Seven: “The Church at Smyrna”

Seven

“The Church at Smyrna”

(1/12/25)

Pastor Mark England

The Church at :

Remain .

The Book of Revelation is not a horror story… it’s a story.

John 14:1-3 (CSB) “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

God does intervene on earth, however most of His plan is a “” to get you out of this broken world.

Revelation 2:8-11 (CSB) “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: ⁹ I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

was 35 miles north of Ephesus, and it was a harbor city.

Smyrna was made up of mostly Jews who were and opposed .

In the letters to the Seven Churches, Jesus usually gives an followed with a .

The Church at Smyrna however only received from Jesus and had no criticism.

Revelation 2:9 (CSB) I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Jesus and understands my .

Matthew 5:11 (CSB) “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. ¹² Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven.

The people to them (Jews in a local synagogue… some their own family.) began to slander the church at Smyrna causing many of its church members to be for ten days.

Revelation 2:10 (CSB) Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

When other churches, other faiths, and other cultures begin to , , and destroy you with their words… Remain .

The best way to fight back, is to remain and not be shaken by what they are to break you with.

James 1:2 (CSB) Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,

courage (social media retaliation)

courage (false sense of strength)

courage (led by opinions of others)

courage (led by the Holy Spirit, not by feelings)

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (CSB) For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. ⁶ So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

What is God looking for?

Those who will remain even when the world is against them.

Romans 8:31 (CSB) … If God is for us, who is against us?