WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE PERSECUTED

Revelation 2:8-11
Bob Bonner
September 26, 2005

Slander, lies, ridicule and ruining of reputations. Few experiences in life are more frustrating than this kind of injustice. If you consider your reputation something to be valued and then find that you have been falsely or wrongly accused and, to make matters worse, discover that you have no recourse to defend yourself, that’s upsetting. Oftentimes, by the time you discover that someone is spreading lies about you, there is no way to set the record straight. Too many people have heard the lies, and then repeated them and the false report about you spreads. In the end, the damage done by a smear campaign often cannot be undone.

When an employee is fired because he/she will not lie, cheat or manipulate, that’s another injustice that’s hard to take. When a student refuses to use drugs, or chooses to remain sexually pure and is ridiculed for his/her choices or is accused of being gay and is rejected, that is painful.

Rejection, injustice and persecution that comes because we want to obey and honor Jesus Christ is especially hard to work through. Today, you or someone you know is having to live with such circumstances. As a Christian, how can one face or work through persecution, rejection and the suffering that goes along with injustices? How can we maintain the joy of the Lord when these hardships come our way? That’s what we want to see this morning as we continue our study of the book of Revelation, and in particular, as we look closely at Jesus Christ’s letter to the church at Smyrna.

Contextually, we are looking at the second of seven letters that Jesus Christ had recorded and sent to seven different historical churches in Asia minor. At the end of each letter, Jesus writes something similar to what He wrote in verse 7, which states, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This verse, and the fact that it refers to “churches,” not just to the specific church mentioned in the letter points out that Christ’s intention for each of these letters was not only for them to be read by the individual church to whom it had been addressed, but they are also intended for all of the churches down through history to read and to take instruction from. In addition, because Jesus also states in the singular, “He who has an ear, let him hear...” Jesus reveals that He wants each of us as individuals to takes seriously these words as to how they apply to us as individuals.

Keeping in mind that these letters are written to us and have some beneficial personal instruction for our lives today, let’s read Christ’s personal letter to the congregation of believers in Smyrna, beginning with verse 8 and ending with verse 11, and then come back to look at it in detail. Jesus, in verse 8, instructs the Apostle John, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy [literally, the slander of others] by those who say 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 cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until 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. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”

Today, the third largest city in Turkey is the busy seaport of Izmir. It is a major trade center and home to the NATO southern command headquarters and the prestigious Aegean University. During the first century, Izmir was known by another name. It was called Smyrna.

Smyrna claimed to be the birthplace of Homer and its coins bore Homer’s image. From around 100 B.C. to about 300 A.D., Smyrna was a wealthy commercial city renowned for its faithfulness to Rome and particularly to Caesar. In A.D. 26, when several cities were competing for the privilege of erecting a temple in honor of Emperor Tiberius, Smyrna was granted the honor. Smyrna was an important center of the Roman imperial cult, and anyone living there who refused to acknowledge Caesar as Lord would certainly feel the effects of persecution. For some, it meant that their travel was restricted. For others, it meant being excluded from the guilds or unions. Some found their shops, businesses and homes vandalized and looted, in which case, their very livelihood would have been destroyed. If that didn’t get their attention to renounce Christ and bow to Caesar, their property was confiscated.

A large colony of Jews lived in Smyrna with considerable influence upon the civil and political authorities. Because they were an established religion approved of by Rome, these Jews did not have to patronize the imperial cult. Like the Romans, they had no use for Christians. They disliked the Christians because they had evangelized and drawn so many Jews away from them to becoming followers of Christ, that the numbers in their synagogues were clearly shrinking. As a result of their hatred for Christians, the Jews joined with the gentiles in the persecution of the Christians. Note that Jesus tells us that this was no ordinary persecution by the Jews; but apparently, Satan was working through the local Jewish synagogue, for it was called “the synagogue of Satan.” Satan, as he has done down through history, although it be behind the scenes, was stirring up trouble for Christians.

