Letter to the Church in Smyrna

{Revelation 2:8-11}

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

"'I know your tribulation and your poverty ( but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 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 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.'

[Rev. Dwight Yoo]

Smyrna was a large city. It was fully of loyalists to Rome. It was dangerous to be a Christian in this city. The jews incited the people against the christians.

In verse 8, Jesus introduces Himself as "the first and the last". Because the Christians were under such intense persecution, Christ introduces himself to reassure his people. He is in control of everything. Many followers would be killed, so Christ says he was in control of life & death.

In verse 9-10, the christians are the ones who have been stripped of rights. They were no longer citizens of Rome, so therefore they could not run businesses. They had no rights or privileges and were not protected by Roman law. Jesus is saying that because these people were faithful to Christ even to intense persecution and the point of death, they will inherit from God. "Ten days" refers to a brief time of suffering. This is not a time where they will be rescued... they will die in prison. But they will have eternal life.

Applications are difficult in our context. We are not being persecuted to death.
So I will give three applications to how we can handle suffering.

1. Jesus calls us to live in the reality of His Truth, rather than false perceptions. (Illustrations:Matrix, & The Truman show)
   
2. Jesus calls us to recognize & resist a real enemy, over whom we have real victory. (Satan is working against the kingdom of God)
   
3. Jesus does not save us from every problem, but He saved us from our greatest problem. (Our problems are not all instantly solved. But we are reconciled to God...)
   

Secondary summary: Why we suffer...

• Suffering reveals the children of God. (1 Peter 4:12)
• Suffering makes us perfect. (Romans 5:3)
• Suffering draws us closer to the heart of God. (Romans 8:28)