The Persecuted Church - 8

Gathered in the secret place 30 or so of them that come together to worship corporately just a short time after they gathered the doors of the room. First it open and in walked man with masks and gun instructed everybody there to put their hands up said anybody who wants to live, denounce your faith in Jesus and leave in of that group 2 or three with their heads bowed, left the room. Those who remain fully anticipated losing their life and being ushered into eternity. Those masked men with the guns then said to that remaining group put your hands down were going to worship our God is able. Why would someone do that if you lived in a place in this world where it was against the law to gather for worship, you would want to be sure that those are gathered with our true believers in Jesus Christ.

Now, we asked the question, hypothetically, does everyone in a situation like that. That leaves for fear of their life to save their life. Does that mean every one of those is an unbeliever, I would have to say not necessarily are some who were fearful and timid and weakened young in the faith, but a good many who are mere professors are going to stand with that group and give their life for their testimony in Christ. Folks were living in a day where persecution is not that far from our doorstep. I think we would all be conscious of that as we see what's going on in the world but as weak as we grow more and more concerned about persecution coming to us.

Let's not be ignorant of the church of Jesus Christ, the persecuted church that's been facing persecution for years and decades and centuries. There are brothers there are sisters in Christ Jesus has words for the persecuted church and we have it here in Revelation chapter 2 the church of Smyrna was the persecuted church. The church of Smyrna is the only one of the seven churches is mentioned here in Revelation chapter 2 that remains today. They are the city and in Turkey the church of Smyrna existed about and was located about 40 miles north of Ephesus along the Aegean Sea. It was a city with a strong harbor so it was a safe place, but was also a place of pagan worship. It was a place controlled by the Romans. It was a place where Emperor worship was was predominant and it was because faithful Christians refused to bow and worship Caesar that they were being persecuted the church of Smyrna is the not the only but is one of two churches that Jesus had no words of correction. No word of rebuke no criticism of them whatsoever. It is the shortest letter of the seven what else what I say about this church. It was a church that that was in rivalry with Ephesus for the strongest, most predominant church in Asia minor.

Some called it the crown jewel of Asia minor, such as the church of Smyrna. Scripture does not tell us anything about the founding of the church of Smyrna is not mentioned in the book of acts, and if we didn't have these 45 verses in Revelation, we would know nothing of this church its presumed that either Paul or some of his converts planted the church of Smyrna but again it's all presumption we we do not know that for fact I think about this the Lord Jesus writing to this church has no words of rebuke. No words of criticism. No words of correction, how do we explain that was a perfect church.

I doubted how do we understand that in the context of the persecution.

The church was enduring. Listen to these words from Dr. John MacArthur throughout its history, the seemingly paradoxical truth has been that the more the church has been persecuted, the greater has been its purity and strength. This paradoxical reality, the more the church is been persecuted, the greater has been its purity and strength. It has a way of testing it has a way of purging and has a way of purifying the church pretenders don't hang around when he gets turned up just like I illustrated the very beginning about that hypothetical situation this morning. I like to look at these verses with you under these four headings want to think about the introduction we want to consider the words of commendation that is given here to concerning the church. There is words of commandment. There is commands for this church and then lastly, there are some words of consolation to the church so introduction commendation command and consolation. That's how we'll approach this this portion introduction into the angel of the church in Smyrna write these things says the first and the last two was dead and came to life for reasons that I don't have time to connect all these dots for you. There are commentators who speculate if you take the interpretation that the Angels of the church are the elders or the pastor of the church which I've taken in previous messages that this is not an angelic being. This Angel is a messenger and messenger as to the head of that church. And if you take that there are those who speculate that the angel or the elder or the pastor or the bishop over the church of Smyrna as John was writing yesterday was Polycarp man famous for giving his life as a martyr for Christ again. I'll have the time to connect those dots. I read through that.

I thought you know what that that is plausible that has merit. The, the timing, the age of the writing of the letter and so on so forth.

But explore that for your own benefit, but notice what Jesus says these things.

Verse eight says the first and the last, so the very beginning here are words to the persecuted church that the one who was speaking to the church is the one who stands at the beginning of history, and he stands at the end of history.

