1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,440 In light of today's message, I decided to do something a little 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:11,680 different. I decided to visit the website 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:16,040 of the Voice of the Martyrs and to look into their most recent 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:20,680 prayer request and post regarding persecuted Christians 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,480 around the world. And initially I was hoping to 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,600 maybe revisit some accounts of those who have suffered for 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,400 Christ's name's sake, to just bring to our attention things 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,520 that maybe we have forgotten. But then I thought it might be 9 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,160 more helpful to look at what is happening in our day. 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:47,520 What is happening to Christians across the world, common folk, 11 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,480 those who have regular jobs, those who have spouses and 12 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:54,840 children. What is taking place at this 13 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,920 very moment while you and I get to enjoy these freedoms, sing 14 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:04,680 with No Fear, come regularly. So I have a couple of things to 15 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,920 bring to your mind and I hope it stirs you as we prepare to see 16 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,480 what God's Word has to say regarding this. 17 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,360 These are just two testimonies from recent months, so I want to 18 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,480 begin with the following. A Christian families 19 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,800 registration book is being withheld because of their faith. 20 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,080 That was born and registered in a village in northern Leos or 21 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,120 Leo. But as a young man he left for 22 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,280 the southern part of the country to work at a coffee farm. 23 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,480 While there he married and also heard the gospel and he and his 24 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,880 family came to faith in Jesus Christ. 25 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,960 In January of 2024 he returned to his home village. 26 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,560 However, after learning that that and his family were 27 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,000 Christians, the head of the village refused to renew the 28 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,960 registration book, a document with vital records such as ID, 29 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,000 travel and work permits, marriage and birth records, 30 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,680 educational records, and residence permits. 31 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,000 Without registration books, families struggle getting work, 32 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,320 housing, social services, medical care and education for 33 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,120 their children. Pray for Vat's family and others 34 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,920 who are faced with a decision to deny Christ or lose these 35 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:18,520 documents, as this is a common persecution tactic and layoffs. 36 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,000 Here's another story. Two sisters were imprisoned by 37 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:27,480 their family for their faith and now seek safety in another 38 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,680 country. Noor and Rana grew up in a 39 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,320 Muslim home but did not like the way they and other woman were 40 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,960 treated. They searched the Internet for 41 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,000 information on different fates and eventually met some 42 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,880 Christians online. Through the Christians 43 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:46,480 friendship and witness, the two sisters became followers of 44 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,440 Christ. But when their family discovered 45 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,520 their new faith, they locked the sisters inside and physically 46 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,800 abused them for 13 months. The two women escaped and fled 47 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,600 to a nearby country, but they do not have the paperwork necessary 48 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,720 to stay or to move on. They are afraid, terrified that 49 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,400 they might be sent home, said a frontline worker. 50 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,720 He asked that Christians pray for the sisters to experience 51 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,960 God's peace and provision for a safe home where they can grow in 52 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,560 their faith. This is just a sample of the 53 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,760 countless testimonies of millions of Christians who are 54 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,840 paying a price for what they believe in. 55 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,960 And what you and I just got was a glimpse of something that 56 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,680 dates back to the very beginning, the very infancy of 57 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,240 the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. 58 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:39,960 Because you see, the true Church of Jesus has always known 59 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,920 suffering. And as we come to our text 60 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,240 today, we are going to be reminded of that often forgotten 61 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:53,600 reality of our faith, that there is a price to pay for having 62 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,480 your allegiance tied to this Savior. 63 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,840 And as we see what Jesus is going to say to a church in 64 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:05,520 Smyrna, we're going to recognize that His desire is to embolden 65 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,840 them. Even in the very first words, 66 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,920 the very introduction of this short letter, He seeks to 67 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,680 energize them, to remain faithful. 68 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:16,720 He seeks to offer them hope and comfort in the midst of their 69 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,880 agony. And I want us to look at it 70 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,640 together in Revelation chapter 2, beginning in verse 8. 71 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:32,920 This is the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Church in 72 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,200 Smyrna, modern day Izmir in Turkey. 73 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,280 Verse 8 of Revelation 2. And to the Angel of the church 74 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:50,200 in Smyrna write the words of the 1st and the last who died and 75 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,600 came to life. I know your tribulation and your 76 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,440 poverty, but you are rich. And the slander of those who say 77 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,560 that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. 78 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,120 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 79 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,320 Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, 80 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,880 that you may be tested, and for 10 days you will have 81 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,240 tribulation. Be faithful unto death and I 82 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,680 will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear 83 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,600 what the Spirit says to the churches. 