What was Jesus message to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation? c. Slanderings. Well, they were under pressure from several forces. The second death is spending eternity in hell, separated from God forever. I do not think I can be like You. I went into that lab and got there before she did. What do these verses imply about persecution and the believer? Pt 2, The Unchanging Individual and the Unshakable Kingdom, In God's Kingdom, We Are Sons and Daughters, Not Servants, The Returning of the King and His Kingdom, The Birth of the Kingdom--Dominion Authority, The Experience of Living Under a Lord--Part 1, The Experience of Living Under a Lord--Part 2, The Lord's Motivation for His Divine Creation, God's Priority and Assignment for Mankind, It is Just What it is, the Good News of the Kingdom Pt 1, It is Just What it is, the Good News of the Kingdom Pt 2, Kings, Prophets--All Are Representatives of the Kingdom, Keys to the Kingdom, Understanding Its Concept, The Bible is the Constitution of God's Kingdom, Kingdom Perspective: The Eternal Message Pt 2, Christianity, a Religion, vs Kingdom Government, The Government of Man Vs the Kingdom of God Pt 1, The Government of Man Vs the Kingdom of God Pt 2, The Government of Man Vs the Kingdom of God Pt 3, Condemning is Not Our Responsibility Pt 2, Diluting the Kingdom Message While Being Deceived, Believers Who Are Blinded, Distracted and Deceived, Believers Who Are Blinded, Distracted and Deceived Pt 2, He Rules and Reigns: Citizenship in Kingdom Government, Only One Culture, One Mindset and One Spirit, The World Loves its Own, But We Belong to Him, Your Eternal Future Hinges on His Promise, Mankind's Refusal to Answer to His Creator, Kingdom 101: The Spirit of Dominion Part 1, Kingdom 101: The Spirit of Dominion Pt 2, Kingdom 101: Disobedience Is an Act of Treason, Kingdom 101: The Lord God Promised a Kingdom, Kingdom 101: His Intent of the Original Kingdom, Kingdom 101: We Are Government Citizens, Not Religious Members, Kingdom 101: Your Relationship or Your Religion, Kingdom 101: He Rules the Visible World From the Invisible Realm, Kingdom 101: He is the King of the Invisible and Visible Worlds, Kingdom 101: You--Mankind--Were Created to Rule, Kingdom 101: The Lord God's Contract with Man, Kingdom 101: Born to Rule, Not to be Ruled or Controlled, Kingdom 101: Man Shall Manage Earth, It's the King's Law, Kingdom 101: Man Shall Manage Earth, It's the King's Law Pt 2, Kingdom 101: The Lord God Requires a Body, Kingdom 101: Building a Kingdom Mentality, Kingdom 101: New Birth, But Not Converted, Kingdom 101: A Complete Change of Mentality, Kingdom 101: Making Preparations for the King, Kingdom 101: Making Preparation for the King Pt 2, Kingdom 101: Making Preparation for the King Pt 3, Kingdom 101: The Essence of a Kingdom and Its King, Kingdom 102: Honoring His Son in the Kingdom, Kingdom 102: A Kingdom Focus on the Beatitudes, Kingdom 102: Staying Focused on His Word in Time of Conflict, Kingdom 102: Setting Priorities While Living in Two Kingdoms, Kingdom 102: Characteristic of Kingdom Culture, Kingdom 102: Citizens Represent Their Kingdom and Culture, Kingdom 102: Kingdom Government Principles, Kingdom 102: The Kingdom Government and the Republic, Kingdom 102: Carrying Out the King's Policies and Principles, Kingdom 102: Fusing a Kingdom With a Democracy, Kingdom 102: Information: Knowledge From the King, Kingdom 102: Information--Knowledge From the King Pt 2, Kingdom 102: Knowledge is Very Important, Kingdom 102: Seek the Kingdom, Encourage One Another, Kingdom 102: Seek the Kingdom, A Divine Command. Some of the first schools of science and medicine were founded in Smyrna, and on the beautiful slopes of Mount Pagos, the city erected a theater that sat twenty thousand people; the ruins of the theatre are still visible today. Jesus is passionately concerned with how and what we do in our churches, and wants to be intimately involved. I was ready to share Christ with anybody and, you know, I could handle this lady. Ironically, our sufferings are far less of a venture and sentence than our poor choices. Even though He died, He conquered death and He rose again. I want to begin by asking you a question. 2. How is it possible to not fear impending tribulation and suffering? God knows and He cares for you. Appreciation for this transcription work goes to Marilyn Fine. Lets pray. I thought, okay we can pray about this. Are you secure concerning your eternal destiny? Smyrna was a large, important city on the western coast of Asia Minor, famed for its schools of medicine and science. God asks us to be conquerors and faithful witnesses to whom and what He is! 1. The period 1923-1924 was followed by the . He will do anything to stop good things that God is doing. He is like a lion prowling around looking for someone he could use. It is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible other than these four verses, but it is believed it is with the other churches that were founded while Paul spent two years in Ephesus on his third missionary journey. The Church of Smyrna - Church Leadership How can such a church be turned around? And just like myrrh requires crushing to release the sweet perfume of its fragrance, the church at Smyrna would continue to be crushed through adversity. He wants to stop us. Like myrrh, produced by crushing a fragrant plant, the church at Smyrna, crushed by persecution, gave off a fragrant aroma of faithfulness to God.2. Satan is the ultimate enemy. If we are going to suffer well we need to remember these five things: Probably the closest that I have ever come to being persecuted for my faith was as a senior in college at LSU. Oct 04, 2021 41:20. