1 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:13,640 But we're in Revelation chapter 2, verse 8, 7 letters to seven 2 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,800 churches. John is on the island of Patmos. 3 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,520 He's in his late 90s. Jesus appears to him. 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:26,000 He tells us who he sees. He sees Jesus in chapter 1 and 5 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,320 then chapters 2 to three we have the seven letters from 7 6 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,759 churches which tells us what Jesus actually thinks of His 7 00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:39,160 church. You remember back in 1999, April 8 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:45,600 20, a high school in Littleton, Co came under attack by two 9 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:54,000 teenagers and a 17 year old girl who was killed, was killed 10 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,320 whilst the gun was pointed at her face. 11 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,120 And she was asked do you believe in God? 12 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,040 And she paused. It was a life or death 13 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,360 situation. She said yes, I believe in God. 14 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,680 Why ask the young gunman pointing at the gun at her face. 15 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,480 But the gunman never gave her that. 16 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,840 A moment to respond to that next question. 17 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,840 And he shot her in the head. She died at his feet. 18 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,480 Her name was Cassie Bernal. And there was another believer 19 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,920 called Rachel Scott who died at the same time. 20 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,680 And you would ask a question, Young girl just goes to school. 21 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,760 She's a Christian. She was in the youth group and 22 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,040 she ran the youth sky School as well. 23 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,800 Why would God allow this to happen? 24 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,080 How come she got killed? She definitely got killed 25 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,320 because of a fight. Tonight's passage, it's the 26 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:58,200 shortest of the seven letters. It's my favourite church even 27 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,440 before Philadelphia in our study in Revelation. 28 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,360 As we journey through these 7 letters to seven churches and 29 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:12,400 this portion of scripture will challenge your very concept, 30 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,680 your belief, your faith in God. It's not one that's actually 31 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,160 spoken over often in church. I don't know how many of you 32 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,040 have heard sermons on the Church of Smyrna. 33 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:29,400 I want to ask you several rhetorical questions, but I want 34 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,560 you to take a moment. I say rhetorical. 35 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,840 My mom came to church a couple of times before she passed away, 36 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,440 and we'd sit the front next to Alan, and if I asked the 37 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:38,840 question, she would actually answer it. 38 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:41,200 Thanks, Mom. That's good. 39 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:47,880 Now I just meant that rhetorical and so these I want you to 40 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,200 answer them in your minds, weigh them up, examine your response. 41 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,040 Three things. One, does your walk with the 42 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,640 Lord depend upon God answering your prayers your way. 43 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:08,440 I've heard people say I'm sure, well, I tried God didn't work 44 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,920 for me. Secondly, does your relationship 45 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:17,520 with God rest on you? Being in good health, having 46 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:22,200 nice things, living a life without storms or battles, being 47 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:27,840 continually blessed. Thirdly, or do you find yourself 48 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:29,720 crying at times? God, this is unfair. 49 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,920 What what we're going through, what my family is experiencing, 50 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,680 what I'm experiencing. God, this is unfair when you're 51 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,400 in a battle time of suffering, a period of duress. 52 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,760 You said God, why, Why, why when you seem to be just paddling 53 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,880 against the tide continually? Well, the Church of Smyrna was 54 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:59,720 located some 56 kilometres north of Ephesus in Asia Minor. 55 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:00,960 We call it Turkey. Today. 56 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:04,000 You can visit visit the location. 57 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:09,280 It's called Izmir. Today it was a persecuted 58 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,480 church. The group of believers, it was a 59 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,519 small church at that church were being persecuted in the period 60 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:22,600 1895, at the time time that John wrote Revelation. 61 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,760 But as we know it was a symbolic church. 62 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,840 The Church of Smyrna covers a period in church history. 63 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,160 It represents every persecuted church from every age. 64 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,320 It represents the period in church history specifically, 65 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:45,240 however, from 100 to 1 to 312 AD. 66 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,960 It also represents every persecuted believer still 67 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,280 undergoing persecution and death today. 