84 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:24,840 The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. 85 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,600 Father, we ask with this brief message that you would have your 86 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,000 way in our hearts for the rest of our lives. 87 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:37,120 We trust, Lord, that You have a word for us even here in 88 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,120 America. We need to hear your wisdom 89 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,040 regarding these things, so we look to you now in faith, 90 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,280 believing that you will indeed speak. 91 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:47,520 Give us ears to hear. In Christ's name we pray. 92 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:52,800 Amen. Can you imagine the holy shock 93 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,080 that surged through the hearts of these weary Saints as they 94 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,480 whispered these words in their meeting? 95 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,760 What was it like to discover that the very author of this 96 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:09,160 letter was God himself? It's right there in this amazing 97 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,600 title, this caption that exclusively belongs to the God 98 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,680 of the Hebrew Scriptures, primarily what we find in the 99 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,560 book of Isaiah, the words of the 1st and the last. 100 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,840 This is God speaking to us through his servant John, and as 101 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:28,720 powerful that as that is, the title only continues. 102 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,360 This caption goes on to say that this is the first and the last 103 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,920 who died and came to life. There has to be a paradox. 104 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,280 You're telling me that the Eternal One at some point died 105 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:46,720 and came to life? Staggering, but extremely 106 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,320 helpful because the Holy Spirit is precise and telling us who it 107 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:55,200 is within the Godhead that is addressing this battered church. 108 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,840 It is the sin bearer of the world, the one who dwelt in 109 00:07:00,840 --> 00:07:04,960 eternity and stepped into time to take on flesh and to become a 110 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,280 sacrifice and a ransom for many. This is Jesus Christ who has 111 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:12,560 come to speak and to comfort his people in Smyrna. 112 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:14,840 And what's so fascinating about this? 113 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,120 It's it's another confirmation to the divinity of our Lord, 114 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,640 simply because he unashamedly declares himself to be the very 115 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:27,280 same one who says I alone am the 1st and the last. 116 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,280 Now for Christ to say that He is the first reminds these 117 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:34,520 believers and us that He existed long before there was a church 118 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:41,840 in Smyrna, long before Smyrna ever existed, long before the 119 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:47,120 very earth and the solar system was spoken into reality. 120 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,280 And for Jesus to say, I am the last, now he points in the other 121 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:56,240 direction of His eternal nature. I will always be. 122 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:03,320 I remain forever. I am sovereign perpetually. 123 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,320 No one can dethrone my authority. 124 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,080 And even though empires come and go and fade into history, I 125 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:16,400 still stand right away. What Christ is doing for these 126 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,680 believers is to have a larger view of their Savior. 127 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,680 I'm reminding you of how awesome I am, who I am, where I came 128 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:31,280 from, where this is all going. And so clearly there's something 129 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,880 about understanding the sovereignty of Christ that 130 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:38,880 becomes a source of strength. But it's not just his 131 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,360 sovereignty, it's his empathy. Because he adds again by saying, 132 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,920 yes, I'm the 1st and the last, but I at one point came into 133 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:52,360 your world, the world that I created with the intention of 134 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:57,800 dying. This is marvelous because what 135 00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,960 the Lord is essentially doing here is reminding these 136 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:01,760 believers that He walked in their shoes. 137 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,600 And as these believers are facing much suffering, He 138 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,960 decides to merge his exaltation with His humiliation. 139 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,240 Yes, I'm high and lifted up, but I'm also the one who came low 140 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,480 and was disgraced by those who thought they had their way with 141 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,840 me. But why is He saying this? 142 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,600 Because He wants to tell these believers who are smelling 143 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,280 death. I know what death tastes like. 144 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,800 I know what it's like to obey God to the point of excruciating 145 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:40,720 pain and dishonor. I I know what it's like to look 146 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:45,360 into the eyes of lifeless souls who have no reason to attack you 147 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:52,280 but do so with demonic Glee. I know what it's like to give my 148 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,640 final breath. I know. 149 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:04,400 So these believers, when hearing this, are reminded he gets it. 150 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,920 He doesn't just know with his omniscience, He knows with 151 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,960 experience. There's a different level of 152 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:16,880 comfort that comes from somebody who has known the pain that we 153 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,440 are facing. And that is precisely what 154 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,640 Christ is offering these precious Saints. 155 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,840 I know it. You know what's so amazing about 156 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:30,880 Jesus saying that I'm the one who died and came to life as one 157 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:34,320 person said it so wonderfully. Think of the greatest man who 158 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,960 walked this world. Think of those in history who 159 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:38,640 have shaped history in different ways. 160 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,320 No matter what kind of praise you can give to such figures, we 161 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,840 have to say of all of them that they lived and then they died. 162 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,560 But there is only one person who we can say with great confidence 163 00:10:51,560 --> 00:10:55,520 that he died and then he came to life as Jesus Christ. 