He orders all things that transpire in history. He stands at the end of history and as I prayed earlier he's working all things after the counsel of his own will.

He's the last.

He's the one toward whom all things are moving the goal for which they exist in the final explanation for everything that is. He's the one who stands as much at the back of history as the one who was at the front of history and we need that encouragement, this church needed that encouragement because they needed to know that what they were enduring was decreed by a God who controls all of history that there was purpose that there was fruit to be born because of what they were enduring is good to be reminded of that when calamity comes in.

Sickness comes in. Hospitalization comes medical procedures common financial hardship comes in relational stress and pressures come the God it is if were a believer in Jesus Christ. God has a good purpose in those things for us and other know about you but that's not the first thought that come to my mind when things start going off the rails in my world. I don't say you know.

Best regards, God has a wise and gracious purpose knowledge your job to be tuned into that to be submitted to that and be wondering what that might be and help people.

I need I need myself to be reoriented around this reality often. I'm thinking of that's true of me.

It's probably true of you as well. Too often, when the pressures on in the wheels come off the wagon were only interested in getting the wheel back on the wagon and get on with life.

So were praying Lord help me get over this, get beyond this resolve this one of God's as you know what either. I've ordained that storm for your life and it's not my purpose right now to end the storm but to preserve you in the storm to teach you something in the storm to remind you of things in the storm, you would learn any other way. That's what God is about the persecuted church they were facing the real possibility of death, and they needed to be reassured that there was something beyond the grave and that's why we have these words at the very beginning before he says any words of commendation to them, these things says the first and the last, who was dead and came to life. He was dead but he came to life and each one of these letters borrow words from what John was shown in this vision is glorious vision of Christ in chapter 1. If you take the time to go back and look at verses 17 and 18. You can pick out the words that are recorded. The John experienced as you was granted. This vision of the glorious Christ and those words are found here almost verbatim, the first and the last was dead and came to life. I used to think that those words really only had meaning when your life was ebbing away you're coming to the end of your life and then it meant an awful lot that you know there's life beyond the grave or something worth living for their something worth looking forward to but my question now is, is that just for people of North of 50 that just for people north of 80 or is that true for people in their teens and in their 20s and in their 30s that it ought to be true for all of us because our confidence that there is life beyond the grave means that life is worth living here and now that it has value here in the think at times we have misunderstood what eternal life is eternal life is a life that begins when earthly life ends eternal life is granted to us at the place of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We become possessors of eternal life essay will if we have eternal life than when we physically died. Life really hasn't ended.

Hasn't know it hasn't. We just changed addresses.

Life is just a long continuing for the Christian, so rather than thinking that life is really the best part of our life is after we die.

No, Jesus that I've come that you might have life and have a what more abundantly.

We ought to be experiencing this eternal life now that God is given.

What is that Jesus said this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent what is eternal life. It is a relationship with God the father through his son the Lord Jesus Christ and if somehow you have are believing that you are in possession of eternal life, and it is detached from that a relationship with God through his son, then you don't have the eternal life, it's promised you have something else that life continues now grows deepens becomes more rich and then it ushers into around beyond our wildest imagination.

So it's a continuous thing. That's the introduction let's think now first secondly about words of commendation, words of commendation. Jesus says to this church.

Three things he knows about them. I know your works, your tribulation and your poverty.

I know your works, and that word no is not the word, not the Greek word applicant notes go that's knowledge that is gained through experience but it is a knowledge that God alone has its comprehensive God knows everything they were to be strengthened and encouraged by their knowledge of God's knowledge of them. When we talk to folks about our struggles and our things are going on in her life will because we find help and strength and encouragement by sharing it with one another because we bear one another's burdens. We pray for one another what that's true on horizontal plane. How much more true is that of a relationship with God the father. He knows everything that's going on hasn't caught him by surprise.

He's ordering those things he's using those things for our good and his own glory.