68 00:04:53,280 --> 00:04:57,720 We find that in in Syria, particularly in Nigeria and 69 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,520 Africa. Now the slaughter that's going 70 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:08,960 on over there in India, Pakistan, it was symbolic, even 71 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:14,400 though the church was, as I said, actually existed, and it 72 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,080 covers the period of persecution. 73 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,600 Smyrna, at that time that John wrote this, was known as the 74 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,480 beauty of Asia. There were three temples in 75 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,080 Smyrna. On the highest mount of Smyrna 76 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,400 was the temples of the temple of Apollo. 77 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:40,160 Next there was a temple to Zeus Sabelli and also the town of 78 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:47,840 Smyrna, a proud Roman city, built a temple to Caesar 79 00:05:47,840 --> 00:05:52,160 Tiberius. And Caesar Tiberius was the one 80 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:53,560 who said, you know, you call me God. 81 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,680 It was a Caesar worshipping city and proud of it. 82 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:06,600 So you had to offer the incense and say Caesar's Lord sprinkle 83 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,200 the incense. Everyone had to do that because 84 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:10,960 Christians who didn't do that were killed. 85 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:18,160 The word Smyrna is derived from the Greek word Smyrna and it's 86 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,760 translated. We often see it more likely as 87 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:29,880 the word MUR, MY double RH. It is a substance taken from a a 88 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:35,120 thorny tree and myrrrh releases this powerful fragrance. 89 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,880 However, it can only produce that fragrance when it's 90 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:44,080 crushed. The Jesus birth you remember 91 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,720 Jesus was presented from the magi. 92 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,320 That's why they say there were three even though there's 93 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,160 probably more. Wise men. 94 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,360 Three wise men, gold, frankincense and myrrh. 95 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,520 Gold was representing for Jesus royalty. 96 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:04,360 Frankincense represented Jesus deity but myrh was used as a 97 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:10,680 burial spice and it represented Jesus humanity and his death. 98 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:16,320 The reason Jesus was born was he was born to die on the cross. 99 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,720 Jesus was presented also you remember with myrrh as a soldier 100 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,800 took his spear, placed a sponge on the tip of it and offered it 101 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:28,120 to Jesus to deaden the pain. Jesus didn't take the offer. 102 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,760 Myrrh was offered a third time to Jesus when the women gathered 103 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:39,120 on that first Sunday morning to finish the embalming process to 104 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:40,520 his body. They were bringing more. 105 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:46,320 However, in the the prophet Isaiah says when Jesus returns 106 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,720 the second time and he speaks of this in Isaiah chapter 60 verse 107 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,360 6, and he speaks of all the nations of the world who will 108 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,760 come bringing their goods and offerings to the Lord, who will 109 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:02,480 be on his throne in Jerusalem. It says vast caravans of camels 110 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,960 will converge on you. The camels of Midian and Ephah, 111 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:11,080 the people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will 112 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,960 come worshipping the Lord. No mention of myrrh. 113 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:21,640 Why gold for the king of kings? Frankincense because Jesus is 114 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,720 the high priest. No mention of myrrh this time 115 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,080 because he's not coming back the second time to die again. 116 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,760 No death, but to rule and to reign forever and ever. 117 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,840 Most of the seven letters have 7 basic parts. 118 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,200 Let's read this letter, verse 8. And the Angel of the church and 119 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,159 Smyrna to the Angel of the church and Smyrna, right these 120 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:48,640 things says the 1st and the last who is dead came to life. 121 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:58,120 I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but I say you're 122 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:03,360 rich. I know the blasphemy of those 123 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:08,080 who say they're Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of 124 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,120 Satan. Do not fear any of those things 125 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,560 which you are about to suffer. Worse is to come. 126 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:23,160 Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, 127 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:31,720 that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation 10 days. 128 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:37,480 Be faithful unto death, and I'll give you the crown of life. 129 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,120 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the 130 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:45,400 churches. He who overcomes shall not be 131 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,880 hurt by the second. Death. 