared it you are my witnesses is there a god besides me there is no other there's no other rock i know not one those who make an image all of them are useless and their precious things shall not profit. They are their own witnesses. Neither, they neither see nor know that they may be ashamed. Don't fear. You're my witnesses, says Jesus. He's applying Isaiah 44 right here and saying, you're it. I died. I rose. And the Lord's saying to them, I don't want you to be fearful going forward. Don't fear. Fear's the opposite of faith. Trust me. That means a lot today, you know. I can say that pretty strongly right now, but I don't have ISIS writing letters and marking the Escondido URC, do we? What would that do? But even if it did, the Lord's message would be the same. Escondido URC, don't fear. And don't fear then in these things that we have to take a stand on. Don't be embarrassed about my truth. Don't be embarrassed about me, says Jesus. We can say boldly, Hebrews 13, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me? What's the worst thing that could happen to you? You could be martyred and go to be with Jesus. That's the worst thing that could happen to you. And most likely, nobody in this room will have to face that. Most likely. He's calling Smyrna to remember this tonight. And whatever comes their way, Stay strong in what you confess. Stay strong in what you believe. Honor the Word. Stand for truth. Flee from idolatry. Fear not Him who can kill the body. Fear Him who can kill the body and soul in hell. Remember, Jesus said that. No matter how bad it ever gets, Christ says, I hold the keys of death and Hades. I'm in control. I'm in control of the afterlife. I came. I died. I rose. Be faithful unto death and be willing to die for me. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. You know what the second death is? The second death can't touch you. The second death is hell. It's a lake of fire. It's Revelation 20. If you die, hell cannot touch you. You're mine. Feel the encouragement in the midst of this? You're not going there. I'll keep you from that. And then he says, I'll give you the crown of life. On every coin in Smyrna was the symbol of a crown or a wreath. We dig these up when we've seen this. These crowns, these wreaths. And Smyrna was notorious for crowning its most loyal, faithful, and powerful citizens of Rome. Did you hear what Jesus just said? I have a crown for you. I have a reward for you. I'm going to crown you with life. I need to hear that. He encourages us tonight as a church. Be faithful. I want to close with this. You know what happened to Smyrna? Well, you've heard of his name. His name is Polycarp. Here's the record from Asebius. In AD 156, the bishop, the pastor of this church, had to flee outside the city to hide from the Romans who wanted to take him out. When they tracked him down, he didn't run. And I think I got some of this from Fox's Book of Martyrs. You don't know what Fox's Book of Martyrs is. It was the, we just have a condensed version today. It's a three large folio volume set that was produced in around the year 1570 and was outside the Bible one of the most read works in Protestantism. But here's the record. When they tracked him down, he didn't run. This is Polycarp. He fed them. the officer brought him back to the to the city and pleaded with him what harm can it do just make a sacrifice to the emperor just do it he could not they brought him to the city's amphitheater and they said swear by the genius of caesar and he'll release you revile christ here's polycarp's response when polycarp was an old man a flurry of persecution broke out in smyrna 14 christians were seized think of the 10 day 14 christians were seized and dragged to the public arena where they were fed to wild beasts all but one died gloriously even slapping the animal who was too lazy to attack him the crowd began to shout for polycarp when they brought polycarp in they said to him swear by the fortune of caesar repent declare death to the atheists These Christians, you call them death to the atheists. Here's what he said. I've served Jesus for 86 years. He's never done me any wrong. Why then should I blaspheme against my King and my Savior? If you do not repent, I'll have you burned at the stake. You threaten me with fire that burns for an hour and then dies down. But do you know the eternal fire of the justice that is to come and devour the ungodly? Come, don't delay. Do with me what you will. Here's Assebius' record of his prayer before his death. Father of your beloved and blessed Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the knowledge of you, I bless you that you have counted me worthy of this day and hour that I might be in the number of the martyrs. Among these, may I be received before you today in a rich and acceptable sacrifice as you have beforehand prepared and revealed. Wherefore, I also praise you also for everything. I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal high priest Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, through whom with him in the Holy Spirit be glory unto you both now and for the ages to come. Eusebius adds, when he had offered up his amen and had finished his prayer, the fireman lighted the fire and he went to be with the Lord. Second death didn't touch him. I hope that helps tonight to think about a persecuted church around the world. To think of Jesus' promise for all of His people. He died. He rose again. He's with us. He'll never leave us nor forsake us. Don't fear what you have to do. Don't fear and be embarrassed about who you are. Jesus is your King. He loves you. he's going to bring you home one day. Let's pray to him. Thank you. Lord, thank you for instructing us in light of this church and its struggle. And we realize that it's all grace. That even these good works that are prepared beforehand that we should walk in them, if we were ever to face these things, it would be by your grace that we stand. For even Peter and his struggle denied in this hour, and yet later would go and offer himself up as a sacrifice, not to pay for sins, but thankful for the sacrifice ultimately that was made to free him forever from judgment. Give us the faith to believe your promises. And as a church, may we be a faithful body when we're tested to do it all in love, remembering the problem in Ephesus, but to remember that it is part of counting the cost to be Christians, to be followers of Jesus. But what a privilege it is. Thank You that we have an identity and we have a hope that is secure for us, an anchor for the soul. And that You have promised, as Peter wrote on the inspiration of the Spirit, that heaven is reserved for Your people. Thank You, Father, for encouraging us tonight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.