When we seek to do His church on our own, we turn it into a church of evil, as diametrically opposed to Christ, as Satan is opposed to Him. Its streets were wide and paved. Who is it that overcomes the world? A person spends 35 pence from a small stall. I had just started walking with the Lord that year before and I had gone on a beach project with Campus Crusade that summer. When Polycarp, the pastor of the church in Smyrna, was commanded to worship Caesar and renounce Christ in 155 A.D., he refused and said, Eighty and six years have I served Him, and in nothing hath He wronged me; and how, then, can I blaspheme my King, who saved me? As the fire was kindled around his feet to burn him at the stake, Polycarp was heard singing and praising the Son of God. But instead, through their surrendered lives, the Holy Spirit empowered the Smyrnaean Christians to choose spiritual wealth over worldly gain. John was then to send the divine dictation to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11). Christians were viewed as antisocial elitists for refusing to participate in it. What can you do to grow in this area and to glorify Him more fully? She is so right. Even if these believers face death at the hand of the persecutors, it is not the end for them. I was kind of scared. This second death means that those who fail to accept Christ will also be resurrected, only to die again in the "lake of fire." How have you seen God use trials and suffering in your life? When we suffer, we may think that Christ is absent, but He is not. Be thou our vision. She finally said, do you have anything you want to say? I said nope. I did not know what to say because I thought I knew I was going to cry. I was ready to share Christ with anybody and, you know, I could handle this lady. Some can endure physical sufferings under tribulation and poverty, yet few can . As a matter of fact, she began to teach me. Also, death is mentioned three times in these four verses. Why does God allow Satan to bring tribulation in our lives if God is ultimately in control? It was probably six weeks. They will only last for a moment in life of the blessings that you will have for eternity. The Message to the Church at Smyrna. He is the One who overcame life and death for our benefit, and when we seek to run His church our way, we embarrass and dishonor Him and His Way. The letter to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2 is notable for many reasons, one being that it's one of the only letters that doesn't have a rebuke. She came in and I said, Good morning, how are you doing? It's incumbent on us to listen up and give heed to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. It was mighty. How can you better realize the fact that our trials will be limited and temporary? Its association with death perfectly pictures the suffering church at Smyrna. List reasons why those Jews were not considered real Jews in Jesus eyes. God asks us to be conquerors and faithful witnesses to whom and what He is! by David C. Grabbe Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," January 2, 2009 . Why would this promise be especially encouraging for the church at Smyrna? This is a church under persecution yet denounced every false pretension of Jews who were (Synagogue of Satan) abode of Satan. The devil may harm their physical body, but he can not do them any spiritual harm. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. Do you fear God more than people? The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive Bible Study): What does this passage say? But we do experience our own pressures, suffering, and afflictions. They were reporting false allegations to the government about these believers, saying things which were not true about them. Explain your answer. How does knowing that Christ, the Creator and Lord of the universe, approves you help you cope with "feeble mortals" telling you dishonorable things? 5. He knows what you are feeling. Judging from the characteristics of his appearance, Fuming gave him a very good impression now arctic diet pills Shuerjia can only keto fuel pills review form his first impression based on his appearance. The city rivaled Ephesus in grandeur and influence. He is not referring to eternal life here because you do not work for eternal life. 5 Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 25. We need to look beyond the pain and look for that purpose that He wants to accomplish in our life. Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 1-5). 2. You are struggling. The first way they are suffering is through pressure. 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. He always will exist. I Peter 4:19 instructs those who suffer according to the will of God to entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right. Its system of coinage was old, and now about the city coins of every period are found. If you are only born once, you will die twice. If you are only born physically, you will die physically and you will die spiritually. 9. My entire senior year was spent at the hospital as we would rotate through labs. In Jesus name, amen. She would not spend one minute helping me, somebody who had thrown their life away believing in this fantasy of Jesus Christ. They were dirt poor. Kingdom 103: The Kingdom Mindset of Authority, Kingdom 103: Ephesus, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Ephesus, Its Believers' Characteristics Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Smyrna, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Pergamos, The Compromising Church, Kingdom 103: Thyatira, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Thyatira, Its Believers' Characteristics Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Sardis, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Philadelphia, Its Believers' Characteristics, Kingdom 103: Philadelphia, Its Believers' Characteristics Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Laodicea, The Lukewarm Church, Kingdom 103: He Came Under the Cloak of Darkness, Kingdom 103: Authorized Power for the Heavenly Government, Kingdom 103: Never Assume in Marriage Pt 1, Kingdom 103: Never Assume in Marriage Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Love in Marriage Needs to be Refreshed, Kingdom 103: Fatherlessness, the Source of Disobedience and Sin, Kingdom 103: The Simplicity of the Kingdom Gospel, Kingdom 103: Kingdom Culture Displayed to the Blind. I have felt it in my life whether it is just things that people say right before I get ready to teach or whether it is something that happens in preparation. What was Jesus message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation? They had no means whatsoever. I believe it exists. