Lessons from Smyrna: Part 2 - Revelation 2: 8-11

0:56Smyrna was alleged to be one of the most dangerous places on planet Earth to be a Christian at this time. It was under the Emperor Domitian and his reign that it became a capital offense to refuse to offer the yearly sacrifice to the emperor. And so, what would happen, once a person would have offered the sacrifice, they would get the certificate saying that they were citizen in good standing and enjoy all the privileges there. Those who refused to offer the sacrifice faced execution. And it's in this context that Jesus sends this letter, this message, to the church at Smyrna.

1:46Look at verse 8. And to the angel, the church in Smyrna, write, the first and the last who was dead and has come to life, says this. Notice how Jesus characterizes himself as the first and the last, the one who had become a corpse, and the one who had come back to life. It's appropriate that he characterizes himself as such. It's the one who has the first word, the one who has the last word, and the one who is there throughout, the one who has gone through death, the one who has been resurrected to life. It's appropriate that he speaks to this church because that's exactly what they're facing. So this morning, what I want to do with our time, I want to briefly review what Christ says to this church of living martyrs and then look at the way these words apply to us. It's been our pattern. We spend more time looking at the context and everything the first time we look at the passage and then we spend more time going deeper in a second message. So let me just read these words in verse, beginning in verse 8. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, the first and the last who is 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 unto 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.

3:42Well, three elements that Jesus communicated by way of review. First of all, he communicated what he knows. What he knows. What he knows about the church. He knows who they are. He knows what pressures they are facing. I know your tribulation, verse 9, and your poverty, but you are rich. I know the burden that's crushing you. And I know your poverty, brought about probably by the persecutions. And by the way, your poverty is not what you imagine. You are rich. You are rich in a degree that you can't even imagine. Rich in faith, rich in future, rich in blessedness. But by the way, your cold war is about to turn into a hot war. It's going to get worse.

4:30The pressures are going to intensify. So he knows what they're going through and what they're about to go through. Second, he knows who their enemies are and what they are doing. I know, verse 9, the blasphemy by those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. He knows who their enemies are. He knows what they're conspiring. He knows what they're about to do. Third, he knows what's about to happen to him. And he knows why it's going to happen to him. 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 ten days. So he tells them what he knows. Second, he tells them what he expects of them, what he expects of them. First of all, he commands them to stop fearing. Verse 10, do not fear. Do not be afraid. Stop fearing what you're about to suffer. Second, he goes on to command them to expect suffering. Behold, it's going to get worse. 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. It will come to pass. It will be over.

5:45Stop fearing. Expect greater suffering. And then he tells them the third command: be faithful unto death. Yes, I know what you're going through. I know what's happening. I know who you're. Enemies are. I know what they're throwing against you, and I know why all this is coming against you, and I want you to stop fearing what's about to come upon you. I want you to expect suffering in this world, and I want you to be faithful all the way to the point of death through this. That's what he expects.

6:17I want you to produce faithfulness to the extreme context, to the extreme limit. It's one thing not just to die, but to all those sacrifices short of dying. That's the extreme. That's to the far reaches. And notice what he promises: verse 10: Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. I will give you that crown, that garland wreath, the trophy that is worn by the victor in the games. The trophy of victory is life.

6:53Eternal life is the crown. It's not something in addition to it. And the emphasis is upon I. I, Jesus, who is the first, who sees all this coming, who is also the last, and will have the final word, I will give you the trophy of life. Well, it's evident from history. This is all review until now. It's evident from history that this church did. Produce faithfulness. And it nurtured a community of faithfulness all the way to the point of death. Keep in mind, some of them were going to be thrown into prison. But what God was exhorting, what Christ was exhorting to the church, was to be faithful to death, not just the individual members who are going to suffer martyrdom. Yes, they are to be faithful all the way to the point of death. But he's speaking to the church. There is great pain. In some ways, I would rather be martyred than watching one of my children be martyred or watching y'all be martyred.

8:12It is a horrible situation to be on call. Just think at any given time, somebody could be called out of here and be martyred. And he was calling this church to be living martyrs. He's not writing the letter to the dead. He's writing the letter to the living. That all of us would come around one another. That the church itself would come around one another and comfort the mother, support the father, support the children, support those who suffered or suffered the backlash or the fallout, felt the brunt of the martyrdom.

8:52There's a lot to it. Help the church think through it theologically. Help the church through it all. Maintain a faithful world. Witness, even in the face of such satanic opposition. It's a church effort. It's not just an individual effort, though it involves individuals. And it implies sacrifices not only those who will go all the way to death, but those who will be living in the aftermath of their death and how to make sacrifices for one another for the good of Christ's bride.