132 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:51,280 Death seems to be a bit of a theme here, doesn't it? 133 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,080 And as I say, the seven letters that are written basically have 134 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,560 a template. Jesus gives the self title as he 135 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:04,360 presents himself to whichever church he's asking John to write 136 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,720 down. And the identification of Jesus, 137 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,840 the title that he gives himself gives us the flavour of what 138 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:11,800 what he's about to say to the church. 139 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,560 Then he speaks of the city and then he gives it either a 140 00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:21,280 common, he gives it a commendation and then he'll go 141 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:22,880 but these things I have against you. 142 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,280 Then the condemnation. Then he says but this is what 143 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,120 you need to do. He'll give a command and then he 144 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,120 says this is what also you need to listen to. 145 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:35,240 He gives the counsel. But there are some exceptions to 146 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,120 that template. And Smyrna is 1 because it's 147 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:44,400 letter has only 6 parts. There is an absolute complete 148 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:49,040 ABS absence of condemnation. It's my favourite letter. 149 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,120 The part that is missing is the condemnation. 150 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,400 Nothing bad is said about the church at Smyrna. 151 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,360 There's there's an absence too of hypocrisy. 152 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,440 Will speak on Pergamos on Sunday. 153 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,080 The Church of Compromise. No hypocrisy. 154 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,840 You know, everyone says wow, wait, you know I don't go to 155 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:14,280 church because it's full of hypocrites. 156 00:11:15,560 --> 00:11:18,280 Doesn't stop you going on the football or anywhere else, does 157 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:19,520 it? You know we're going to the 158 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:20,800 football because it's full of hypocrites. 159 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,680 Since the Church of Smyrna was undergoing a great deal of 160 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:29,840 suffering and it was, it would have been very easy for that to 161 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,440 cause the people to dissipate quickly. 162 00:11:32,680 --> 00:11:34,600 Anyone belong to the Church of Smyrna? 163 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:41,400 No, you didn't wear I. I attend the Smyrna youth group 164 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,080 on your shirt when you went into town. 165 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,240 They could have given up this church so easily and the church 166 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,920 would have died under persecution, just killed him 167 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,800 off. But you know the thing about 168 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:03,560 persecution which no one likes but God uses as a way of 169 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:08,480 purifying the ranks. Smyrna, I think, is going to 170 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:13,520 give us a snapshot of where you and I are going to head till the 171 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:18,160 Lord comes and takes us home. People who weren't actually 172 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,840 living for Jesus Christ wouldn't claim to be Christians. 173 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:28,400 You Christian or no way, because you die, it might cost them 174 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,600 their lives. There was no, no pretend 175 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,960 Christians of Smyrna. And so the persecuted church had 176 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,720 all its dross and hypocrisy eliminated. 177 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,080 You went to Church of Smyrna, you're brave. 178 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:45,440 You were really a faithful believer because you turned up, 179 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:57,040 and turning up could risk death. The persecuted church is a pure 180 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:02,400 church and consequently Jesus had no condemnation to give to 181 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,960 the church at Smyrna. Did the Angel of the church at 182 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,640 Smyrna write these things? Says the 1st and the last. 183 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:15,320 Who was dead and is alive? The question can be raised, why 184 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,200 did Jesus give himself this title as the one who was dead 185 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,920 and is alive? It's pretty obvious the theme of 186 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:28,120 Smyrna is dying for your faith. He is writing to a suffering 187 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:32,680 church. He says I know what you're going 188 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:36,640 through, I was once dead, they killed me. 189 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:44,240 You're worried about martyrdom. Jesus says been there, this 190 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,000 church was and is undergoing great sorrow. 