Introduction
“We are not going to
torture you anymore,” said the Soviet officer.
Paulus wondered what he meant. He had been beaten and abused
now for several hours, and all for the crime of following Jesus Christ.
Challenging the pain that bent him over, Paulus sat up to hear the soldier
continue.
“No, we aren’t going to torture you anymore. We are sending
you to Siberia where the snow never melts. It is a place of great suffering.”
And with mocking laughter the officer added, “You and your family will fit in
very well.”
Paulus’ response surprised the officer. He smiled and told
his captor, “The whole earth belongs to my father, Captain. Wherever you send
me I will be on my Father’s earth.”
The captain mocked Paulus’ optimism. “We will take away all
you own. We will put a bullet between your eyes.”
Paulus, with a broad grin, responded, “You will need a high
ladder, Captain. My treasures are stored up in heaven. If you take away my life
in this world, my real life of joy and beauty will begin. I’m not afraid of
being killed.”
His confidence angered the captain. He grabbed Paulus by his
tattered and worn prison shirt and screamed in his face, “Then we will not kill
you. We will keep you locked alone in a cell and allow no one to come and see
you!”
Paulus continued to smile as he humbly challenged the
officer’s intention, “You cannot do that, sir. You see, I have a Friend who can
pass through locked doors and iron bars. No one, not even you, can separate me
from the love of Christ.”
As promised by the Soviet captain, Paulus and his family
were resettled in Siberia. In the 1980’s, behind the Iron Curtain, this meant
more than severe weather and poverty – it was a synonym for very cruel
punishment or death. 1
Neither Paulus nor his wife was tempted to back away from
their trust in the Lord. Their confidence was in Jesus. Their confidence was in
the crown of life that awaited them. Their ultimate future had already been
decided and no one could take it from them. Not the Soviet captain. Not the
hours of torture. Not the taking away of their possessions. Not even Siberia.
Not even death.
This story, shared by Voice of the Martyrs – an organization
that is committed to serving and loving the persecuted church around the world
– is one of thousands –millions, really -- that Christians have faced since the
New Testament church started. It is even more rampant today than it was then. In
fact, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, which is right down the
road from us at Gordon-Conwell, estimates that one million Christians were
martyred in the first ten years of the 21st century. 2 The
average, yearly, is about 150,000.
From the year 33 AD, that is from when Christ died until the
year 2000, researchers estimate that there were 70 million Christian martyrs.
In the 20th century alone, estimates show 45 million Christians were
killed because of their faith. 2
Two-thirds of the world’s 2.3 billion Christians live in
dangerous and poor neighborhoods and are at a very high risk of facing persecution,
or death for simply believing in Jesus.
So, what is it that would drive a husband and wife to
forsake all – comfort, possessions, even life – for the sake of being faithful
to Jesus? What is it that would lead a man to be content in being stoned to death
because of his faith in Jesus? Why would an 86-year-old Bishop in Smyrna named
Polycarp willingly be burned at the stake for his faith?
I believe our text will help to answer those
questions. Our text is Revelation 2:8-11.
“And to the angel of
the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and
came to life.
“‘I know your
tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who
say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear
what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you
into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have
tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who
conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’” (Revelation 2:8-11 ESV)
I want to break our text today down into four points so you
know where I am going with this, because I want you to know that there is hope
in suffering because Jesus is supreme over life and death and He cares deeply
about us in our suffering.
1.
Jesus is the first and the last that conquered
death and brings life. (vs. 8)
2.
He knows your suffering. (vs. 9)
3.
Despite tribulation, hardship, and poverty, you
are very rich. (vs. 9)
4.
You do not have to fear suffering because great
reward is promised to those who are faithful unto death. (vs. 10-11)
First, let me briefly paint a picture of what is happening
in Smyrna so you have the background of what is happening here. Smyrna was a
beautiful city about 35 miles north of Ephesus and was at the center of emperor
worship in Asia, so much so that they were awarded by Rome the honor of
building a temple to the Emperor Tiberius. It was the center for patriotism and
loyalty to the empire. There was a large Jewish community in Smyrna that was
bitterly opposed to the Christians in the city, probably because they worshiped
Jesus as God, which was blasphemous to the Jews.