164 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:59,920 He's in his own category. Oh, I'm sure that this would 165 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:01,960 have brought some kind of encouragement, but it's only 166 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:04,880 beginning. He says here who died to came to 167 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:08,120 life, which not only confirms his resurrected state, but it 168 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,800 also grants them the assurance of their resurrection as well. 169 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:15,160 Yes, I came to die, but in my death I paved the way into 170 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:20,040 eternal life through my death and my resurrection. 171 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,640 Now there's a way for you to share in my fate. 172 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,400 So right here at the outset, these Christians and Smyrna are 173 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,600 given so much to look forward to and we're only getting started. 174 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,640 He adds to this initial comment what we find in verse 9. 175 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:42,240 I know, I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are 176 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:43,960 rich. And the slander of those who say 177 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,520 that they are Jews and are not but our synagogue of Satan. 178 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,480 He says I know three things, three things about you, your 179 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,800 tribulation, your poverty, your slander. 180 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,120 Now he could have just said that he is aware of their difficulty 181 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:00,960 in a general sense, but he doesn't do that. 182 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,160 He is specific. And the reason why He's specific 183 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:09,120 is so that they can comprehend of how cognizant He is of their 184 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:13,200 trials, that He knows every angle of their anguish, that He 185 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,760 knows every source of their sorrow, that He knows every 186 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:21,840 detail of their distress. And so even in this, these 187 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:26,960 believers are to understand. He is nearer to us than we might 188 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:31,240 have believed. He's closer to us than we might 189 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:36,120 have imagined. He has studied us, but not just 190 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,800 with again, His knowledge, but with sympathy. 191 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:44,360 So the Savior is walking near, and our knee jerk reaction to 192 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,000 that truth and our pain perhaps might be. 193 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,120 Then why doesn't He do something about it? 194 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,360 OK, he knows. He knows what's happening in my 195 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:54,520 marriage. He knows what's happening with 196 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:55,680 my body. He knows what's happening with 197 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:57,320 my health. He knows what's happening with 198 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,440 my finances, as you say. So where is he then? 199 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,320 To which I would respond. If you believe that he is the 200 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,560 all knowing one, then you must also believe that He is 201 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:10,760 perfectly good. And in His goodness, whatever 202 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:16,840 pain He permits, despite your constant pleas, He is allowing 203 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:22,480 it for you to achieve a good that is impossible to attain 204 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:28,960 apart from this way. Didn't you catch that when we 205 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:36,080 read this initially, Jesus comes to them not to promise them 206 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,680 immediate relief, rescue from their troubles. 207 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:42,800 He does provide comfort. But in the midst of their 208 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,760 troubles, actually, He's going to tell them it's going to get 209 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,560 worse. He's not here to say your 210 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:50,000 circumstances are going to get better. 211 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,840 He's going to say it's going to get more intense. 212 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,880 But I'm going to give you the necessary things for you to be 213 00:13:54,880 --> 00:14:00,560 able to successfully endure it. So I know these things. 214 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,280 And we talked a little bit about the poverty aspect of this. 215 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,120 If the prosperity gospel is supposedly true, then why not 216 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:13,960 give them the ingredients to claim their fortune, to claim 217 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,200 resources so they can escape their poverty? 218 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,680 He doesn't do that. You can make the case that this 219 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,760 is one of the most praised churches and they are the 220 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,840 poorest among the seven. He doesn't criticize them for 221 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,120 their poverty. Shame on those who say 222 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,480 otherwise. Shame on those who guilt 223 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:35,160 Christians and try to twist their arm thinking that wealth 224 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,000 is a sign of God's favor. You're going to stand before God 225 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:44,360 and give an account because my Jesus, I'm not concerned what 226 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,600 you say in the name of Jesus. I'm concerned ultimately about 227 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,480 Jesus said, my Jesus looks at this church. 228 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,560 He says you're, you're poor, but you're actually rich. 229 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,640 You're actually rich. And if that teaches us anything, 230 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,400 it is this that we must see as Christ sees. 231 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:03,320 We must behold our circumstances, people, events, 232 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,200 our personal journey, the way the Lord sees it. 233 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,920 And it doesn't end here. He says, yes, you are 234 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,880 experiencing poverty, you're actually rich, though. 235 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,760 And then he goes on to say, I'm also aware of the slander of 236 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,880 those who say they are Jews. So in their own perception, 237 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,120 whoever these Jews are, as they believe that they have spiritual 238 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,920 privilege because of their ethnicity, they say that they 239 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,200 are Jews, but they're actually a synagogue of Satan. 240 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,240 So that only expands on that truth that we must see as Christ 241 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,040 sees. And in this case, he wants these 242 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,000 believers to understand the spiritual nature of the struggle 243 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:45,560 that they're in. Moreover, we can say that the 244 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,040 Tribulation and the poverty that these Christians are 245 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:54,600 experiencing is the result of the slander of these Jews. 246 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:00,240 So you had a prominent, prominent community of Jewish 247 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:05,080 people in Smyrna who clearly had a level of influence for their 248 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:10,760 lies to persuade the governing authorities to harass this 249 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,040 church. We, we don't know the nature of 250 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,440 these lies, but whatever they were saying was working. 