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Revelation 2:8-11
Message to Smyrna
"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 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.’
Out of the seven churches in Revelation there were two that Jesus commended without rebuke. One was the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3. The other is the church in Smyrna found in Revelation 2:8-11.
In 4 short verses Jesus commends and encourages a church that was under persecution. Some say the church in Smyrna represrnts the persecuted church down through the ages. The church in Smyrna certainly represents the persecuted church of today. The characteristics we see in this group of believers 2000 years ago. We see in the persecuted church today.
But one thing we see a church that has poverty and tribulation. This is certainly indicative of many of our brothers and sisters who are suffering persecution in the restricted nations. In places such as Pakistan or North Korea the Christians do have poverty. Oftentimes they are at the lowest strata of society. Those who persecute them call them dogs and enemies of the state.
And these precious saints do have tribulation. Again in places like Pakistan, North Korea, Eritrea, India, and other nations hostile to Christ. The Christians do undergo intense persecution and tribulation.
And yet Jesus says he is aware of the persecutions that were taking place in Smyrna. By implication Jesus knows the persecutions of these suffering saints today. He weeps when they weep. He feels the pain that they are feeling in their beatings. He understands the isolation and solitude they experience. Because Jesus went through it in the Garden of Gethsemane. So Jesus is very aware of His suffering church. My question would be are we aware of His suffering church?
Yet Jesus said that the churches Smyrna was rich. They were not rich in the temporal things of this world. But they were rich in the eternal riches of Jesus himself. They surely must have been rich in the Word of Jesus Himself who was dwelling in their hearts. The church at Smyrna was certainly rich in the glory that awaited them in heaven when they would pass into martyrdom.
Certainly in the persecuted church today they too are rich in the things of Christ. The Word of Jesus is certainly dwelling in them richly. I believe in the Person of Jesus Himself. The persecuted church will certainly be rich in the glory that awaits them as they suffer for our Lord here on earth.
Jesus told His little flock that they were not to fear what they were about to suffer. He said they would be tested. He said they would be put into prison by the devil for 10 days. But they were to be faithful even until death. And then there would certainly be a crown of life waiting for them.
Some commentators have suggested that to be put in prison for 10 days meant that the Christians were given that time to recant their faith in Christ. Often that recantation was to be under torture. But if at the end of ten days to Christians did not recant their faith. They for sure it would be put to death. Thus the verse that says be faithful even until death.
The persecuted believers in Christ today take to heart the same exhortations. They see persecution is of Satan. They say it is a time of testing to prove themselves faithful to Jesus. They see it as a time to be faithful even until death. They see it as an opportunity to gain that crown of life that the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to them. This is why are persecuted brothers and sisters cry out to us in the west to pray that they will be faithful in the midst of their trials and tribulations. Even faithful until death.
The church at Smyrna did not receive any rebuke of Christ or disobedience. But was commended. We see the persecuted church today is not rebuked by Christ. But is commended for her faithfulness.
But what of us in the West? What of us in America? Somewhere the American evangelical Church falls within the other five churches of Revelation 2 and 3. These churches that Jesus rebuked.
One wonders why the church in Smyrna was not rebuked by Jesus? Was it because they were crying out for revival? Or was it because they were taking up the cross of Christ to follow Jesus? Was it because they were laying everything down for the Lord Jesus Christ?
I believe the reason Jesus did not rebuke the church in Smyrna was because they were taking up the cross of Christ and crucifying all of themselves to Him. And they were laying everything down for Him.
I cannot help but think we have it backward in America. We are crying out for revival. But in essence are we crying out for revival so that we may escape the way of the cross? Are we crying out for revival so that we may be spared persecution? Are we trying out for revival so that we may preserve the status quo? Have we made revival the idol and despise the centrality of the cross?
Brothers and sisters I do not see in the New Testament that God is ever promised to answer prayers for revival. But for sure He will answer the prayer of a heart that will be broken before Him. He will answer the prayers of those hearts that will cry out to him for a Crucified Life. He will answer the prayers of those that long for such a crucified life so that Jesus will live in them.
Dear saints I suggest humbly that our prayers should not be for revival, or for visitation. But our prayers should start with the habitation of the Holy Spirit living in our hearts. Our prayers should be that we be the vessels and the light of Christ that shine in the darkness against this crooked and perverse generation.
Let our prayers be that we live crucified repentant lives before God. Let our prayers be that we live broken lives before God. For if we are dead to ourselves then Christ will surely live in us. Christ what surely shine in us. Then we may see the moving, the visitation of the Spirit that we long for. But even if we do not see this. We can certainly be those vessels that burn with the light of Jesus.
Let us repent of an idolatrous praying for revival. Rather let us pray that we will be the repentent vessels of the Holy Spirit that live out the reality of Jesus Christ in our lives.
This is posted from the foot of His cross.