We see something similar in Acts 17:6-7 after Paul planted a
church in Thessalonica. The Jewish community there got very angry with Paul and
Silas told the Roman authorities that “These
men who have turned the world upside down come here also… and they are all
acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus.”
Something similar is happening here towards the Christians in Smyrna and they
are facing heavy persecution and poverty because of their allegiance to Jesus.
The Jews would go to the Roman authorities and slander the Christians. And the
Romans hit hard against the Christians by imprisoning them and/or executing
them. Jesus calls the Jewish population there a “synagogue of Satan” because of
their slander of the Christian community. History tells us that these Christians
were accused of anything and everything, from cannibalism to incest, from
breaking up homes to atheism. Some historians believe that there were mass
executions of Christians in the city because they would not worship Caesar as
God.
That is the backdrop of this letter. Smyrna is a city made
of up two major aspects; the first, this is a very loyal and patriotic city to
Rome and demands worship of the emperor and, second, there is an extremely
large Jewish population that hates the fact that Christians worship a Jewish
carpenter from Nazareth who claimed to be God. In other words, this is a very
difficult place to be a Christian. Jesus is addressing a suffering church that
is suffering because of their allegiance to Him.
1. 1. Jesus
is the first and the last that conquered death and brings life.
(vs. 8) ‘The
words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.”
Jesus starts out every letter with a distinct characteristic
about Himself that communicates something to each of the churches He is addressing.
He communicates something specific and it relates to the circumstances
happening with the church.
Here we have a church that is suffering persecution and
death because of their faith in Christ and He starts His letter out with “I am
the first and the last, who died and came to life”.
There is a depth to this statement that is very hard to
clearly communicate and wrap our heads around. Jesus was there before time
began. He was there before you were born;
before First Baptist Church of Haverhill was founded;
before the Reformation;
before Mount Everest in the Himalayas was shaped and formed;
before the Atlantic and Pacific and Indian oceans were
filled with water;
before the Roman empire;
before the exodus out of Egypt;
before Noah and the flood;
before the very first star in the sky was born;
before the very first particle of space dust was ever
created.
Jesus was there. Before anything and everything ever was.
Nothing is before Him. He is the source of all things.
But, He is also “the last”. Which means that nothing will
outlast Jesus.
Not the USA. Not Islam, or Hinduism, or Buddhism. Not Communism. Not
those same oceans or mountains or stars or planets or galaxies or black holes
or meteors or asteroids.
Not your cancer or your taxes or your debt. Not your
joblessness or poverty. He will outlast all of them.
Jesus will always endure and Jesus will always have the last
word.
Not even death can stop Him. Why? He tells us. In chapter
1:17, Jesus says:
“Fear not, I am the
first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive
forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17 ESV)
The thought of the “first and the last” dying is a mind-blowing
thought. He is who precedes all things and endures all things, enters time, dies,
and then even conquers death by rising from the dead. And now, He is alive
forevermore and even holds the keys to death.
What is this introduction telling us about Jesus? He is
telling the church in Smyrna “I am the sovereign one. I am the one who created
all things. I am the one who conquered death. I live forevermore. I am in
control of all things, from the beginning to the end.”
The death and resurrection of Jesus means that death has no
power over Him. He is bigger than death itself. Death was our biggest concern
before. It is no longer. Jesus has defeated it.
Jim Hamilton, in his commentary on Revelation, says the
following:
“When you think about
the end of your life, do you apply to your contemplation the fact that Jesus
has conquered death? When you think about dangerous situations you might face –
the noise in the night that means an intruder might be in your home, the
thought that someone you love could fall into a rushing river or be in some
other situation that, if you try to help, might end your own life – when you
think of life-threatening danger, do you apply to your thinking the triumph of
Jesus over death? My friends, this is what it means to make connections between
the good news of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, and all of life. Applying
to our fears the knowledge that Jesus is bigger than death will make us
courageous.” 3
What Jesus is telling the Smyrnean church in his
introduction is this: “Know this, oh church of Smyrna! Know this as your
foundation: I am the first and the last, the One who is sovereign over life and
death. I am bigger than death because I conquered it. Nothing came before me.