9:27Well, the church did produce faithfulness, as evidenced from a document written called The Martyrdom of Polycarp. It's actually the oldest written account of a Christian martyrdom outside the New Testament. And this church taught the church how to suffer in a Christ-like manner. I would love to give you two sentences and summarize the whole thing, but I'm going to give you about three pages because it's so epic. And I want you to step into the moment and relive what was going on in this church and what they had to face.

10:12It's the striking story of Polycarp's martyrdom, which was written within about a year of his death. He was 86, and it was written sometime in the mid-2nd century. So if you do your math right, he was probably in his mid-20s. When this letter was written, he may very well have been the messenger, the pastor to whom this letter is written to at Smyrna. Regardless, it's very clear as we go through that he was very aware of the content. And those who record his martyrdom, it's very clear they understood the content of what is written here in Revelation. Let me just pick up and comment. Before they get into the martyrdom, they say a few words. This is a letter.

11:09The church of God, which sojourns at Smyrna, to the church of God, which sojourns in Philomelium, and to all the communities of the holy church sojourning in every place. May mercy, peace, and love from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied. We are writing to you, brothers, on account of those who were martyred, especially the blessed Polycarp, who put an end to the persecution as though he were setting his seal upon it by his martyrdom. For nearly all the preceding events happened in order that the Lord might show us once again a martyrdom which is in accord with the gospel.

11:57Keep in mind, martyrdom is springing up all over. Over. And here is Polycarp. And this church shows us what godly martyrdom looks like. A martyrdom that's in accord with the gospel. A martyrdom by a hot and hasty, angry brain is not a martyrdom according to Christ. All martyrs were not equal. And the church is saying it's important that you, if you're going to die for Christ, you die in a Christ-like manner. And so you get this sort of manual that comes out about how to suffer for Christ all the way to martyrdom in a way that honors Christ and isn't just the result of somebody who's angry or bitter, but to suffer really in a Christ-like manner. And this church taught the world and other churches how to do this. Listen, you see, martyrs today, people, alleged martyrs, strapping a bomb around your chest and going in and blowing something up is not biblical martyrdom. No, those who do so are nothing more than a brainwashed weapon of war, believing the lies handed down by their superiors. That is not martyrdom in any way like Christ. And martyrdom that just goes out to seek in a flash or an angry, hasty. Way.

13:34But he goes on, for he waited to be betrayed, just as the Lord did, in order that we too might be imitators of him. There were those who were turning themselves in. There were those who would. No, there's a way that Christ suffered, and so this church lays out this way for it to happen. Blessed and noble, therefore, are all the martyrdoms that have taken place in accordance with the will of God. For who could fail to admire their nobility and patient endurance and loyalty to the master? So he's talking about several martyrs that went before Polycarp. For even when they were so torn by whips that the internal structure of their flesh was visible as far as the inner veins and arteries, they endured so patiently that even the bystanders had pity and wept. But they themselves reached such a level of bravery that not one of them uttered a cry or a groan, thus showing us all that the very hour when they were being tortured, that the martyrs of Christ were absent from the flesh, or rather that the Lord was standing by and conversing with them.

14:46And in a similar manner, those who were condemned to the wild beasts endured terrible punishments. They were forced to lie on sharp shells and afflicted with various other forms of torture in order that he, the devil, Might, if possible, by means of the unceasing punishment, compel them to deny their faith. For the devil tried many things against them. But thanks be to God, for he, the devil, did not prevail against any of them. So after all of this, all the multitude, marveling at the bravery of the God-loving and God-fearing race of Christians, began shouting, shouting, away with the atheists. The atheists were those who didn't believe in the pantheon of deities, of Roman deities. The Christians, they called atheists, because they didn't believe in the Roman gods. And as we looked at last time, Smyrna was filled with temples. Away with the atheists. And then they said these horrifying words: Find Colyparp. Find Polycarp. Find Colyparp. Find Polycarp.