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? I lived in mainland China for four years and during those four years I studied the Chinese language of Mandarin. She prayed and asked God to give me strength to go in the next day and to handle this the way that Jesus would. 6. So with that context in mind, let's take a look at Revelation 2: 8-11. People did not want to sell to them because they were Christians. I need strength. She started and began by reading from Isaiah 53 about Jesus the suffering servant. It is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible other than these four verses, but it is believed it is with the other churches that were founded while Paul spent two years in Ephesus on his third missionary journey. The fourth thing we need to remember is that the ultimate solution is trust. 8. But, if we are not faithful, there is no outstretched hand, only missed opportunities and an infamy to a community, a life wasted, a church of dysfunction, and a crown of shame instead of a crown of life. If we are going to suffer well, the first thing we have to remember is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate victor. Or they could have agreed to call Caesar Lord, knowing they could later repent. There was no rebuke for this church and because they were faithful until death, their candlestick has never been removed. Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author and speaker who has managed and directed childrens and youth programs for more than 20 years. (Notice the similarities to the description of Christ in 1:17-18). 2:8-11. Second death. I walked out and thank goodness it was 3:30 which was the time to go home. How would these verses encourage you in the midst of tough times? If I am trusting God then I should not be afraid. Be encouraged as you study the message sent to this church. It reminds us of five things that we must remember if we are going to suffer well. It is believed that a man named Polycarp was the pastor of this church at Smyrna when this letter was written. Ironically, our sufferings are far less of a venture and sentence than our poor choices. They made up whatever they could and went to the government and they were persecuted. It is not a question of, will you suffer? The question is, how will you handle it when it comes?. Jesus was reminding these suffering Christians in Smyrna who may be facing death in the near future. Maybe you have a financial issue. Maybe you are in a season that everything is going great and you are just loving life. The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox . It is emphatic in the Greek. Death means separation. The only place the Bible mentions the Church at Smyrna is in Jesus letters to the churches: 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. In verse 9 when He says, I know your tribulations. That word used here for tribulation literally means pressure. He knows the thoughts and inclinations of our hearts (Psalm 94:11). I want that kind of prayer life. But then we would always say, I dont want to go through what they went through. You see, the road to getting there is through suffering. They already were in the midst of tribulation (v. 9) and Jesus had no rebuke or condemnation for them. If you have ever gone to a funeral or to a visitation and you have looked in a coffin to view the body, you see that physical body, but you know something is missing. 7. If I am afraid that means I am not trusting God. We will suffer in this life. He assures His people that their continued faithfulness, even to the point of death, will earn them a reward that far outweighs their earthly trialsa victors crown. Others roasted alive. They got drunk. Be hopeful. How would you encourage someone who is being persecuted for his faith or going through a tough time? Are you a God pleaser more than a people pleaser? Pt 2, Kingdom 103: Student or Disciple of the Kingdom? These actions would have given the believers could a measure of favor with the government and secured a much easier life. Even though the people would throw them into prison, it says the devil is about to cast some of you into prison. He is the ultimate enemy and we need to be on guard. 2. . Kingdom Citizen, not "Christian"--What's In a Name? I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. But every born-again Christian is called to die to the things of this world (Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23), become a bondservant of Christ (1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:24), and to consider all earthly things loss compared to the worth of knowing Jesus as Lord (Philippians 3:8). The church in Smyrna faced bitter persecution and death, yet it emitted a fragrant testimony of faithful commitment to . Why would this description of Christ be especially encouraging for this church? 3 Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 44. The name of Smyrna was equated with myrrh. Smyrna covers the second church period from approximately from 100 C. E. to 323 C. E.; the Age of Martyrdom, 200-250 years during the second and third centuries C. E. What Do We Know About the Ancient city of . This was a message meant to encourage them in light of what they were facing presently and were about to face in the future. I want that kind of depth. How wonderful it would be if our church received an encouraging letter from Jesus, especially if it contained no criticism. But, if we are really serious about going deeper, suffering is part of that process. Ephesus is the first of the seven letters. 