Smyrna: The Longsuffering Church - Revelation 2:8-11 In 2024, Aaron Renn wrote the book, Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture. He argues that the church in America (Gospel-believing churches) have experienced three different phases in the past 60 years. Positive World: Christianity is respected. Neutral World: Christianity is tolerated. Negative World: Christianity is hated. John 15:18 (NASB), “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” 1. Christ knows the persecuted. Revelation 2:9, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” • The name of the city of Smyrna is related to the word, myrrh. • Myrrh means “bitter” and the church was undergoing the bitter experience of persecution. There was tribulation, poverty (as many lost their jobs and property because of their faith in Christ), there was slander (coming from Jews) and behind it all was Satanic opposition. • Christ gives no correction to this church. They have done nothing wrong. It’s not their fault these things are happening. • Christ gives them this consolation – He knows! The all-knowing ever-present Christ is among them… knowing fully their trial and pain, and reminding them, “he is the first and the last” (V8), He was dead but is now alive (v8), and “they are rich (v9)” • Just as a sweet fragrance is released when myrrh is crushed, so the church is a sweet fragrance of Christ in persecution. • The situation in Smyrna made persecution unavoidable. Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD) He exiled the Apostle John. Smyrna’s imperial cult mandated public honor and emperor worship. Jews were exempted. Jewish leaders instigated and slandered Christians in order to remove their religious protections. Up to this point, the Roman state viewed Christians and Jews as a shared faith tradition, so the church had religious freedom along with religious Jews, but the Jewish leaders (like they did to Jesus), did not believe in Christ as Messiah, and accused Christians of blasphemy and treason (they couldn’t’ t get rid of the Christians so they hoped the state would). • Behind all these false accusations, lies, and political opposition – is the father of lies, Satan, the Devil – who means to destroy the church by any means possible. • In Revelation Satan accuses God’s people day and night (Rev. 12). He is the Dragon (the source of chaos and rebellion). He is the Serpent (the deceiver). He is the Devil (the slanderer). 2. Christ instructs the persecuted. Revelation 2:10, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death…” • Notice: Jesus doesn’t promise to take the persecution away. • Instead, Jesus is bracing the church for more persecution, prison and death. Jesus instructs the persecuted with two commands: Do not fear. Be faithful until death. • The devil uses fear to enslave and silence the church. • Faithfulness until death is what liberates us. • The only hint of good news here is the tribulation will seem short, just 10 days. Who else in the Bible went through a 10-day test? • Remember Daniel and his friends were forced to serve a pagan king. In order to get away from the king’s pagan banquet Daniel proposed a 10-day test of just veggies and water. They passed the test and were free from participating in idolatry. 3. Christ rewards the persecuted. Revelation 2:10, “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life. 11 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” • The crown of life is eternal life in a new heaven and earth. • There is a special reward and crown for Christians who die in persecution. • They will be hurt by physical death, but they will not be hurt by the second death. What is the second death? • The second death is eternal death in the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8 (NASB), “But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” CONCLUSION 2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB), “Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Frank Turek, The War on Reality, “Persecution is not a great ‘ministry strategy.’ It’s something God redeems when it happens, not something Christians are called to manufacture by negligence.” • There is one big difference between the 1st century Church in Smyrna and the Church in America. We can vote, they couldn’t! • Voting isn’t the most important thing Christians do, but it helps guarantee the freedoms we need to do the most important things we do! • The neglect of the church to be politically engaged, and informed to vote for Christian values, will only increase the negative world and hostility we live with.