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I was so bitter. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. I understand. He can walk right through it with them. Consider this: when we are independent from Christ in our personal lives and in running our churches, we are forsaking and opposing Him. Jude identifies characteristics of the advisory. She would not teach me. When we seek to do His church on our own, we turn it into a church of evil, as diametrically opposed to Christ, as Satan is opposed to Him. 3:12). But, maybe there are some of you who are in a very difficult season of life. Clarence Larkin :: Chapter 22. The Seven Churches - Blue Letter Bible (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). For the first He says in Revelation 2:10, Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. I noticed it and after a few weeks I thought you know I think I need to say something to her. The letter to the church at Smyrna is unique for several reasons. That is the idea. As a matter of fact, He promises us that if you are a believer, you will face suffering and you will have some persecution in your life (2 Tim. I do not agree with that. It is not a question of, will you suffer? The question is, how will you handle it when it comes?. She hated Christians. 975 Church St Se, Smyrna, GA 30080 Property Report | ATTOM Give it to the Lord, trust His hand, and look ahead to the blessings that await you eternally. They were despised. 11. The letter to the church at Smyrna is unique for several reasons. What can be done to invite Him further into your church? I had the opportunity while I lived there to visit in the homes of some Chinese believers who had undergone some serious persecution for their faith during the years of the Cultural Revolution. You are too good. So, they were persecuted for that. The city rivaled Ephesus in grandeur and influence. Because they did they were considered to be unpatriotic traitors: you do not love Rome. Thus they were tortured. 2006 R. J. Krejcir Ph.D. Whatever it is, it is a hard season of life. Maybe you have a financial issue. 6 Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 43. It was probably six weeks. I do not like it when life is hard. He does not want us to move toward spiritual revival. They did not look at my life and go, wow, I love her life! They were looking at my life going, what a loser, you know, she cannot even get drunk. It was hard, but that still is not the kind of pressure that these Smyrna Christians went through. Myrrh represents mortal death, and the title of the "suffering church" is often ascribed the . If someone slanders you, what do you do? I went in and I just said, God I do not think I can do this. Today, it is known as Izmir, Turkey. It would be fine if they just left me alone. What would Jesus say to such a church? As believers, we should expect persecution and suffering in this life. You do not need to fear or worry about the future! The substance was used to make fragrant perfumes and anointing oils (Exodus 30:23) and was used in ancient burial preparations (John 19:39). It went on and on. 3. They made up whatever they could and went to the government and they were persecuted. Maybe those are metaphors. The church at Smyrna was to undergo some intense persecution and tribulation. May I be accepted this day before you as an acceptable sacrifice. They lit the fire, but strangely enough, the wind blew the fire away from his body so it would not touch him. I will tell you that I do not want to stand there before the throne of God empty-handed. We need to be ready to stay firm and to stand and resist his attacks. 5. John was then to send the divine dictation to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11). 5. But every born-again Christian is called to die to the things of this world (Galatians 2:20, Luke 9:23), become a bondservant of Christ (1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:24), and to consider all earthly things loss compared to the worth of knowing Jesus as Lord (Philippians 3:8). In verse 11 he says, He who overcomes and again last week we talked about who the overcomer is. How have you seen God use trials and suffering in your life? Is there sin in my life for which confession and repentance is needed? He was faithful until death and he lost his physical life, but he gained so much more which brings us to the fifth reminder to help us suffer well. What are some reasons God allows suffering in our lives? What does it mean to be faithful until death? Look at Revelation 2:8 with me, And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: (NASB). Into Thy Word Ministries. The Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) I Peter 4:19 instructs those who suffer according to the will of God to entrust their souls to a faithful creator in doing what is right. 4. What was Jesus message to the church in Sardis in Revelation? So, I went into her office, which was at the back of the lab. In Him, we are more than overcomers. Undoubtedly, the church of Smyrna could have justified any syncretistic actions to preserve their livelihood and lives by proof texted scripture or by claiming that their compromise was for the greater good of tolerance, love, and grace.
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