191 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:53,680 They would arrest the husband, throw the family out of the 192 00:13:53,680 --> 00:14:00,880 house, kill the husband, and then whoever dobbed the family 193 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:08,000 in to the Roman council would get 10% of the goods that were 194 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,320 leftover from the house. So there was a great deal of 195 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:17,640 spotters fee going on in Smyrna. The believers were living every 196 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:22,520 day in the shadow of death. Some of them, their fellowship 197 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,440 had already been killed, Jesus said. 198 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,840 Others knew their time was not far away. 199 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,400 Jesus indicates and dictates this letter to John to the 200 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,800 church at Smyrna. Why does he write this? 201 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:42,600 He writes to strengthen them in writes to encourage them and to 202 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,640 comfort the Saints there because more is coming. 203 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,000 How often do we pray Get Me Out of this. 204 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:55,400 You know, there's no Get Me Out of this in Jesus words to this 205 00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:01,320 church. Jesus says he knows three things 206 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,880 about this group of believers this period in church history. 207 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,640 Every believer who has and is being persecuted because they 208 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,000 love Jesus Christ and serve him. Jesus knows all about them. 209 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:17,000 He knows their tribulation. He knows their poverty and I he 210 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,400 says I know the blasphemy of them which say they're Jews and 211 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,760 are not borrowed the synagogue of Satan. 212 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:27,520 He says I know your tribulation. Now this is not the normal 213 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,000 difficulties. You know, man things are tough. 214 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:36,200 You know tyres flat, you know the plumbers bunged up at home. 215 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,640 Jesus did not say I know your trials. 216 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:46,000 He didn't say that. This is a far stronger word in 217 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,760 the Greek meaning a pressure of persecution. 218 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,920 The word Jesus uses here means the pressure of. 219 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:59,120 That's a picture word of the stones that grind the wheat and 220 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:06,080 the flour mill comes around, that crushes the grapes, that 221 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:10,520 forces the juice to flow. These people were being pressed 222 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:15,440 even to death on account of their faithfulness to Christ. 223 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:20,160 That's why they were dying. I know your tribulation. 224 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:26,840 It's the Greek word philipsis, which means constant aggressive 225 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:31,080 persecution. In fact, the literal meaning of 226 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:35,920 ellipses was to be crushed. Do you see the significance of 227 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,640 what Jesus said? This little Church of myrrh was 228 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,680 being crushed, the life out of it. 229 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,320 The more it was crushed, however, something was 230 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,880 happening, the more it gave off this fragrance. 231 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:53,120 Amazing. Here Paul's words in Two 232 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:58,480 Corinthians he says you can be sure that the more we suffer for 233 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,600 Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through 234 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,839 Christ. So when we are weighed down with 235 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:11,400 troubles is for your benefit. Notice that we don't realise 236 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:17,160 that and salvation. When God comforts us, it is so 237 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,079 that we in turn can be encouragement to you. 238 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,520 Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 239 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:30,200 We're confident that as you share in suffering, you also 240 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,320 share God's comfort. I think you ought to know, dear 241 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,160 brothers and sisters, Paul went on to say about the trouble we 242 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,040 went through in the province of Asia. 243 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,560 We were crushed, completely overwhelmed. 244 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,880 We thought we would never live through it. 245 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,200 In fact, we expected to die, Paul said. 246 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:55,840 But as a result, we learn not to rely upon ourselves, but on God 247 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:01,920 who can raise the dead. That's why God allows true 248 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,600 tribulation in our lives. Note the last words of Paul. 249 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,920 He said who he who can raise the dead. 250 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:15,360 Jesus spoke to the Saints in Smyrna, he who was dead and came 251 00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:18,520 to life. Jesus said, I know your poverty. 252 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,080 It's the actual word beggary. It means extreme poverty. 253 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:28,040 Now this is not referring to spiritual poverty like he's 254 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:32,240 going to say to the Church of later see it different. 