251 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,960 It was tainting the reputation of these Christians. 252 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,440 It caused these Christians to sever relationships with others, 253 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,760 to lose their businesses, to have even their property 254 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:31,560 confiscated. You have to remember here that 255 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:37,480 the Jews were furious with this new movement of Christians also 256 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,880 inviting Gentiles in claiming that Jesus of Nazareth was the 257 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,480 Messiah. So they were vehemently 258 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,120 attacking this group and in this specific area. 259 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,480 They had a lot of freedom to do so, and they took advantage of 260 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,400 it. And they could do nothing about 261 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,400 it. They could appeal to a higher 262 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,200 court. The court is against you. 263 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,240 They couldn't call the police. The police is against you. 264 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,920 Let me remind you that that is the case for many people around 265 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:03,600 the world. As you and I sit here and 266 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:11,839 hearing a sermon, I know, I know what people are saying about 267 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:14,240 you. Here's a little nugget. 268 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,040 Jesus in His wisdom. Listen carefully. 269 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:21,800 Servants of Christ Jesus in His perfect wisdom will sometimes 270 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:26,079 allow people to slander you. Be prepared for that. 271 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,080 Be prepared for that type of persecution where people malign 272 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:34,360 your reputation with a question. They broadcast your apparent 273 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:38,000 false motives that want to taint you. 274 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,040 So don't think of it as a strange thing when it happens. 275 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,520 He allows His people to go through that. 276 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,960 As painful as it is, as much as you want to try to defend it and 277 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,680 persuade others not to believe it, oftentimes Christ will allow 278 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,360 His people to be slandered. And even in that kind of 279 00:17:56,360 --> 00:17:57,680 suffering, you have to trust them. 280 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,920 This defamation was apparently working, but the way you and I 281 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,080 are supposed to respond to it is to allow Christ to defend us. 282 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,080 It was Wesley who said I've put my reputation in the same place 283 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,360 where I've rested my soul in the hands of God. 284 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:20,960 And in this case here we see that this Jesus of ours who says 285 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,360 I'm aware of their slander, indirectly comes to the defense 286 00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:29,640 by criticizing where these Jews are really coming from. 287 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,960 Now unfortunately, like many truths in the Bible, people have 288 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,240 used the words of Jesus here to support misleading doctrine and 289 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,240 to even encourage blatant anti-Semitism. 290 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,920 Listen very carefully please. There are so many people today 291 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:49,400 who make the claim that the Jewish people today are not the 292 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,080 real descendants of the patriarchs. 293 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,840 And there are wild conspiracies, and there are enthusiasts who 294 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:02,160 like to promote these strange legends and have the audacity to 295 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:06,880 come to the Bible and to draw from Christ's words to support 296 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,400 their arguments. And so there are people today, 297 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,280 if you Google Synagogue of Satan, you will find atrocious 298 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:19,920 things, even people in churches preaching that because the 299 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,280 Jewish people have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they 300 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:29,040 have forfeited their ancient identity, that they have 301 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:34,080 absolutely 0 relevance to God's program of redemption today and 302 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,520 tomorrow. And we'll even point to the 303 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,320 nation of Israel today and point to Jewish people today and say 304 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,360 you are of the synagogue of Satan. 305 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,080 Let me ask you a question. Do you really believe that what 306 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:49,040 Christ is saying here about these particular groups of Jews 307 00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:53,320 is His way of making a sweeping statement of the Jewish people 308 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,360 as a race being of Satan? Is that how you conclude what 309 00:19:57,360 --> 00:19:59,880 Christ is saying here? And he says it again in the same 310 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:04,320 book? Or is it more possible that in 311 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,080 light of the rest of Scripture, the Lord is pointing out that 312 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,760 any Jew who intentionally opposes or resists the Messiah 313 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,760 and His message is fulfilling the will of Satan, whether they 314 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:21,920 are aware of it or not? What did Jesus say to Peter? 315 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,760 After teaching that he was going to go to the cross and he 316 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:31,840 rebuked the Master in Matthew 1623, the Lord turned to him and 317 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,640 said get behind me. What Satan? 318 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:37,920 OK, be consistent with your teaching. 319 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:41,200 Is Peter a part of a global agenda that controls everything? 320 00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:48,760 Is Peter of Satan as well? Get behind me, Satan. 321 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,440 Why did he refer to Peter in this way? 322 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:56,400 Well, 1 he is highlighting the thinking of Peter, the 323 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:01,440 rationalization of Peter as being satanic in nature, and 324 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,920 Peter was to understand that. Moreover, He is also telling 325 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,640 Peter, you're not aware of this, but you're actually in line with 326 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,320 the will of the devil and trying to keep me from going to the 327 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,040 place that I've been destined to go. 328 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,560 What did he say to the Pharisees and other Jews in John chapter 329 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,840 8, verse 44? You are your father, the devil, 330 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,000 and your will is to do your father's desires. 