So that's the first thing that they're told. I know I know what I know your works in the context of a persecuted church. What works could be read being referred to here. I know your works. I think your works of faithfully enduring persecution for my namesake. I think that's the work that are being commended for. Secondly he says I know your tribulation. I know your tribulation. The word literally means pressure. It's the common New Testament word for persecution or tribulation the church why say the church. I mean those who make up the church. We can talk of church. The church of Smyrna and not think of individual people to make up the church anymore than we talk about beacon Baptist Church in divorce that from the people who make up beacon Baptist Church so I don't want to depersonalize this by talking about the church of Smyrna we need to be thinking about the people who make up the church of Smyrna. What were they doing.

They were enduring pressure persecution tribulation for their faithfulness to Jesus Christ. I think a good many of us know that to some measure some degree in art in our particular context.

Whether it's at work or family or neighborhood there's there is pressure there is tribulation. There is a price to pay to be identified as a follower of Jesus Christ. And if you struggle identifying yourself if you're a silent Christian.

If you are hesitant to identify yourself. I would just challenge you to think about. Well, if a mom. Having that kind of difficulty now what what will it say about me when he really gets turned up when the persecution really comes upon us in this country. I thought of a lot of things that I was thinking of including in the sermon today typically is. Most preachers are they've got two hours worth of words and thoughts in their head for a 45 minute message so you just gonna put those things out in the peripheral and you trust God if you want any that brought into the sermon remind me while I'm preaching seriously it's it's on. I'm helping understand least the way I preach and this came to mind read an article by a educator in one of the colleges in the state of North Carolina and he was speaking about people like you and I speaking of those who use the curriculum of a Becca that is use the Bob Jones University in Pensacola and other places. He speaking about people who homeschool their children and he was writing to warn his constituents and whoever would listen to him of how dangerous.

We were and ready for this. This is the title. He attached to people like us. He referred to us as the Tar Heel Taliban the Tar Heel Tar Heel Taliban. This is a Prof. one of the major universities in the state of North Carolina.

Persecution is honest folks.

Persecution is on us. This tribulation, this pressure that was on the was because they face the wrath of the Roman government.

Why because they refused to give allegiance and worship the upper was her cost of that all yeah capital offense for such refusal. You can lose your life, what else did this persecution look like will notice what it says here he says I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. The word synagogue and attached to Jews remind us that there was a significant Jewish population in the city of Smyrna.

There was the was the synagogue of Smyrna. There were people who identified themselves as belonging to God because of their ethnicity. They were Jews. And Jesus is saying nobody nobody belongs nobody's in a right relationship with God nor with me, who is a Jew outwardly it's those who have been made a Jew inwardly by the circumcision of the heart. That's why says I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not there merely outward Jews.

Physical descendents of Abraham, but they're not. What are they, instead they are a synagogue of Satan. Let's not politically correct. Is it those are harsh words. That's what Jesus called them a synagogue of Satan. Why would he say such a thing, because it was Jews in those synagogues who were exposing the Christians and turning them over to the Roman government. Just like it was Jews who turned Jesus over to the Roman government to be abused and ultimately killed. That's what's going on. Then it says they were. I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews that were blasphemy you may have a translation that that report, that makes that word slander they were slandered they were blasphemed. What was the accusations. What were they accused of over they slandered concerning whether a number things they were accused of cannibalism using cannibalism. Yes, because they ate of the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ was a reference to the Lord's table was totally misunderstood, but the outside world is of people accountable to talk about eating blood eating the body. They were called promiscuous. They were called immoral.

Why, because that love fees. They greeted each other with a holy kiss completely again misunderstood.

They were accused of being against the family say will what's what's behind that.

What would people came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ divided family husbands from wives and children from their parents and is what happened they were accused of atheism. What is that atheism, because they had no visible idols or images that they worshiped other atheists. They were considered politically disloyal and called revolutionaries because they did not give the allegiance to the Emperor that they were the law commanded of you ready for the last one they were slandered and accused of being arsonists, arsonists, arsonists, because they had a view that the world would end in flames and destruction and all those things were true they were totally misconstrued, misunderstood, never slandered concerning those things.

Tribulation pressure in the nurse and then it says this in verse 10 do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. So persecution had come. It was a present reality. But there was more persecution coming that was in the future.

Do not fear any of those things which are about to your about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days to be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. There was imprisonment coming perhaps imprisonment already taken place for some and when you hear it when you see the word imprisonment.