In the end, the Christians in Smyrna were getting it from both sides, from the Jews and the gentiles. Furthermore, Jesus acknowledges that the Christians in Smyrna were the target of a smear campaign which originated with the Jews. He tells us that they “blasphemed,” literally, slandered the Christians. Lies were being told about Christians and as a result, their reputations were being ruined. Because of these Jews’ actions, Jesus declares that they were “false Jews”—those who were of the physical genetic descendants of Abraham, people who attended the synagogue at Smyrna, but as evidenced by their lives, lacked the spiritual insight and integrity of their father Abraham.

Eventually, the persecution became so severe that Christians were actually executed for their faith. Many years after the Apostle John’s death, the Jewish leadership along with some of the gentiles formed a mob and called for the death of one of John’s disciples, a famous elder of the church at Smyrna named Polycarp. Polycarp was subsequently executed in 166 A.D., which adds to the verification that John must have recorded the book of Revelation sometime around the end of the first century.

Yet with all of that suffering and persecution, note the name of the city. I believe it holds a spiritual object lesson for us. First, “Smyrna” means “myrrh” which was an ordinary perfume. As a spice taken from the bark of a myrrh tree, myrrh only releases its aromatic fragrance when it is bruised or crushed.

What a tremendous picture this is of the believers who lived there during these times. The more they were crushed, bruised and martyred, the farther the fragrance of Jesus Christ was spread throughout the region. But not only was their fragrance, their myrrh, spread throughout their community, but it also became a sweet aroma of Christ to God.

So notable was God’s favor toward these Christians undergoing tremendous suffering that there is not found one negative comment or rebuke of these faithful Christians in Smyrna. This stands in stark, striking contrast with Christ’s evaluations of five of the other six churches, which He had strongly rebuked.

Furthermore, Smyrna’s sufferings, though extremely difficult, had helped keep these believers focused and pure in their faith and service for Jesus Christ. We can learn a great lesson from history about suffering. Suffering does not necessarily turn one bitter toward God. Rather, history teaches us that when Christians seek the Lord during harsh times, righteous suffering often produces a deeper faith, a more purpose-filled and a more rewarding life here as well as in eternity. Even though there is momentary affliction and maybe even martyrdom, third-world Christians who today are suffering for their faith, declare that their love for Christ, their commitment to serving Him, and even loving and reaching out to their torturers gives them a greater sense of joy.

But how can that be? How could these Christians continue to suffer such injustices, rejection, ridicule and even death without retaliating or denying the faith or without compromising their beliefs? The answer to that is found in these verses, Christ’s words of encouragement to these and all Christians who face injustice due to following Christ.

Imagine that you were one of these suffering Christians at Smyrna and you hear these words? How would these words affect your inner man? Christ states, “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation...’” What a comfort it must have been to these Christians, to be sent a letter from Jesus Christ Himself, telling them that He knew all about them and the sufferings they endured in their service to Jesus. He saw everything that was happening to them and He cared.

Sometimes we think that what we do is not important or is too insignificant to be noticed by the eternal God. But here, we learn otherwise. These faithful believers could take comfort in knowing that God not only saw what they were doing, but their powerful, all-seeing God was allowing these bitter times in their lives for His righteous purposes. Although they probably did not know what specific purposes He had in mind, at least they knew that their suffering was not in vain. The personal, “I-care-about-you” God is overseeing one’s life.

Because some of us at times are called to enduring suffering of various kinds for Jesus’ sake doesn’t mean that we have been forgotten by God. He wants us to remember that no matter what lie Satan may whisper in our ear during tough times, this lie that “God doesn’t see or care about what we are going through” is just that...a lie!

In addition, Jesus gets specific. He informs these Smyrnians that He is very much aware of their earthly “poverty.” The term He chooses for “poverty” is the Greek word for “extreme poverty, possessing nothing.” In other words, Jesus is telling them, “I am fully aware, that because of Me, you are living a destitute life right now.” But even though they were very needy as to this world’s goods, Jesus adds that they were “rich” in knowing the wonderful promises of God. I’m reminded of James’ words in 2:5, in which he uses these same words for “poverty and rich.” James writes, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

While these followers of Christ are suffering, they are seeing small daily miracles in their lives that increase their ability to trust Christ, and in turn, they become richer in their faith, even though some of their earthly circumstances may get worse.