331 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:33,000 He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in 332 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,880 the truth because there is no truth in him. 333 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,280 When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a 334 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:43,920 liar and the father of lies. Hey, hey, your father is the 335 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:45,080 devil. Do you know why? 336 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,520 Because his native tongue is to lie, and you're lying as well. 337 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:54,600 You're trying to set me up to make me look like I'm guilty. 338 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,960 So you're like your father, the devil. 339 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:00,920 So when we return to the scathing words of Jesus here in 340 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,160 Revelation chapter 2, he is again not making the statement 341 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:11,360 of the Jewish race or Israel's national identity is devilish or 342 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:17,600 energized by satanic rituals. Instead, he is condemning A 343 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:23,640 localized, specific group of Jews who took so much pride in 344 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,000 their spiritual, or rather in their race, thinking that they 345 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,400 have spiritual security in their ethnicity when in fact they were 346 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,240 in spiritual trouble because of their vehement attack against 347 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,960 the truth. Let me say another way. 348 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,120 Christ is not condemning their ethnicity. 349 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:42,720 He's condemning their behavior. It's so plain, it's so simple, 350 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,320 but there's so many who are willing to twist the words of 351 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:49,120 Christ. You want to slander these 352 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:51,640 Christians? Oh, OK, good. 353 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,920 You're Jews, but you are just like Satan because the very name 354 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:59,040 Satan means accuser. Sir, you're accusing these 355 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:00,480 beliefs. You're like the devil. 356 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,440 Your little ministry. You know who really presides 357 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:06,120 over it? The devil because you're acting 358 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:10,960 like him. All people who have No Fear of 359 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:12,720 God when it comes to the handling of God's Word. 360 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,280 Hopefully what's been said so far has been helpful, but we're 361 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,760 going to come to the real heart of this message. 362 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,040 Christ goes on to say in verse 10 three very important words, 363 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:33,800 do not fear. Do not fear what you are about 364 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:35,320 to suffer. You have to read that very 365 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:39,040 carefully. He's telling and preparing this 366 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,920 church that there is more persecution and pain on the way. 367 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:49,760 And they were afraid of it. And for many of us, that's the 368 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,040 essence of our fear. It may not necessarily be 369 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:56,040 because of what's taking place right now, but it's because of 370 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,480 the mere thought of potential hardship on its way. 371 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:00,880 And it's not limited to persecution. 372 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,520 Are you paralyzed in fear today because of what you think might 373 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:12,240 happen tomorrow, what you may be confident will happen tomorrow? 374 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,600 Based on what Jesus says here, He doesn't want you and I to 375 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:20,600 have an ounce of anxiety. Do not fear. 376 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,200 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 377 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:27,840 And again, don't limit it to people harassing you because of 378 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,840 your faith. It could be true that even in 379 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:34,120 this moment, in the sound of my voice, you're trying to drown 380 00:24:34,120 --> 00:24:37,720 out your fear. Hopefully the music will help. 381 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:39,640 Hopefully the message will medicate me. 382 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:46,800 Because you're worried about a future disease, abandonment, an 383 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:51,080 accident, the loss of a loved one, the loss of your life, 384 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,800 betrayal. Whatever it may be, whatever the 385 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,760 source, whatever the object that your fear is, Christ says do not 386 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,200 fear what you are about to suffer. 387 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:04,280 And he gives these Christians 3 reasons, three reasons in the 388 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:09,240 same verse why we can be rock solid, rock solid, confident for 389 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,440 whatever we're facing now or whatever may surprise us 390 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:16,720 tomorrow. And the umbrella, the theme of 391 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:20,600 our security is the sovereignty of Christ again, but in three 392 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:25,160 specific domains, 3 specific domains of Christ's sovereignty. 393 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:30,640 That should give you and I the key of unlocking A bravery for 394 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,480 anything. Can we look at them three things 395 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,040 in verse 10. The first thing is Christ 396 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:42,680 sovereignty over Satan. What does he say? 397 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:46,800 Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison 398 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:53,200 that you may be tested. Now ask this is this a language 399 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,960 that depicts Satan being in control of the circumstances in 400 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,520 these Christians lives? Or is this the language of 401 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,960 Christ showing them who's in control? 402 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,040 Look carefully and just in case there is even a debate about it, 403 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,720 let's settle it now. First, Christ is showing that He 404 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,440 is totally aware of the schemes of Satan. 405 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:17,440 Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. 406 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:23,080 I know his every move, I know his every plan, I know his 407 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,880 plots. I know what he's going to do. 408 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,680 And that alone should bring us great grace. 409 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,120 He, he's aware Christ is never taken by surprise. 410 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:35,160 You going to your room to pray about the phone call that you 411 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,640 got does not catch the Lord by any surprise. 412 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,320 He was fully conscious of it, fully aware of it, prepared. 413 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:46,880 It's you and I that are surprised. 