Bible End Times Prophecy Series – Week 45
The Seven Churches of Revelation
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| Ruins at Smyrna. Photo/Wikipedia. |
Letter to the church at Smyrna - A crown of life for those who stay faithful
Revelation 2:8-11 (NLT)
8 “Write
this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the
one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
9 “I
know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the
blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not,
because their synagogue belongs to Satan.
10 Don’t
be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you
into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain
faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
11 “Anyone
with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to
the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Background and commentary
John the apostle is considered the writer of the Apocalypse
or Revelation. He wrote down what the risen Lord Jesus Christ both told and
showed him in a series of visions of the future. The letters to the seven
churches in Asia Minor are messages that apply to the Christian church overall
as well as to individual believers.
In John’s time, according to historians, Smyrna was a
thriving city with a large Jewish community. The dominant culture was steeped
in Greek paganism. Today, Smyrna is known as Izmir, one of Turkey’s large cities.
It is located on the Gulf of Izmir off the Aegean Sea.
Jesus used strong language to describe the spiritual corruption that surrounded
the early Christians in that region:
“They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their
synagogue belongs to Satan.” (Rev. 2:9 [b]). Wow. Imagine hearing that your
church belongs to the devil.
Although Jesus commends the faithful Christians there, He also
tells them that they will suffer persecution. Yet, Jesus promises that if they
remain faithful, He will give them “a crown of life.”- Rev. 10 [c]. What a
beautiful promise. Also, “Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the
second death.” – Rev. 2:11 [b]. Most theologians would agree that the “second
death” refers to the eternal death of judgment.
Through this letter, Jesus emphasizes how Christianity is
best lived out as a personal relationship with Him. One of His titles is “Faithful”
and we are to be faithful to Him, too, if we wish to escape eternal death and
separation from God.
How to live victorious lives
John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I
will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the
vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
1 John 2:16 (NIV) – “For
everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.
1 John 2:16 (NLT) – “For
the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything
we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the
Father, but are from this world.”
Jesus Christ, the Savior
The sinless Jesus Christ took on the sins of the world AND
the punishment for those sins so that we could be saved.
Today, if you do not know Jesus, receive His free offer of salvation
and put all your trust in Him.
John 1:29 (NLT) – “The next day
he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
2 Corinthians 6:2 – “ For
God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of
salvation.”
Acts 2:38 (NLT) – “Peter
replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Shalom
Faith Today Christian Ministries
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