255 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:37,240 Most likely these people had suffered great loss, the loss of 256 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,760 all things in the persecution they faced because the love they 257 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,280 loved Jesus Christ and refused to say Caesar as Lord. 258 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,760 So as a result they lost their jobs. 259 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:51,520 They lost their jobs because they're Christians. 260 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,000 They lost their ability to trade, to buy and sell because 261 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,800 they were Christians. They were blackballed. 262 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,040 Don't go to his shop. Don't buy anything off him. 263 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,160 They were delisted from the Guild. 264 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,040 It's like you can't be a member of the union, so no one's going 265 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:05,600 to have do any business with you. 266 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,160 Their social standing was removed. 267 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,320 And because of this, they were living in a state of absolute 268 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,080 poverty. They couldn't earn a living, 269 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,160 couldn't buy anything no one would buy. 270 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,880 They couldn't work for anyone. And so they were blackboard 271 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,000 because of their faith. You know what the Book of 272 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,640 Revelation tells us that this is again going to happen soon 273 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,280 during the Tribulation period, Revelation 1316. 274 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:32,960 There's going to become a new leader. 275 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,720 And isn't the world looking for someone to fix things? 276 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,040 Because when you get all the people gathered together, 277 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,120 there's not a, there's not a bright star among them, is 278 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:45,920 there? There is one coming, Revelation 279 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:50,320 1316, the Antichrist. He causes all, both small and 280 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,360 great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on 281 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:56,080 their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may 282 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,720 buy or sell, except one who has the mark, or the name of the 283 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,680 beast, or the number of his name. 284 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,200 Here is wisdom, that he who has understanding calculate the 285 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,600 number of the beast, or is the number of a man. 286 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:12,760 His number is 666. Hebrews 10/24 says you suffered 287 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,360 long Speaking of those who would die for their faith. 288 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,160 With those who are thrown in gaol when all you owned was 289 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,400 taken from you. That's what's happening in 290 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,760 Smyrna. Everything in the house gone, 291 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,920 Everything gone. They went earning can't earn a 292 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:32,320 living, gone. You accepted it with joy man. 293 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:36,880 You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity. 294 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:42,280 Hebrews 10/24 and the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews 295 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,240 and are not. What does he mean by blasphemy? 296 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,160 Usually we associate it with something something about God, 297 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:51,320 don't we? That word is usually associated 298 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:55,040 with someone blaspheming God. But in this context, and in this 299 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:59,280 case, certain Jews were literally slandering the 300 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:04,040 Christians. It's where the fellow who was 301 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:09,240 the pastor there, fellow called Polycarp, 166 AD, was arrested, 302 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,240 burned at the stake, and the Jews gathered the bits of wood 303 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,920 to throw on the fire so that he could be burned at the stake. 304 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:22,040 The little church in Smyrna was being crushed for its love for 305 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,200 Christ. The more they were crushed, 306 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:28,000 however, this is the amazing thing, the more they loved the 307 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,880 Lord. Contrast that with the church in 308 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,480 Ephesus. Those people had everything 309 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:38,680 going their way, no particular problems from persecution. 310 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:44,000 They left their love for Christ. They left their first love. 311 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,560 The church in Smyrna didn't. The more the world hated them, 312 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:53,280 the more they loved Jesus. Don't we get that often in our 313 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:55,200 discussions? When people were at school they 314 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,040 said this, and at work and at uni, and I'm isolated and 315 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,280 ostracised. That's when you and I need to 316 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:02,280 go. Guess what? 317 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:09,640 That it's because you love God. That is because you're 318 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:16,320 identified with Jesus Christ. It's what the Christian life is. 319 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,560 It's not unusual. And I'm not Tom Jones when I say 320 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:28,480 that, but we go the other way. We want to help them get out of 321 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,480 that situation. It's not going to happen to a 322 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,760 true believer. The more the world stomped on 323 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,080 them, the more they leaned on Christ. 