414 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,760 And in our surprise, we should come to the feet of the 415 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,640 Sovereign 1 and covered ourselves with the truth that 416 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,920 you already knew about this. So I trust that you've allowed 417 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,840 it for some reason. And then that place you can know 418 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:03,360 life changing fellowship. I know. 419 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,160 And this is something for you and I to consider because 420 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:11,880 whatever he does allow always has a redemptive end. 421 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,120 Always. Because what does he say? 422 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:19,000 He's going to throw you into prison, some of you at least 423 00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:24,960 that you may be tested. Who's doing the testing here? 424 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,160 Is Satan putting these Christians in a prison cell to 425 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,840 test them, or is he trying to snuff out the Christian witness 426 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:36,240 in Smyrna? The one who is doing the testing 427 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,800 is the sovereign Christ. I'm allowing this for the 428 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,120 testing of the genuineness of your faith. 429 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,800 What does Christ need to know? The level of the strength of our 430 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:47,440 faith? No, you need to know. 431 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:53,360 I need to know, is it not a source of encouragement that 432 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:56,880 through all the pain and all the things that happened, you come 433 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:01,480 out like gold? You come out still singing to 434 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:03,200 the Savior, still serving the Savior. 435 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,520 Isn't that a means of building you up? 436 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,640 This thing in me is real. I still love him. 437 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:11,400 Even though I lost this. I still love Him. 438 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,520 Even though I'm still sick, I still love Him. 439 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,000 Even though people walked away from me, I still love Him. 440 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:21,760 That you may be tested, yes, that you may see what's in you, 441 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:24,880 but also for others to see what's in you as a witness to 442 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:28,000 the world of the worthiness of Jesus Christ. 443 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,920 So the devil thinks he's actually going to gain 444 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:34,480 something. I'm telling you, you're going to 445 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:39,680 gain something if you overcome. So we see the sovereignty of 446 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:45,680 Christ over Satan #2 the sovereignty of Christ over our 447 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:48,600 tribulation. What is He going to say? 448 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,400 And for 10 days you will have tribulation. 449 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:59,640 I can't express in words the immense joy that flooded my 450 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:04,480 heart when I first learned that Christ is not only aware of what 451 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:09,200 my tribulation is, but how long it will go on for 10 days. 452 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:14,040 It's going to go on for 10 days. It may be intense, but it's 453 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,720 going to be brief. And listen, when you comprehend 454 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:23,400 the precision of Christ supervision not just over the 455 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,480 affairs of your life, but even in your suffering, I can 456 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:30,360 guarantee you that it has the ability to chase away every 457 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,480 temptation for you to be weary in that suffering. 458 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:38,320 There's an expiration date on this thing. 459 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,240 More than that, the Lord not only knows the temperature to 460 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:50,480 set in my trial, but the duration of it so that it will 461 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:55,880 have its full effect in my life. Not a day sooner, Not a day 462 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:59,000 later. He knows the exact moment where 463 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,320 this will bring about His desired will in me. 464 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:05,880 Doesn't that give you gas? Doesn't that give you fuel to go 465 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:10,560 on 10 days? Apply the principle. 466 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:14,120 He knows when this will end, He knows the moment it was supposed 467 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,480 to start, and He knows when I will graduate. 468 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:21,640 And so we see here that He's sovereign over the tribulation 469 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:24,480 itself. Lastly, the sovereignty of 470 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:29,520 Christ over death itself. What does He say? 471 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:33,960 Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. 472 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:37,280 Who can say that? Who can say that? 473 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,120 Think about the implications of this. 474 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:41,600 Who can say be faithful unto death? 475 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:45,280 And I, I, I, I, I, I, I will give you the crown of life. 476 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,200 The only one who can say that is the person who claims in 477 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:53,360 Revelation One that he holds the keys to death in AIDS. 478 00:30:54,960 --> 00:31:00,400 I have authority over death. And so I'm telling you that if 479 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,400 you're willing to be faithful unto death, and if death is your 480 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,400 portion, you're going to meet me on the other side. 481 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:07,160 That's the image that you're supposed to have. 482 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:09,760 That's the image that he wants to grant these Christians in 483 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:13,520 Smyrna. I will greet you with a reward 484 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,840 in my hand. Just be faithful until the end. 485 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:21,240 And what's so wonderful about this is, and I can't say it 486 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:28,120 enough, because Christ defeated death, He radically redefines 487 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:32,760 the experience of death. Because he defeated death, he 488 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:37,760 radically redefines your experience of it and mine, as 489 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:41,600 one person said, Jesus didn't just change our lives, he 490 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:46,040 changes the way we die. Yes, absolutely. 491 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,280 And we see that with Paul. Who can say in Philippians 121 492 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:54,440 for me to live is Christ and to die is what gain to to die is 493 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:58,320 what Paul to die is. What can you say that again, 494 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:00,560 Paul? To die is gain. 495 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:08,880 Only a man who has been granted revelation from God, revelation 496 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:12,160 about the sufficiency of his sacrifice in Christ, revelation 497 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:16,240 about the deliverance of Christ, revelation about the presence of 498 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:18,680 God that awaits us, the rewards that await us on the other side 499 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,560 because of our faith in Christ can say to die is gain. 500 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:28,600 So that reinterprets our understanding, even our language 501 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:35,240 concerning this, that death because of Christ and what 502 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:38,880 awaits you and I after death, offer something that surpasses 503 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,400 the best in this life. That's what he's saying there. 