Suffering - Revelation 2:10

Revelation 2:10 says, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Jesus is telling this Church of Smyrna that they are about to suffer persecution. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

I guess the question should be, “Is it in God’s plan that Christians suffer?” The answer is, “Yes.” That cannot be denied. I often hear Christians say "Satan, we bind you in the name of Jesus!" But we must understand something. Just because you want to bind him does not automatically mean that God wants to bind him. Sometimes God does allow Satan to do things out of his sovereignty that we cannot stop. Jesus told the Church of Smyrna to be faithful unto death! 

First, I think of the story of Job in the Old Testament. In Job 1:6-12 it says, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them…And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?...And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” Did God allow Job to suffer? Yes.

Second, I think of Peter in the New Testament. Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22:31-32, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Notice that Jesus did not pray that Peter would be delivered from the “sifting” that was to come, but that his faith would not fail him when it was over.

Third, I also think of Paul the apostle said in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, "…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Wouldn't it have been great if Job, Peter, and Paul could have all just have bound Satan and averted their suffering? Job would have never had such a horrible time by losing everything he owned, his children, and his bodily suffering. Peter could have avoided his three denials. Paul could have escaped the thorn in his flesh. But that was not in God’s plan for their lives. James said in James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” God used their suffering to perfect them. Maturity in the faith comes with the realization that God often allows Satan to buffet us for His divine purposes.

Finally, notice that the Christians in Smyrna were promised that if they were faithful in their testing and persevered unto death that they would receive the crown of life. The Bible speaks of five crowns that can be received by all Christians based upon their faithfulness in this life. The first crown is the Imperishable Crown spoken of in 1 Corinthians 9:25. The second crown is the Crown of Rejoicing spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 2:19. The third crown is the Crown of Righteousness spoken of in 2 Timothy 4:8. The fourth crown is the Crown of Life spoken of here in Revelation 2:10 and in James 1:12. And the fifth crown is the Crown of Glory that is given to pastors spoken of in 1 Peter 5:4. And what will we do with them when we get them? Throw them at His feet (Revelation 4:4 and 11)!

Health and Wealth - Revelation 2:9-10

Let’s pick it up today in Revelation 2:9 where it says, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” I want to take a look at a few things in this verse. First, notice that the Lord says that He knows their works, tribulation, and poverty. Many people believe that they live in poverty today. But the word Jesus uses here means to be completely destitute and having nothing at all. Can you imagine being a Christian in a time and place that you couldn't get a job because of your faith in Christ? A place where your property and belongings were confiscated because you had decided to follow Jesus? This was an everyday reality to the Christians in Smyrna. Thank God we live in a nation where we are free to worship God without fear of persecution.

Notice that Jesus doesn't tell them the lie that we so often here in the church today. "Oh, if only you had a little more faith brother, or repented of that sin, then you'd be healthy, wealthy, and wise!" On the contrary, Jesus said in Matthew 8:20, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Those who propagate this false message would do well to read 1 Tim 6:3-5 where Paul said, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” Did you see that? We need to withdraw from anyone who teaches that godliness is a means of gain or getting rich.

Instead, it goes on to say in 1 Timothy 6:6-11, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Godliness with contentment is great gain.

On another note, it’s interesting that they felt they were poor and Jesus had to remind them that they were rich. Later we will see in the last days Church of Laodicea (that’s the one we’re living in right now) that they felt they were rich and Jesus will remind them that they are poor when He says in Revelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” 

Notice also that the Lord says that he knows the “blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” The Apostle Paul said in Romans 2:28-29, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Jesus also had a confrontation with the Jews over this subject in John 8:37-44. The Jews spoke of here were those who had religion on the outside, but no heart for God on the inside. There are many of those running around the church today as well.

Now let’s look at Revelation 2:10 where it says, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Jesus is telling this church that they are about to suffer persecution. We will talk about it more next time.

Prayer: Positions and Hindrances

Today we continue on our subject of prayer by taking a look at positions and hindrances.

Martyrdom - Revelation 2:8

Today we are introduced to the second Church of Smyrna. Let’s pick it up in Revelation 2:8 where it says, “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”

At this time Rome had mandated the worship of Caesar. The city of Smyrna had built a temple for the worship of Tiberius Caesar and every citizen in Smyrna had to burn an incense offering to Caesar and state publicly that he was the supreme Lord, under the penalty of death. After doing this, the citizen would receive an official certification that verified their pledge of loyalty and worship. Of course, the Christians and Jews in Smyrna couldn't say that Caesar was the Lord as that they knew he was not and that it would constitute idolatry. The Bible says in Exodus 20: 3-5, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…”

As a result, Smyrna produced many martyrs. They were burned at the stake and killed by wild beasts.  One of the most famous Christians in the 2nd century was Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna. He was the pastor of the church at this time. The Romans eventually burned him at the stake for refusing to worship Caesar. History tells us that the Roman authorities said, “Curse Christ and I will release you." In response Polycarp said, "Eighty-six years I have served Him. He had never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?" They then burned him at the stake.

The word "Smyrna" is directly descended from the Hebrew word "Myrrh." Myrrh is a gum that comes from cutting the bark off a certain tree. Then it is crushed to yield its perfume-like aroma. This perfumed Myrrh is used for embalming.  In this way, myrrh is symbolic of death. Remember the three gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus? They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These three gifts were both symbolic and prophetic. Gold is a metal which is always associated in the Bible with kingly rule. Frankincense was the spice that was used by the priests in the temple. Myrrh was the spice that was used in embalming bodies for burial. By bringing gold, the Magi were proclaiming that Christ would be a king. By bringing frankincense, the Magi were proclaiming that Christ would be a priest. By bringing myrrh, the Magi were proclaiming that Christ would be put to death.  Jesus was a prophet, priest and king! Exactly thirty-three years after He was born, arrested and convicted by an illegal trial, He was killed on a cross between two thieves. 

This is also hinted at to this church when the title that Jesus Christ used to describe Himself was "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive." The prophet Isaiah prophesied that one day again the Lord will receive some of these same gifts in Isaiah 60:6 where it says, "All those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news of the praises of the Lord." Notice that the gifts will not include myrrh this time.  That’s because He will never die again!

Notice the term "first and the last." Jesus had used this expression in chapter 1 when He said in 1:17, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last." He also called himself the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet in 1:8 when He said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega." There are a couple of fascinating things hidden in the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures in regards to this "first and last" title. Alpha in this sentence is the word "Alpha" spelled out. But the Omega is the singular letter Omega. It is a linguistic picture, indicating that the beginning has been completed, but the ending is still yet to be. There is so much to learn while studying the Bible!

Prayer: Motivations and Belief

We continue our study on the issue of our prayers being answered as long as they are for the right reasons and asked in belief.

Prayer: Thy Will Be Done

Today we see that God does indeed hear our prayers, but will only answer them if what we are asking for is according to His will.

Answered Prayer - Luke 18:1

Today we continue our study in the area of prayer by starting to take a look at some of the promises that are found in the Bible in regards to answered prayer.