In this context there is no such thing as long-term incarceration. Okay so like you were sentenced for 30 years in jail and it's like you know no incarceration in that context was a place where you are held in jail into your executed listings need to be understood in context.

Incarceration met martyrdom for them. That's what they were facing imprisonment and martyrdom and then again this is commendation.

Jesus is saying. I know your works, tribulation, and poverty.

I know your poverty, the city Smyrna was rich. It was an economic network that was so much going on. So how is it possible that these believers were poor in a city that was prosperous because they were paying the price for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ there Austrian eyes. They were given jobs and work a part of the guilds and so on and so forth. And they work impoverished that were impoverished speaks of lacking the necessities of life. But notice what Jesus says in parentheses I know your works, tribulation, and poverty but you are rich, no what's going on there.

How can you be both poor and rich at the same time while you can be poor in terms of this world's goods and wealth. The way the world esteems wealth but you can be what rich toward God. We have these words in James chapter 2 in verse five God's chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which would you rather be this morning rich as the world deems rich and wealthy as the world calculates well for rich toward God spiritually wealthy, spiritually full, and I know what you're thinking you know what I think. I think you're thinking. I want both well and God's distribution of blessings and benefits there that is the reality for some. But you had to choose for you to choose poverty of soul over the wealth of this world, what would you choose, so I don't know until that opportunity comes all you've already chosen you've already chosen its it's evident in the way you live your life you storing up riches on earth, where moth and rust and thieves break in and steal or are you laying up treasures in heaven as a man think of in his heart so is he.

Wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be also. They were rich. Jesus had to remind him of that.

I think the reason Jesus had to remind him of that is because when we are under persecution and part of the persecution is lacking of just the temporal necessities of life.

We were focused on that and he needed to remind them all.

Don't forget the fact that you rich you are rich you have riches.

Nobody can take from you eternal riches, words of commendation, words of commendation. Alice think of the commandment, the tear, there are two in verse 10 there are number one. Do not fear. Do not fear and at the end of verse 10. Be faithful in the death do not fear and be faithful unto death. So after commending them for their enduring the persecution Jesus warned the believers more was coming and then he gives these commands in the light of that reality. Yes persecutions here and more persecution is coming and you will be imprisoned and you will be put to death. Do not fear.

Do not fear how's that possible. How is that possible, you say the only way that's possible is God gives enabling grace. I mentioned Polycarp earlier in my message.

He was 100 years old and he was pressured to recount recant his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what they said to him what harm is there in saying, Lord Caesar, and in sacrificing with the other ceremonies observed on such occasions, and so make sure of your safety. What's the harm he was asked. This is what Polycarp responded, 80 and six years have I served him, and he never did me any wrong.

How then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior. And when they determined that they were going to burn him alive. This is what Polycarp said and it's in the old English quote thou threaten nest me with fire which burned for an hour and after a little is extinguished that are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly." He said whoa if they were infuriated before they were sure infuriated after that.

But we read the testimonies of the of the martyrs and of their fearless courage, standing in the face of death for the sake of Christ. I don't know about you but have you ever thought you know if persecution got to the place where it was my allegiance to Jesus Christ or my physical life, what would I do if you thought that through, what would I stand for Christ.

Would I be willing to give my life would I be unwilling to recant and deny my faith in Jesus. It's a sobering question if you want to be honest with yourself right because by natural link inclination. We are people who are given to the preservation of our lives. People will do anything to preserve their life. It seems most anything in the in the question or the answer I have for that question least in my own mind that is. Is this that if God ordained and in his providence determined that for my life that there would be grace given the stand, I don't. I'm not sure how how confident we can be in the hypothetical year. What I'm saying. I think that if that time came, and that's what God is requiring of us that he was supply what we needed at that moment is similar to God doesn't bring a dump truck and dump a dump truck load of grace in your backyard for you to draw upon whenever you think you might need right. There is grace to help in what time of need. When the need arises. Grace is supply because if there was a dump truck load of grace in the backyard. We could envision what that might look like. We would be inclined to live by side and not by faith we been commanded to live by faith and not by sight. So with look at some introductory matters, words of commendation, commandments, do not fear and be faithful unto death. What's the consolation promised to those who do that very thing to predict two things that are promised. What are the be faithful under death, and I will give you the crown of life is the first and the second you shall not be hurt by the second death. The second death will have no effect on you. What's the second death. The second death is a metaphor for hell. You will never, ever, in its in the it's it's communicated in the Greek in the strongest possible negative terms. You will never ever ever be hurt by the second death. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second. What comes after death. What comes after death is what really matters.