504 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:45,000 To die is gain. No matter what you can gain in 505 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,520 this life. Dying in Christ offers something 506 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:52,400 far greater. That's why there should be an 507 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,160 element in our funerals as Christians where we celebrate. 508 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,480 Yes, we grieve, we're human, and there's something about loss 509 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:02,040 that is painful. But oh, when you see what death 510 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:04,440 really means for us, we're hidden in Him. 511 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,880 We can face it. And the Lord gives us a glimpse 512 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:14,360 into that realm where he tells these Christians, I will give 513 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:19,760 you the crown of life. I wasn't originally planning to 514 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:24,600 share this, but I thought I would because it made me jump 515 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,720 out of my seat almost when considering the sovereignty of 516 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:31,560 Christ. You heard me quoting Exodus 517 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:32,800 earlier. It's because I'm reading it 518 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,480 personally and I want to show you a little passage that even 519 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:41,040 in the Old Testament that heralds the sovereignty of God. 520 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:45,720 When you go to Exodus 21, this is the Lord giving the 521 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:50,200 Israelites specific instructions regarding societal affairs, 522 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:53,680 including murder. And he talks about what's to 523 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:56,720 take place for the one who commits intentional premeditated 524 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,920 murder. But then he also addresses what 525 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,800 happens with accidental manslaughter, involuntary. 526 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,480 And notice what he says in Exodus 21, verse 12. 527 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:12,800 Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 528 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:17,600 But if he did not lie and wait for him, this is the phrase, 529 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:21,600 Look at this. But God let him fall into his 530 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,719 hand. Then I will appoint for you a 531 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:28,400 place which he may flee, and that would later be the city of 532 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:32,000 refuges, cities of refuge. Did you see that? 533 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,440 The middle part, God let him fall into his hand. 534 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,800 Now you can use this verse as a springboard for much 535 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:41,400 philosophical and theological debate. 536 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:44,360 How does God Latin, Who and who is this and that? 537 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:46,639 Can I tell you what it did for me? 538 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:54,560 It soothed my soul to be reminded that God is sovereign 539 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:58,280 over death. Even from a human perspective, 540 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:00,440 we may interpret it as a freak accident. 541 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:03,840 He's talking about accidental death here. 542 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:10,080 And even in this he tucks in a truth regarding His sovereignty. 543 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:20,520 God let him fall into his hand. So whether it's persecution or 544 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:25,880 just a routine drive to work and something happened on the way, 545 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:31,680 we are a peculiar people and we are to understand Christ the 546 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:33,840 Sovereign. He knows. 547 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:38,800 He not only knows the the duration of trial, but he knows 548 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:47,440 the day I see him face to face. And so we come back to our main 549 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:53,920 texts as we're ready to close. In Revelation 2, verse 11, he 550 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:57,600 gives one more reason. I mean, if this wasn't enough, 551 00:35:58,040 --> 00:35:59,920 he gives another reason for these Christians to be 552 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:03,840 emboldened. Revelation 211 He who has an 553 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:07,040 ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 554 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:12,640 The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. 555 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:16,440 This is the first occurrence in your Bibles and mind of the term 556 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:21,520 the second death. Second death, Well, when you 557 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:24,480 gather all the evidence, it is something that refers to the 558 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,320 fate of the unsaved following their bodily resurrection. 559 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:32,440 Some again make the claim that the second death. 560 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:36,600 The language of that proposes that when a person who is not 561 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:39,920 saved dies, he then ceases to exist as God's punishment. 562 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:42,880 Annihilationism. There's no eternal punishment 563 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,560 known. You just cease to exist. 564 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:48,360 But that's not what the Word of God means by that. 565 00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:52,920 What's more consistent is that the second death speaks of you 566 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:56,840 being separated from the life of God, you being removed from the 567 00:36:56,840 --> 00:37:01,200 good presence of God, and you enduring eternal punishment 568 00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:05,600 instead. Why is he saying this to this 569 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,040 group of believers? Because again, death is 570 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:10,640 imminent. It's just around the corner. 571 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:14,360 And he wanted, he wants to let them know that dying in this 572 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:20,960 life is not the worst thing. Dying in the next life is you 573 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:22,240 can face this. Why? 574 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,200 Because I'm waiting on the other side and I have the crown of 575 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:29,400 life in my hands. And remember, you've been spared 576 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:33,880 from the second death. This is temporal. 577 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,880 I wonder if the Christians in Smyrna took this letter to 578 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:43,320 heart. I think they did. 579 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,720 There is an ancient church father by the name of Polycarp. 580 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:52,240 He was directly discipled by John himself. 581 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:55,040 Saint John who wrote this letter. 582 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:59,840 He lived in the mid to late 1st century. 