324 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:42,560 That's when you know your faith is true, when you're going down 325 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,440 the hall and you're leaning more and more in Jesus. 326 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,440 The Christ loving Saints in the little church in Smyrna were 327 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:54,520 destitute, crushed, powerless, poverty stricken. 328 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:59,600 However, they knew the comfort of the warm arms of Jesus Christ 329 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:05,280 like nobody else in their tribulation, in their crushing, 330 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:12,560 they exuded A fragrance that would make the world notice. 331 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,000 And then there's the commendation, verse 9. 332 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:19,080 I know your works, tribulation, poverty, but they are rich. 333 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,880 I know the blasphemy of them that say they're Jews and I'm 334 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,640 not, but the synagogue of Satan. And there are two important 335 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,400 words again in verse 9. I know I can hear the Lord 336 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,640 saying I know I've been there, I know it's rough. 337 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:40,240 Jesus is a sympathetic saviour. He's a high priest that knows I 338 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,600 know your works, I know your tribulation, I know your 339 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,480 poverty. Remember Me, I was persecuted to 340 00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:49,240 the Greek word, as I said, is about crushing. 341 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,240 He says I know the pressure and agony under death and some of 342 00:23:53,240 --> 00:24:00,040 you are dying for me. I know the persecution the the 343 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,640 word Jesus uses here for I know is an interesting word. 344 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:12,360 It's the Greek word Oeda and it means I know by experience. 345 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,280 You know when you talk to someone you go, yeah, Are you? 346 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,360 Yeah, straight away. You don't have to explain. 347 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:24,920 I know, I know by it's not. I know by watching observation. 348 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,560 Jesus is not observing them. Bette Midler says. 349 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:30,600 God is from the distance watching unknown. 350 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,720 He knows what is happening by experience. 351 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,080 Their poverty was great, private poverty. 352 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,720 It's a word not panaya, which refers to someone who has very 353 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:48,400 little. It's the word PTOCHEIA petitia, 354 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:53,720 and it means absolute, complete destitution. 355 00:24:54,840 --> 00:25:00,000 They didn't have any televangelists sending them 356 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,400 hankies or some fancy oil or something to help them through 357 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:10,800 the time I couldn't get a job. I robbed, I plundered people. 358 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:16,040 Didn't do anything to help that. Nothing as I read Jesus words to 359 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,040 these awesome Christians, these true Saints. 360 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,480 It is though Jesus leans over quietly and closely to each of 361 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,400 the suffering Smyrna believers. Can you imagine this letter 362 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:32,720 being read out to that church as I gathered, not knowing who's 363 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:38,120 going to die next? It's though Jesus reached over 364 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:41,960 and says, Hey, you are rich in my sight. 365 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,800 The people around you can't you as big as he says, I can't you 366 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,200 as rich, robbed of everything but wealthy. 367 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:57,080 What was Jesus final words to this amazing church and to you 368 00:25:57,120 --> 00:26:01,120 and I tonight as we wrap it up and the thing that astounds me 369 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:03,840 the first time I read this, I went wow. 370 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:09,640 There's not a single promise to them that they shall escape 371 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:16,560 their suffering. Not a single promise, the 10 372 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:19,000 days, Some people say it was a period of time of years. 373 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,080 Others say it was the 10 Roman Caesars that they went through 374 00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:25,160 that just brought horrific persecution to them. 375 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,400 In fact, Jesus says he doesn't say, oh, I'm going to get you 376 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,760 out of this. He says worse is to come. 377 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:37,440 How'd you be? You're praying. 378 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:42,320 And God says, yeah, things are tough, worse is to come. 379 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:44,360 How would that be an answer to your prayers? 380 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:52,800 In the year 100 to 131 AD, 10 Roman emperors who respond to 381 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:56,840 the 10 days spoken here launched a massive campaign of 382 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,360 persecution against the church, God's people in the Roman 383 00:27:00,360 --> 00:27:06,960 Empire. 