Lessons from Smyrna

Lessons from

SmyrnaRevelation 2:8-11

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Jesus’ Letters to the Seven ChurchesEphesus

Smyrna

Pergamum

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

Revelation 1Who is Jesus?Son of manProphet, Priest and King

Revelation 2-3What Jesus expects of his Church

Structure of the Letters1 Destination

2 Description of Christ

3 Commendation

4 Rebuke

5 Exhortation

6 Warning

7 Promise

1 Destination 2:8a angel of the church in Smyrna

2 Description of Christ 2:8b the First and the Last, who died and came to life again

3 Commendation 2:9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan

4 Rebuke

5 Exhortation 2:10a Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer

6 Warning 2:10b I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days

7 Promise 2:10c-11 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death

Persecution in Smyrna (context)

Judaism, Christianity and Imperial Worship

Persecution in Smyrna (result) v. 9 & 10

•Afflictions•Economic

poverty• Imprisonment•Death

Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155 AD)

Martyrdom of Polycarp

Persecution of Christians worldwide

Persecution of Christians worldwide

1. North Korea2. Saudi Arabia3. Afghanistan4. Iraq5. Somalia6. Maldives7. Mali8. Iran9. Yemen10.Eritrea

Is there persecution of Christians in Malaysia?

1. North Korea 2. Saudi Arabia 3. Afghanistan 4. Iraq 5. Somalia 6. Maldives 7. Mali 8. Iran 9. Yemen 10. Eritrea 11. Syria 12. Sudan 13. Nigeria 14. Pakistan 15. Ethiopia 16. Uzbekistan 17. Libya 18. Laos 19. Turkmenistan 20. Qatar 21. Vietnam 22. Oman 23. Mauritania 24. Tanzania 25. Egypt

26. United Arab Emirates 27. Brunei 28. Bhutan 29. Algeria 30. Tunisia 31. India 32. Burma (Myanmar) 33. Kuwait 34. Jordan 35. Bahrain 36. Palestinian Territories 37. China 38. Azerbaijan 39. Morocco 40. Kenya 41. Comoros 42. Malaysia 43. Djibouti 44. Tajikistan 45. Indonesia 46. Colombia 47. Uganda 48. Kazakhstan 49. Kyrgyzstan 50. Niger

Responding to Persecution• Denial• Flee

o Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt (Matt 2:13-14) o disciples told to flee (Matt 10:23)o Paul over the Damascus wall in a basket (Acts 9:24)

• Stay and Endureo Peacemaking (Matt 5:9; 5:38-48)o Overcome evil with good (Rom 12:19-21)o Accepting martyrdom for Jesus’ sake (Matt 16:25)

• Appeal to Authorities – Legal Rightso Paul appealed to Caesar (Acts 22 &25)o Exercise legal rights to be protected

1 Destination 2:8a angel of the church in Smyrna

2 Description of Christ 2:8b the First and the Last, who died and came to life again

3 Commendation 2:9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan

4 Rebuke

5 Exhortation 2:10a Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer

6 Warning 2:10b I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days

7 Promise 2:10c-11 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death

Lessons from Smyrna: Faithfulness in Persecution

•Be at peace in the midst of storms – God is in control (Mark 4:35-41; Acts 27:25; Daniel 6:21-23; Revelation 14:12)

Acts 27: 13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they

had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed

along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force,

called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. 15 The ship was

caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way

to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island

called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure.

17 When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship

itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the

sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven

along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day

they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw

the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor

stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally

gave up all hope of being saved.

21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before

them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete;

then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I

urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only

the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and

whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must

stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all

who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God

that it will happen just as he told me.


•Be at peace in the midst of storms – God is in control (Mark 4:35-41; Acts 27:25; Daniel 6:21-23; Revelation 14:12)•Keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2-3)

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and

perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the

cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the

throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from

sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


•Be at peace in the midst of storms – God is in control (Mark 4:35-41; Acts 27:25; Daniel 6:21-23; Revelation 14:12)•Keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2-3)•Present suffering future glory (Rom. 8: 28-30)

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of

those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the

likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also

justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

• Revelation 2:8-11

Storm in the Sea of GalileeRembrandt


•Be at peace in the midst of storms – God is in control (Mark 4:35-41; Acts 27:25; Daniel 6:21-23; Revelation 14:12)•Keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2-3)•Present suffering future glory (Rom. 8: 28-30)

Lessons from Smyrna

Spiritual

Transcript of Lessons from Smyrna