583 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:04,400 Going into the early 2nd century, Polycarp became a 584 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:09,840 Bishop in the church in Smyrna. Persecution broke out from the 585 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:14,200 Roman government and they were looking for Polycarp. 586 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,680 The Christians loved him and so they try to hide him, and they 587 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:19,200 did so successfully for some time. 588 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:24,600 Finally, through betrayal, they found Polycarp's whereabouts. 589 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:27,840 And when they came to him in that farmhouse, the soldiers 590 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,120 knocked on his door and he welcomed them like a friend. 591 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:33,920 He actually offered them food and drink. 592 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:37,760 He must be hungry, so he invites them in and these soldiers have 593 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,600 a bite to eat and he asked permission. 594 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:41,840 Will you give me some time to pray? 595 00:38:43,720 --> 00:38:46,520 Stunned by his gentleness, the Roman soldiers agreed to it. 596 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:50,520 And so he goes into the other room and he prays, and they hear 597 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:53,920 him praying, and he prays for two hours. 598 00:38:55,080 --> 00:38:58,880 He prays for the believers, he prays for the church, he prays 599 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:01,400 for himself. And he's getting his heart ready 600 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:05,120 to meet his Savior. Oh, there's so many details to 601 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:06,440 this. I encourage you to make it your 602 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,600 afternoon reading today. I'll go to the main part. 603 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:13,200 He eventually is brought before the proconsul and the proconsul 604 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:15,120 realizing his old age gives him the chance. 605 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:20,000 Look, just just we can't deny Jesus Christ, declare Caesar is 606 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,360 Lord and here's what Polycarp said. 607 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:28,960 Quote 86 years have I served him and he has done me no wrong. 608 00:39:29,240 --> 00:39:32,160 How can I blasphemy my king and my savior? 609 00:39:35,280 --> 00:39:38,520 You don't understand Polycarp. We'll release the wild beasts. 610 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:45,040 OK, bring it on my translation. He wasn't afraid of the wild 611 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,080 beast. OK, We're going to burn you at 612 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:50,520 the stake. And when I read this, when I was 613 00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:54,800 reminded of this, I wondered if what came to Polycarp's mind is 614 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:58,400 how John concluded this letter. The one who conquers will not be 615 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:00,120 hurt by the second death. Listen to his words. 616 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:03,320 Quote. You threaten me with fire which 617 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:06,840 burns for an hour and then is extinguished. 618 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,240 But you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgement and 619 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:12,640 eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly. 620 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:14,800 Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want. 621 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:16,040 I guess he said something similar. 622 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:22,920 There's debate about what happened once Polycarp was 623 00:40:23,160 --> 00:40:24,800 brought to the stake before an audience. 624 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:28,320 Some claim that when they were ready to nail him to that piece 625 00:40:28,320 --> 00:40:31,360 of wood so that Christians or anybody that they were putting 626 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:34,760 to death would not escape. And he said, no need to nail me, 627 00:40:34,760 --> 00:40:38,280 Jesus will keep me. Others argue that the flames did 628 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:41,200 not even touch him, that they kind of encircled him. 629 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:45,560 What most believe is that the fire did not kill Polycarp. 630 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:47,800 So they took a spear and struck him in the heart. 631 00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:50,480 And again, some say that it's very blood that gushed out, 632 00:40:50,480 --> 00:41:00,020 extinguished the fire. This is Christianity, and as 633 00:41:00,020 --> 00:41:02,420 I've mentioned before, one of the main things that makes this 634 00:41:02,420 --> 00:41:06,420 church so unique is the absence of any criticism from Christ. 635 00:41:08,220 --> 00:41:14,400 And then it hit me, why? Well, some would say it's 636 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:18,000 because they're suffering. So there's there's more need for 637 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:21,400 assurance and encouragement than pointing out any faults. 638 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:26,080 Well, it's better to prepare a people to meet Christ. 639 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:28,120 I'm sure that would be the heart of Christ if there was some 640 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:30,520 serious sin. That doesn't seem to be the 641 00:41:30,520 --> 00:41:32,800 reason why. Instead, I think one of the 642 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:36,720 reasons this church was pure and their practical holiness is 643 00:41:36,720 --> 00:41:43,400 because they suffered. Because suffering and trials and 644 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:51,720 difficulties have a way of purging us and cleaning us and 645 00:41:51,720 --> 00:41:56,720 polishing us. This church was suffering and 646 00:41:56,720 --> 00:41:59,680 they would know more suffering. And the Bible tells us in so 647 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:03,920 many places of the sanctifying glory that comes when you 648 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:10,600 embrace it in faith. I guess you can say another 649 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:13,480 reason why we shouldn't fear suffering is because if exercise 650 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:18,200 well, it will make you and I see clear and shine brighter. 651 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:20,800 For the glory of God, let's pray. 652 00:42:36,320 --> 00:42:44,200 Well, we thank you that you've reminded us that through many 653 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:48,640 tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God, and if our 654 00:42:48,640 --> 00:42:57,440 suffering would be slander or being LED to fire, help us be 655 00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:02,040 overcomers. May our faith persevere until 656 00:43:02,040 --> 00:43:06,520 the end. And Lord, today we've gathered 657 00:43:06,520 --> 00:43:11,120 as your church to reflect on what you have done for us so 658 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:15,000 that we can overcome the second death and that you have 659 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:17,240 reinterpreted. You have translated death in 660 00:43:17,240 --> 00:43:21,080 this life to be the entryway into true life. 661 00:43:22,720 --> 00:43:26,560 For this, O Lord, we are eternally grateful and we come 662 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:29,240 to worship you as we eat at your table. 663 00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:32,600 Prepare our hearts Lord, to remember that it's not because 664 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:36,480 of what we have done, it's not by our own merit, it's because 665 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,840 you have become a substitute and we are saved because you've 666 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:43,600 loved us. We give you glory and thanks as 667 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:47,120 we celebrate together now in Jesus name, Amen. 668 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:50,240 Amen. Well, the team will now come up 669 00:43:50,240 --> 00:43:52,840 here and assist us in our singing so that we can focus 670 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:56,040 even better on what we are about to partake in. 671 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:58,480 So let's stand together. Let's worship the Lord.