Sermon Notes - Revelation 2:8-11 - Letter to Smyrna - Littleby Baptist Church - May 16, 2021

 1.     Introduction

a.      As we looked at the Letter to Ephesus we saw:

                                                    i.     They had a lot of good things going for them, but they were missing something.

                                                  ii.     Solid doctrine is critical, but it is not enough.

                                                iii.     Serving others is key, but it is not enough.

                                                iv.     Casting out false teaching and teachers is necessary, but still not enough.

                                                  v.     Believing itself is not enough.

                                                vi.     We need to love God with all that we are and Love Others as we have been commanded.

2.     The Letter to Smyrna

a.      Smyrna was built on the site of a city that was destroyed in 600BC by the successor of Alexander the Great.

b.     Smyrna is a coastal town 35 miles north of Ephesus.

c.      Today while Ephesus is in ruins, Smyrna still exists.

d.     Called Izmir in Turkey with a population of roughly 3M.

3.     Someone famous from Smyrna was Saint Polycarp.

a.      Was likely in his 20s when this letter was sent.

b.     Was recorded as a disciple of John the Apostle.

c.      Referenced Paul’s Letter to the Philippians in his own writings.

d.     Became the Bishop of Smyrna and there is speculation that he was the messenger the letter was sent to.

e.      Polycarp was martyred for not burning incense to the Roman Emperor.

f.      What is believed to be a miracle, which is one of the reasons he has become a saint, was they attempted to burn him at the stake, but fire would not touch his body. He was eventually stabbed with a dagger or spear. Some accounts say a dove flew out of the fire when he died, and others say his blood extinguished the fires.

g.     Might be some embellishment in the stories of his martyrdom, but I think no one could question his faith in Jesus until the very end.

4.     Revelation 2:8

a.      Jesus telling John who to write to.

b.     First and Last, Alpha and Omega.

                                                    i.     The beginning, the end, and everything in between.

c.      Dead and come to life.

                                                    i.     The one who sacrificed all.

                                                  ii.     The resurrected one, who is now seen in all of His glory.

                                                iii.     Revelation 1:13-15

5.     Revelation 2:9

a.      Have known affliction and poverty – Christ understood what they were dealing with.

                                                    i.     Persecution.

                                                  ii.     Extreme Poverty.

                                                iii.     Hebrews 10:32-34 – Persecuted and Poor because of being followers of Christ.

b.     You are rich – Extremely poor, but rich in the promises of God.

                                                    i.     James 2:5 – poor in the world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God.

c.      Know those who slander but are of Satan.

                                                    i.     Persecuted by pagan gentiles.

                                                  ii.     Persecuted by Jews who hated Christ followers.

                                                iii.     The actions of the Jews in Smyrna were so bad that Jesus said they were a part of the synagogue of Satan.

                                                iv.     Instead of following God, instead of being God’s people, they were the followers and instruments of the Great Accuser.

d.     The church of Smyrna may have suffered much on this side of eternity, but the rewards they will receive in Glory will be magnificent.

                                                    i.     We will suffer persecution in this life, but as we remain faithful to our Jesus we will be rewarded.

e.      Think of the apostasy that must have crept into the Jewish people for Jesus to talk about them in such a way.

                                                    i.     Apostasy is the turning away from our God.

                                                  ii.     As we look at these 7 churches, we will see some of that same apostasy.

                                                iii.     As we look at people we know, are going to see apostasy.

                                                iv.     If we look at our own lives, we may not see apostasy, but if we are honest, we might see apathy.

1.     We may be showing a lack of interest or enthusiasm for our Lord Jesus and what He is doing in our lives.

2.     Might be that we have parts of our lives that we try to keep to ourselves.

3.     Might try to check our faith at the door, as we go hang out with our buddies.

                                                  v.     If we are not careful our apathy, our lack of interest, can turn into apostasy.

1.     Choosing things over Jesus starts us down the path of turning away from Jesus.

f.      The church in Smyrna being persecuted by the Jewish people, can teach us a lot.

6.     Most of the seven churches are rebuked by Jesus for something.

a.      Church of Smyrna was not.

b.     In the face of persecution, they remained faithful.

c.      You might say that the persecution strengthened their faith.

d.     It can be easy to slip away, for apathy to creep in when everything is perfect.

e.      But we tend to draw closer to Jesus when that overwhelming hill is before us.

7.     Revelation 2:10

a.      Psalm 56:3-4

                                                    i.     Don’t be afraid – Trust in God.

b.     Devil is about throw some into prison and you will experience affliction.

                                                    i.     Persecution is going to continue.

                                                  ii.     When it hits your faith will be tested.  

c.      Ten days –Suffering will happen for a time, but ultimately it is only temporary.

                                                    i.     It may last for days, weeks, months, or years.

                                                  ii.     It may last for our time on this earth.

                                                iii.     It will NOT last when we join our Jesus in Glory.

                                                iv.     Knowing that our suffering is temporary, does not always help when we are walking through it, but it is a truth we can hold on to.

1.     The things we are dealing with are for a time.

2.     One way or another we will end up on the other side of them.

d.     Be faithful to the point of death – Jesus is encouraging the church to remain faithful.

                                                    i.     Continue to stand on the promises of God.

                                                  ii.     Continue to embrace Jesus regardless of what is coming your way.

                                                iii.     The earthly cost may be all you can give.

                                                iv.     Ultimately trust in God.

e.      Receive a crown of life – James 1:12

f.      As we stand for God, as we put our trust in Him during our trials and tribulations, as we count on His faithfulness, as we endure what this life throws our way, as we withstand the arrows of the evil one… our faith is rewarded by our Jesus.

g.     Never told this life is easy.

h.     Never told we will not face trials, actually told the opposite.

i.       The only way we can survive is by depending on Jesus.

j.       Matthew 11:30 – ‘For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

k.     This life will knock us down.

                                                    i.     If we hit our knees when that happens.

                                                  ii.     If we trust in Jesus.

                                                iii.     If we surrender to Him.

                                                iv.     He will see us through.

8.     Revelation 2:11

a.      Ears to hear to what the Spirit says.

                                                    i.     As was stated in chapter one, ‘blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it.’

                                                  ii.     Luke 11:28 – Jesus said something similar during His ministry on earth.

b.     We need to listen to the words of God so that we can be Encouraged, Strengthened, and Comforted.

c.      Conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

                                                    i.     They Smyrnaeans were told that life is going to be hard, but if they stayed faithful, they would be blessed.

                                                  ii.     Those that follow Jesus.

                                                iii.     Those that keep the word of God.

                                                iv.     Will not face the second death, they will not be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the age.

                                                  v.     If we remain in Christ, He will never leave us or forsake us.

9.     Closing

a.      Jesus’ letter to Smyrna is a great reminder that we need to remain faithful.

b.     We do not know what the future holds.

c.      Persecution will come.

d.     BUT so is Our Jesus!

e.      Life may not always be fun, but we can count on Our Lord.

f.      Nothing that happens on this side of eternity can impact the Hope we have in Jesus.

g.     Nothing the devil does can steal our Joy if we remain faithful.

h.     This life is temporary, the next one is forever.

God Bless,

Robert