16:01Friends begged him to flee. And to appease them, he agreed to withdraw to a small place outside of town. But eventually the authorities caught up with him because Polycarp would not flee. So, I'll pick up the narrative. On Friday, about suppertime, the mounted police and horsemen set out, armed with their usual weapons, as though chasing after an armed rebel. And closing in on him late in the morning. In the evening, they found him in bed in an upstairs room in a small cottage, and though he still could have escaped from there to another place, he refused, saying, May God's will be done. So when he heard that they had arrived, he went and talked with them, while those who were present marveled at his age and composure and wondered why there was so much eagerness for the arrest of an old man like him. Then he immediately ordered that a table be set for them to eat and drink as much as they wished at that hour. And he asked them so that he might pray undisturbed. When they had consented, he stood and prayed, so full of the grace of God that for two hours he was unable to stop speaking. Those who heard him were amazed, and many regretted that they had come after such a godly man. Now, when at last he finished his prayer, they seated him on a donkey and brought him into the city on the day of a great Sabbath. Herod, the police captain, and his father, Nicetes, came out to meet him. After transferring him to their carriage and sitting down at his side, they tried to persuade him, saying, Why? Why? So, picture they're in the carriage, they got Polycarp there. Why? What harm is there in saying Caesar is Lord and offering the incense and other words to this effect, and thereby saving. Yourself. Now, at first, he gave them no answer, but when they persisted, he said, I am not about to do what you are suggesting of me.

18:10Thus, failing to persuade him, they began to utter threats and made him dismount in such a hurry that they dislocated his leg as he got down from the carriage, and without even turning around, he went on his way eagerly and quickly. As he was led into the stadium, there was such a tumult in the stadium that no one could even be heard. Therefore, when he was brought before him, the proconsul asked if he were Polycarp. And when he confessed that he was, the proconsul tried to persuade him to recant, saying, Have respect for your age and other things as this. Swear by the genius of Caesar, repent. Say, away with the atheists, away with the Christians. So Polycarp solemnly looked at the whole crowd of lawless heathen who were in the stadium. He motioned toward them with his hand, and then groaning as he looked up to heaven, away with the atheist. Here are the atheists.

19:20But when the magistrate persisted and said, swear the oath, and I will release you, revile Christ. This is what Polycarp said. Listen to this. For 86 years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me? But as he continued to insist, swear by the genius of Caesar, he answered, If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you request, and pretend to not know who I am, listen carefully. I am a Christian.

20:08So the proconsul said, I have wild beasts. I will throw you to them unless you change your mind. But he said, Call for them. For repentance from better to worse is a change impossible for us. I love that. A Christian. I am a Christian, and it is impossible for us to repent from better to worse. That's not what we do. But it is a noble thing to change from that which is evil to righteous. Then he said to him, I will have you consumed by fire, since you despise the wild beast, unless you change your mind. But Polycarp said, You threaten with the fire that burns only briefly, and after just a little while is extinguished, for you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal. Eternal punishment which is reserved for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Come, do what you wish.

21:08As he spoke these and many other words, he was inspired with courage and joy, and his face was filled with grace, so that not only did he not collapse in fright at the things which were said to him, but on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished and sent his own herald into the midst of the stadium to proclaim three times: Polycarp has confessed that he is a Christian. When this was proclaimed by the herald, the entire crowd, Gentiles as well as Jews living in Smyrna, cried out with uncontrollable anger and with a loud shout. Then it occurred to them to shout in unison that Polycarp should be burned alive.

21:51These things then happened with such swiftness, quicker than words could tell, the crowd swiftly collecting the wood and kindling from the workshops and baths. The Jews, and get this, the Jews being especially eager to assist in this. Isn't it interesting? A great Sabbath. And the Jews, remember the synagogue of Satan, especially eager to do this. Then the materials for the pyre were placed around him, and as they were about to nail him, he said, Leave me as I am, for he who enables me to endure the fire will also enable me to remain. On the pyre without moving, even without the sense of security which you get from nails.

22:37So they did not nail him, but tied him instead. The men in charge of the fire lit the fire, and as a mighty flame blazed up, we saw a miracle. We, that is, to whom it was given to see, and we have been preserved in order that we might tell the rest what happened. For the fire, taking the shape of an arch, like the sail of a ship, filled by the wind, completely surrounded the body of the martyr, and it was there in the middle, not like flesh burning, but like bread baking or like gold and silver being refined in a furnace. For we also perceived a very fragrant odor, as if it were the scent of incense or some other precious spice. When the lawless men eventually realized that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they ordered an executioner to go up to him and stab him with the dagger. And when he did this, there came out a large quantity of blood, so that it extinguished the fire. And the whole crowd was amazed that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect.

23:45Well, this was not the end of the matter. The next chapters describe the battle that took place over the body of Polycarp. But the jealous and envious evil one, the adversary of the The race of the righteous, when he observed the greatness of his martyrdom, and that his life was irreproachable from beginning, and that he was now crowned with the crown of immortality, and had won a prize which no one could challenge, saw to it that not even his poor body should be taken away by us. Even though many desired to do this, so he, the devil, incited Nicetes to plead with the magistrate not to give up his body, or else he said, They may abandon the crucified one and begin to worship this man. So they're afraid they're going to start worshiping Polycarp.