5 to 7 million Christians died for their faith 384 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,680 during that evil rule. That's a lot of people. 385 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:12,760 So where's the comfort in this case? 386 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:14,720 And I'm like, man, come to church. 387 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:16,960 I must just go out and walk in front of a car. 388 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:24,760 I don't understand. Firstly, for Jesus to allow this 389 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:28,080 season of suffering, it is for a reason. 390 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:35,240 Job teaches us that for you and I, we need to know sorrow that 391 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:40,040 comes in your life always has a purpose. 392 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:44,800 God does not allow sorrow in your life without there being a 393 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:49,400 purpose. It's for a reason and that 394 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:54,160 reason is always for me in that time to grow closer to him. 395 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,160 When you grow close closer to the Lord, I tell you when in an 396 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,120 intensive care unit in the prayer room, in the waiting 397 00:28:03,120 --> 00:28:06,840 room, you're, you're with the Lord constantly, aren't you? 398 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,920 You're praying the Lord help, dear God, you, you, you're 399 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,800 praying without ceasing. No one's having to tell you when 400 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,280 something's wrong with one of your kids or this is happening 401 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,920 and you're praying and praying. Oh God, you're, you're in 402 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:27,990 constant communication. You see, you grow closer, you 403 00:28:27,990 --> 00:28:34,590 know him more and more, you experience his love like never 404 00:28:34,590 --> 00:28:40,470 before. 1 Peter 416 Peter said. Yet if anyone suffers as a 405 00:28:40,510 --> 00:28:44,840 Christian, they were, Let him not be ashamed. 406 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:50,360 Tell your kids that, but let him glorify God in this manner. 407 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:57,240 Secondly, it means He will most certainly enable me to bear it. 408 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:02,480 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13. No temptation has overtaken you 409 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:06,240 except such as common to men, but God is faithful. 410 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:10,040 It will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able. 411 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,160 How often have you said I don't, I'm not going to make it through 412 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,400 this, Have you? I've said that this is too much. 413 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:19,960 Paul said that but with temptation God will always make 414 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,600 a way of escape that you may be able to bear it. 415 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:28,440 Psalm 100 and 314 says for he knows our frame. 416 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:31,880 God knows our frame. He remembers that we're dust. 417 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:38,920 Jesus is saying, don't question me in this time, don't doubt me 418 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:42,240 in this time, but do depend upon me. 419 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,120 What was their reward in verse 10? 420 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,480 And I'll give you the crown of life. 421 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:54,840 Jesus says I will personally give you a crown of life. 422 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:57,600 This is the most powerful church I know. 423 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,080 The faith of these people at Smyrna is so powerful that it 424 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,480 will carry you through every storm, every battle, and to 425 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,840 glorify him as you walk through the valley of the shadow of 426 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:12,640 death tonight. Know this when times of crushing 427 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:17,720 come upon you in your life as you are crushed, what is the 428 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:24,320 fragrance of your faith? Is it a sweet aroma to those who 429 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,120 need to see the light? To those who are seeking salt, 430 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,600 that you have a peace that no one can understand. 431 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,000 Does your life make the Lord inhale? 432 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,520 One of our kids has this habit. Whenever there's a small born, 433 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:43,240 young born, baby, infant born in our family, they lean over and 434 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:46,560 breathe in, you know, the breath of a newborn baby. 435 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:47,560 I don't know if you've ever done that. 436 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,440 What's the smell of a newborn baby? 437 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:56,200 What's the breath like as we close the study? 438 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:02,640 Does God breathe in the fragrance that you give off as 439 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:05,320 you love him? In the tribulation, in the 440 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,120 poverty, in the trial, the crown of life. 441 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:15,440 Smyrna would have annually athletic games in Smyrna. 442 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:19,400 Smyrna as a city would participate and the winner of 443 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:24,320 the game would get the crown. They knew that God will give 444 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,960 them the crown. What is the crown eternal life? 445 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,240 This crown eternal life.