Furthermore, He reminds them that it is not all about life here on earth. This is a temporal life we live here and it will one day pass away. But in the future, there is a kingdom in which they will live forever and be rewarded, because He promises it to be so. And because Jesus reminds them that He “was dead, and has come to life...” they have no need to fear even death or martyrdom, because the one who was crucified, died and raised Himself back up to life will be the one who will resurrect them into His presence when they die. They can be assured that this life is not all there is. But after they die, there will be something better to come.

One of the lessons driven home to me while teaching in the various countries in Latin America is to see this “richness in faith” in the lives of our very poor brothers and sisters in Christ. Although most of them would be considered ignorant of what the Word of God says about many subjects, relative to what many of you know of the Word of God or have memorized, what they do know of the Word and working of God and His promises has translated into a depth of faith, confidence and stability that I only dream of. Are they destitute? Yes, many of them. Yet, they are filled with joy, knowing they are deeply loved by God and that this world is not all there is. They have much hope today, based on God’s promises for their future and living with Him. It is humbling to serve amongst such a people. I come away from them having learned more lessons and having been more challenged in my faith than they probably have been encouraged by what I have taught them.

Notice Jesus’ exhortation, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer.” Ease, prosperity and happiness are nowhere promised to the Christian in this life. Those members of the “happiness cult” who justify their sin, living their lives doing what brings pleasure to them say, “But God or Jesus would want me to be happy,” have not read the Word of God. God never promises us happiness here in this world. Happiness is based on our earthly circumstances, and much of life is filled with disastrous, shocking events that crush our dreams and expectation. Joy in the Lord is something completely different than happiness governed by our immediate circumstances. Joy is the result of our keeping our eyes and hopes focused on that which is eternal and that which will forever be good. As a result of joy, there comes with it that deep down settled peace, mixed with rich satisfaction based upon who you know and what He says is true about you and your life here and in the hereafter.

Along with James, the Apostle Paul reminds Christians about the expected reality of suffering for Jesus Christ while we live here on earth. In 2 Timothy 3:12, he writes, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” In other words, suffering as a direct result of submitting your life to Jesus Christ is not an option. But you may be thinking, “Well, I haven’t really suffered very much for Christ.” Cheer up...you will!

I often wonder if the reason many do not experience much in the way of suffering for Jesus is rooted in our fear of speaking up for Christ because we might be rejected. Maybe it is the reason so many Christians choose to be inactive rather than active in their service for Christ.

Contrary to those who are members of the “happiness cult” Jesus warns believers to expect persecution from this hostile world as well as from Satan himself. Did you know that the word for “martyr” comes from the Greek word for “witness?” In Acts 1:5, Jesus calls us to be His witnesses to the end of the earth. We are to be His witnesses even if it means dying for Him.

It’s one thing for us to suffer for Christ and to be reminded that He sees it and cares about us and is at work in the midst of our suffering. It is important also to know that one day, even if we suffer a martyr’s death, that Jesus will raise us from the dead. But is that enough to get us through the fires of persecution?

Most of us have wondered what we would do if we were faced with serious injustices for following after Jesus, if we were faced with lingering persecution or a lingering death. We wonder whether or not we would have the strength of faith to endure, especially if we think our enemies are going to get away with torturing us. In light of that, Jesus tells us that we can find strength to endure, one day at a time, as we reflect on the truth that Jesus is also the “First and the Last.” What does that mean to us ?

It means that Jesus existed before this world was created, before we rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden and He will continue to exist forever, long after our persecutors die. Furthermore, because He is the “First and the Last” and because He is and will be the righteous judge come judgment day, we can be assured that the “First and the Last” will make sure that those who persecute Christians will get what’s coming to them. Hence, vengeance is God’s and He will repay those who have harmed His believers. So, the “First and the Last,” not only cares and knows what’s going on all around us, but the He will be there when our persecutors are gone and they will answer to Him for their evil actions.