There's a crown of life. A crown of life for those who remain faithful crown of immortality. Those who are faithful will not be hurt by the second death. Now Jesus encourages some earnings to remain faithful on the physical death and he will give them the crown of life that is the power to persevere comes from a faith in the certainty of God's promised reward.

It's not being so earthbound, so focused on the here and now it's realizing that there is a promise beyond the grave that is more sure than anything.

A crown of life. If I if you receive the crown of life which I don't and you don't deserve in place of what we do deserve the lake of fire.

It can only be for one reason.

What is that one reason Jesus Christ by a marvelous exchange has died that I might live has suffered that I might be set free and has for me face the wrath of God that I deserve the face but because he faced it and exhausted the wrath of God in my place.

I will never see it. I will never face it and neither will you. And if were going to escape the second death explanation is the same Jesus in unfathomable mercy and grace has suffered in our place.

So what is the exhortation. The exhortation is to be faithful Christian. Be faithful men and women and rejoice child of God and give thanks that you never by any means will ever suffer the second.

That's what's been secured, force in our Savior.

Folks there's nothing that we are more deserving than the second death. There's nothing more fitting, more just, more righteous than than I and you should suffer forever in the lake of fire and the only reason why I won't and you won't is that Jesus endured that in himself the judgment that was deserve for us in this cause for rejoicing folks. That's what sustains us in the face of persecution. That's what will sustain us when life begins.

Dabble way in our life on earth is done, were coming to the end of this earthly sojourn. What awaits us, a crown, a crown of life and the confidence that we will not have her in any way. Face the second death. If that's true of you and it is true of you if you are trusting in Jesus Christ this morning.

Don't ever envy a lost person. Why would you envy a lost person because he got a bigger house, a bigger boat. A nicer car burn up someday and a dying go to hell. Why would you ever envy that if they understood what we understood. They envy us and that in the automotive way down wood apart from their depravity to trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm amazed at how practical and how relevant the word of God is there so much in the news constantly. That is reminding us that the heat is being turned up. Persecution is common and is common in waves in the church better be ready for it because the church is, I fear week and unprepared for something that strengthens and fortifies and galvanizes a person and it is the fires of adversity is in a true when you think back over your Christian life and you think you know what I grew the most I was the most assured when I was in the middle of that mess.

Why because God was with me, God sustained me. God gave grace. God grew me through that I learned things I couldn't learned any other way. And if that's our experience and if we lived our Christian lives very long God will take us through those things because that's what he does with all of his children because he's in the business of purifying us in sanctifying us in testing us. Persecution is just that intensified looks a little different.

We got is the same end in mind as whites.

Is there. I know your works, tribulation, and poverty but you are rich and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be what test you may be tested.

He's writing to the church.

You may be tested to do maybe try that you may be proven. Tests are good thing I'm convinced faith that hasn't been tested can be dressed. God wants to test our faith so that when he does get turned on. We have confidence in him confidences and in us confidences and in our faith because our faith. Quite frankly is frail and fragile and weak and lacking butter confidences and is in the God who gives faith and he will strengthen our faith. He will enable us to stand in that day for our eternal good and for his ultimate glory spring father, thank you for your word. Thank you for its instruction. Oh God, we pray that you would galvanize and strengthen your church prepare us for the difficulties that are ahead.

Things are going to most likely get very challenging. In America for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ for for us. Lord, help us not to be fearful. Help us to look beyond this life to the eternity that awaits us the crown of life that you promised and oh God, may we never diminish the reality that because we are in Jesus Christ, we will never ever face the second death.

Thank you.

Our father, thank you Lord Jesus Christ for making that possible force. We pray in Jesus name, amen