24:37And then they say this: But they did not know that we will never be able to abandon the Christ who suffered for the salvation for the whole world or the worship of anyone else. For this one, who is the Son of God, we worship, but the martyrs we love as disciples and imitators of the Lord as they deserve, on account of their matchless devotion to their own king and teacher, may we also become their partners and fellow disciples.

25:10Such is the story of the blessed Polycarp. Although he was martyred in Smyrna, along with 11 others from Philadelphia, he alone is especially remembered by everyone, so that he is spoken of everywhere, even by pagans. He proved not to only be a distinguished. Teacher, but also an outstanding martyr, whose martyrdom all the desire to imitate, since it was in accord with the pattern of the gospel of Christ. Well, one thing's cleared: Polycarp was a disciple of John, and he certainly was aware of this message sent to Smyrna.

25:59Well, in the remaining time, I want to spend a few moments thinking about some lessons that we are to take home from this. Look back at verse 11. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He is certainly speaking to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. So I want us to, that was all the introduction. Actually, no, it's not funny at this time, right?

26:31That was the introduction. But this will go quickly. It's evident that Christ is speaking to all the churches. And there are five lessons I think we can take away from this, probably several more. But first of all, it's important to understand that Christ wants us to overcome. He wants us to overcome. He wants us to overcome the pressures of our time, no matter what. You're going through, no matter what the source of the suffering is, he wants you to overcome.

27:07Even the most satanic pressures that are orchestrated by Satan himself, he wants us to overcome. Now, pause and just think about that for a second. He wants me to overcome. At the outset of every pressure and everything that you will ever face, our Lord's desire is that we overcome it. Like a baby learning to walk. We got a lot of babies, right? Some of them are going to walk soon, right? And what's funny is watching those babies' first steps. What do they love to do? I mean, sometimes their mouth's open. It's a big deal. And a lot of times, I think the babies take their first step just because mom or dad is just looking there. Come on, come on, you can do it. You know, and they take that step. They take that step. Why do they do it? They want to please their parents. I mean, look, it's not, you know, the baby's first step isn't about taking him from A to B.

28:07You want your child to learn how to walk. You don't want to just move him from A to B. You delight in seeing your children walk. Likewise, Christ wants us to learn how to overcome this pressure, the pressures of this world. We need to be like children who take their first steps out of a desire to please our parents. Our parent, our heavenly Father. The whole enterprise of overcoming stems from a desire to simply please our Heavenly Father. I want to overcome the trials and tribulations in my life simply because he wants me to.

28:49Not for future reward, not for temporary rewards, but to please him. That's where it starts. Christ wants us to overcome. So let's overcome. Second, Christ wants us to expect suffering. He wants us to overcome. What does he want us to overcome? The suffering, the pressures, the trials. But to overcome the pressures and trials, we must certainly know that they are going to come. They are coming. They are here. Some are going through several different pressures, several different things designed at challenging your faith.

29:26You must develop a robust theology of suffering. First of all, the extent of suffering. He wants us to suffer to the death, to the further reaches humanly possible. But this includes all the other little, all the way, all the other little sacrifices. Most of the church there in Smyrna probably didn't get called to the martyr's block, but they were called to be ready to go and to make any other kind of lesser sacrifice. Sacrifices. There are several kinds of suffering involved. You need to understand. The Bible is very clear. Sometimes there's suffering to prevent us from exalting ourselves, such as Paul and this thorn in the flesh that God gave him to keep him from exalting himself. Sometimes there's suffering because we are being disciplined in God. And listen, if we walk into sin, if we walk into a forbidden relationship, if we do that which is offensive to him, and if you're a child of God, you will live under his discipline. And you must subject yourself to his discipline and turn, or you're going to stay under that discipline. There's the kind of suffering brought about by being disciplined. There's also the kind of suffering that comes about in an effort that comes that God has designed for the purpose of teaching us perseverance and proving character and godliness. But then there's another kind of suffering, and that's the suffering that God allows so that we may have a greater testimony.

31:01A greater testimony. And such was the case with Smyrna. Christ is calling this church at Smyrna to provide all the churches in the world an example of what a true Christian is. This is the richness which Christ spoke of. This church had not left its first love. This church, in fact, their first love is all they had left. Third, there's an extent of suffering, kinds of suffering, but then there's to subject yourself to him. Think about this. Jesus sees it all coming.