Jesus says that those who persecute Christians will experience the “second death.” The “second death” refers to that final and eternal separation from God experienced by those who refuse to submit their lives to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The “lake of fire” is a literal situation describing the eternal pain one will feel as a result of being separated from God and thus from every and anything that is good and brings pleasure and purpose.

Of this situation, Ray Stedman writes, “The “second death” involves complete, eternal separation from God, a torment of soul and spirit that is so devastating that it is depicted by the effect that fire has on the nerve endings of the human body. It is the fate demanded by those who say, ‘I don’t want anything to do with God. I don’t want God in my life.’ The God of love, of grace, of mercy, the God who gave us all a free will, will at the final judgment give [those] people what they have demanded all their lives—a total and complete separation from His love.”

Take note: Those who persecute Christians will not get away with their evil, and that should bring comfort, even in the midst of pain, to know that in the end, we win and they lose, not the other way around. He who laughs best, laughs last.

So, we can take comfort that our suffering is not without purpose and we can take comfort in knowing that those who brought evil upon us will one day have to face the music. Justice will be realized.

There is something else that Jesus says here that brings comfort, hope and courage to these believers, in the midst of their suffering. He tells them, in verse 10, that they will suffer for “ten days.”

We know historically that the severe persecution of the early church in general covered about 250 years. However, there is sufficient evidence in Scripture to show that the mention of “ten days” is an expression used to describe a shorter limited period of time. Maybe it was a literal ten days, but it certainly was not a significantly long period of time for the church at Smyrna.

The most important idea to take away from these “ten days” is not so much the actual time limit, but the understanding that God promises to limit the time of our suffering. In other words, our present suffering is not something that will go on forever. There will be an end to this life’s suffering.

In Revelation 21:4 we are told that one day, when we are with Jesus, all of the tears that come from the various forms of suffering we experience here on earth will cease. For the believer, pain will not be an eternal issue. I cannot forget the moment that the truth of that verse hit me. It was a week or so after my mother had died and I was grieving and feeling that deep emotional pain that goes along with the loss of a loved one. At the time, I wondered, “Will I ever get over this pain of grieving?” When I read that promise in Revelation 21:4, that all crying would cease and all my tears would be wiped away, I found hope and courage to move forward. I knew that I would not have to feel forever what I was feeling at that moment. It would soon pass. When, I didn’t know. But knowing that it would someday stop, enabled me to keep moving on, even though at the moment I was still experiencing pain.

It’s kind of like that hope you have when you go to the dentist to have a cavity filled. You know that the drilling is going to be painful, but it won’t go on forever. So, for the present, you are willing to endure the pain, because you know that it will momentarily cease.

Likewise, when it comes to enduring suffering for following after Christ, He promises us that our suffering will not go on forever. We can therefore take courage in our suffering today and look forward to an eternity where there will be no more suffering.

A fourth word of encouragement from Christ to those who are suffering as a result of serving Him is mentioned in verse 10. In that verse, Christ promises that those who die a martyr’s death as a direct result of serving Him will be rewarded in a unique way. He says that they will receive “the crown of life.” This crown is not something all believers will receive, but only a select few. This crown of life does not refer to the promise of eternal life, because all believers receive that. There are only two places in Scripture that the “crown of life” is mentioned: James 1:12, and Revelation 2:10. The historical context of both of those passages reveals that this crown is something specifically promised to just those who end up being martyred for Christ.

When Polycarp, the martyred elder at the church in Smyrna was asked by his heathen judges to recant his Christian faith, he replied, “Four score and six years have I served the Lord, and He never wronged me: How then can I blaspheme my King and Savior?” His faithfulness to the end seems to have characterized the attitude in general of the persecuted church at Smyrna. His faithfulness to the end, earned him “the crown of life.”

As in other areas of life, focusing on Christ’s words of encouragement, on Christ’s promises and who our Savior is in relationship to our trials enables us to move forward, remain faithful and find meaning in life, even when life is harsh.

If I had to summarize the major point Christ is making to the church at Smyrna and to us today, it would be this:

Taking life one day at a time, living for Christ and His purposes, while trusting in His promises, is the only way to endure trials, injustices and persecution.

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