4. They were going to nail him to the stake, but he said they did not have to nail me, I will stay. It has been described as the most beautiful of the seven cities. That is the doctrine or the view of annihilation of hell. We will be rewarded for staying strong until death. This article is part of our larger End Times Resource Library. That is a way of worshipping Him, showing honor to Him. If they kill you, they just ended your physical life. Judaism Such was the case for the ancient church at Smyrna. I have heard it said and I put this up on the screen to help you, If you are born twice, you will only die once. If you are born physically and then later you are born spiritually, you will only die once and that will be when you die physically, (unless the Lord comes back, in which case you would not die at all). The letter to the church at Smyrna is unique for several reasons. When we refuse to heed His call, it will just be a short time until we are thrown away, given to the devil, since we are working for him anyway. In verse 11 he says, He who overcomes and again last week we talked about who the overcomer is. You cant associated with us in these festivities to our gods. Why is it that when we seek to run "His" church "our" way, we embarrass and dishonor Him and His Way? Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God. degrees -- one in Medical Technology and the other in Perfusion Technology. Description. My challenge is that we need to be on guard. What do these verses imply about persecution and the believer? The Church in its "Ephesian Period" having lost its "First Love," the Lord is now about to "chastise" it, so as to cause it to return to Him. Today, it is known as Izmir, Turkey. Like myrrh, produced by crushing a fragrant plant, the church at Smyrna, crushed by persecution, gave off a fragrant aroma of faithfulness to God.2. But, the second type they were dealing with was poverty. Ask God to strengthen your faith so that you can endure the suffering in your own life more victoriously. What else do we learn about those over whom the second death has no power according to Revelation 20:6? WEALTHY WITHOUT WEALTH In the church Ephesus, the Lords finds a decay of first love, in Smyrna, we see Him voiding Satan's malice to restore the former freshness. She went on and on and on and I was dumbfounded. The challenge for us is to suffer well. Physical death is the separation of the soul from the body. It went on and on. The first death means when we physically die and then go into eternity for rewards and to wait for the resurrection and the everlasting life. So, I would go to these dinners hating it because all they would do was just drink and drink. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Be on guard. It was one of the chief cities of Roman-dominated Asia and competed with places such as Pergamos and Ephesus for the title "First City of Asia." 3:12). 1.3 Orthodoxy. I shut the door and I stood there. He is aware of the enemys plans and the afflictions we face (Hebrews 2:17-18). An aspect of maturity is being slow to respond to accusation-as our Lord did. Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8 tells us that the second death is the lake of fire and brimstone. 2007 - 2023 ChurchLeadership.Org - All Rights Reserved. Do not let him use you. The ultimate reward is life. He does not want you to know that he loses. Pt 3. Mailing address: Kingdom Citizens, 1027 S Pendleton St Suite B-242 Easley, SC 29642, Kingdom Concepts: Understanding Religion Part 1, Kingdom Concepts: Understanding Religion Part 2, Past Tragedies In History While Seeking the Kingdom, The Contrasts Between a Kingdom and a Democracy, Christ's Message Was on His Kingdom, It's What He Preached, The Kingdom of God Versus The Government of Man, Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Territory, The Name Christian Is Neither God Sent Nor God Given, The Unshakable Kingdom and Unchanging Person, Everything That God Created Has Potential, Being Obedient, Is Much More Important Than Sacrifice, How Did We Lose the Gospel of the Kingdom? That night my roommate came in and I was telling Tina about what had happened and my plan for the next day, and how I was going to really get her. The Church at Smyrna would have been familiar with the extreme honor associated with a victors crown. The city was well known for its Olympic-style athletic contests. What season of life are you in today? He just reminded them that what you have in Christ is far greater than anything on this earth materially that you will have. Be encouraged as you study the message sent to this church. Pt 1, How Did We Lose the Gospel of the Kingdom? John is grabbing their attention by reminding them (and us) who Christ is and what He has done. There was coming another form of suffering and that is prison in verse 10: Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for 10 days. I wish I had more time to go into detail of his story. released through Familius Publishing in 2020. When we work our lives and church with our corrupt personal power we are in fact abandoning His power and Fruit. I was just going through my mind of what I was going to say. Called: Jude 1-4. They, and the zealot Jewish leaders, hated Christians and prohibited them from working, buying, or selling, any time they got a chance. That is physical death. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Maybe you are dealing with an illness. Is there anything in your life that is causing you to be fearful? When we go through the troubles of life, we can either take shelter in Him or seek to go it alone in our fears and pride. View property report for 975 Church St Se, Smyrna, GA 30080 on ATTOM's Property Navigator. The Holy Spirit is Christ's presence on Earth, forever guiding and convicting to keep his followers on the right path. Jesus is passionately concerned with how and what we do in our churches, and wants to be intimately involved. It was almost as if the city was trying to starve them out. She was saying you know Crickett God has lain on my heart that because things are going so well right now that we are going to be right in the middle of some spiritual warfare soon, because Satan is not going to like what God is doing.
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