31:46He's the first. He sees it coming. He has all authority in heaven and on earth, and he lets it come anyway. Think about that. He knew what they were going through, he saw what was coming. He is the one with all authority, and he let it come anyway. Listen, he allows it to come in his sovereign wisdom and for a good reason, he allows it to come, and the same is true for us. So, first, five lessons. Christ wants us to overcome. Second, Christ wants us to expect suffering. Third, Christ wants us to see the life beyond death, life beyond death.

32:28There is a kind of life that is beyond physical death. There is a kind of life and kind of living that doesn't cower in the face of suffering. There is a kind of living that comes after life's crosses. You will be called to die daily. That is the way of the disciple. And there is a kind of resurrection living that happens on the other side of crosses, even if it's a physical cross and physical death. Death. Yeah, the way of the cross is the way of life. This is what being on call is. Life on call. Life to lay down yourself at any given moment. Not just in one great extreme example of sacrifice, but in all the little sacrifices of daily life leading up to that, to the extent of death. You are on call. We can learn this from this church of living martyrs to live a life on call to suffer for the gospel.

33:32Fourth, Christ wants us to see the death beyond death. Not only does He want us to see the life beyond death, He wants us to see the death beyond death. Look back at verse 11. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. We will not be hurt by the second death. We are to be a people who live in the light of the second death rather than just the first. Look, physical death is just the separation of the soul from the body, and that preempts the body going back to dust. For dust we are, dust we were taken, dust this body shall return. But we are more than just human flesh.

34:17And the second death, second death is eternal separation from God forever. This is the final state. This is permanent death. Revelation 20, 14 is going to speak of this second death as the lake of fire, eternal separation. And what Jesus is bringing to mind here is that the fate of the unbeliever is worse than the fate of the martyr, by far. Pity your persecutors, for their fate is far worse than that of the martyr. But I love this expression. Look back. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. There's a double negative there in the Greek. And what that means, it's a way to emphasize the faithful will in no way be harmed by the second death. You think about what happens in this eternal separation. In no way will be harmed. I think sometimes we fear about what's going to happen with the loved ones. I can't go to heaven without. No, think about this. Even it will be so right, so good. In no way will we be damaged or spoiled by the second death. That's the promise.

35:41And this fits with what Jesus was saying in Matthew 10, 28. Do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Third or fifth. Christ wants us to behold him. Five lessons. Look back to verse eight. And to the church of the angel in Smyrna, write, the first and the last who is dead and has come to life, says this. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. You see a connection. Christ, who is the first, the last, the one who is dead and has come to life by believing in him. He wants us to see him. Revelation is about seeing him. He wants us to see him and believing who he is. Do you really believe that he's the first, the last?

36:42Taking in who he is transforms a faithful, change transforms a fearing heart into a faithful heart. I want to explain, I want to tell you one more illustration. I love what W.A. Criswell says on this. There was a time, he uses this illustration, there was a time when the world was largely unexplored. And you know what people would do when they didn't know what was on a map? They would say this, Here be dragons. Here be the fiery sands. So if you don't know what the world's going, you here be the abyss.

37:28Listen. We, as Christians, can take the map of life, the world with all of its unknowns, and we don't have to say, isn't that what we do? Wherever we don't know something, we do, here be dragons, here be the abyss, here be the bad things. No, but as a believer, we can look and say, Here be Christ. Here is my Lord. I don't know what's coming. I don't know what, I don't know all the things, but whatever I don't know, I know who's there.

38:00He is Christ, my Lord. He is my advocate. Here, here is my mediator. Here is the one who has promised to never leave me or forsake me. Here he is in all my unknowns. Here's Christ. Listen, the word Smyrna itself comes from a Hebrew word meaning myrrh. Myrrh was a perfume for the living and for the dead. Myrrh. And its association with this church here is very appropriate because it was in them and remaining faithful to them all the way to the extent of death that they learned to love Christ more and so emit a radiance of his glory and his goodness.

39:01I'm going to leave you with this scene. He calls us over and over to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. To be his disciple, that's what we do. But just leave you with this image. Verse 19 of John, I mean, chapter 19, verse 17 of John. They took Jesus, therefore, and he went out bearing his own cross to the place called the place of the skull, which is in Hebrew called Gogatha. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your goodness. Thank you for the wonderful day that we had. Thank you for the new life that you keep giving to this church, both physical and spiritual, Father, and we pray that you would have your absolute way with us this morning. Thank you, for it's in Christ's name we pray. Amen.