Nothing will come after me. And everything in between is mine.
2.
2. He
knows your suffering. (vs. 9)
(vs. 9) “‘I know
your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) …”
Could there be anything more comforting than hearing Jesus –
the One who we just described as the sovereign one who rules over life and
death – saying to you “I know your suffering and your poverty”?
First Baptist Church Haverhill has certainly seen its share
of suffering and trials. I have seen members here suffering sickness, and
joblessness, and unbelieving children, miscarriages, the tragic loss of loved
ones, and many other tribulations. Those trials are significant and they affect
us deeply and stay with us our entire lives. However, we can most likely say
that we have never experienced a significant amount of persecution simply
because we believe in Jesus. Jesus is telling the church in Smyrna that nothing
goes without His watchful eye. He is telling you this. Whether it is
persecution because of their faith or poverty or poverty because of their
faith, Jesus is aware of every bit of suffering that His church goes through. But
here, Jesus’ acknowledges this suffering.
Suffering, in its various forms, wears on you. It can beat
you down. Day after day. No one can understand this more than a church that is
under constant threat of persecution or death.
The church in North Korea, for example, lives under
unbelievable fear and threat of death at every moment. As of right now, it is
the #1 most persecuted church in the world and has been for 12 years straight.
It is where the persecution of the church is most extreme. It is estimated that
50,000 – 70,000 Christians are imprisoned in labor camps. They can only meet in secret
and they only share their faith, even with their families, knowing that imprisonment
in a labor camp or execution is imminent. Anyone discovered engaging in secret
religious activity may be subject to arrest, disappearance, torture, and in
many cases, public execution. In many cases, owning a Bible will result in
public execution.
This
is a church that is under unimaginable pressure and constant, daily, suffering.
And what is even more shocking is a report that came out just two days ago in
Christianity Today says that it is believed that persecution of Christians is
expected to rise in the year to come, if you can even imagine. 4
And
yet, the church in North Korea is rapidly growing, which means that people are
still sharing their faith, regardless of the cost.
Jesus is telling His church here: I am not distant. I am
close. I am sovereign. All things come from me. All things return to me. And I
know your suffering. I am a close King who cares about His people intimately.
For those of you going through trials and suffering today,
even though it may not be explicitly because of your faith in Jesus, know that
Jesus is close. He knows your suffering.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us this of Jesus, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
He was rejected. He was hated. He was betrayed. He did not
have a house of His own. He didn’t have money to pay His taxes. He did not have
a bed. He was beaten. He was killed. He had no tomb of His own.
He understands poverty and he understands suffering. This is
your God.
3. 3. Despite
tribulation, hardship, and poverty, you are very rich. (vs. 9)
(vs. 9) “‘I know your tribulation and your
poverty (but you are rich)
Paul tells us this in 2 Corinthians 6:2-10,
“Behold, now is the
favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in
anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants
of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions,
hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights,
hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine
love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of
righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor,
through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as
unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and
yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:2-10
ESV)
We do not have what the world considers “wealth”. The world wholeheartedly
longs for material wealth. Any of you who have been awake in the middle of the
night undoubtedly have seen endless infomercials telling you how to get rich quick,
targeting those who are awake all night worrying about their lack of wealth.
Money, power, fame, riches; the world loves these things. We are told that our worth is displayed in the
things that we have. Our status in society is displayed by how much power we
have.
On Friday night, our community group watched a missions
video about India and how the Holy Spirit is moving throughout that country.
Amazingly enough, the Gospel is spreading most among the poorest of the country
– the Dalits – who are known as the “untouchables”. The Hindu caste system as
placed them at the absolute bottom of society. Yet, 80% of the Christian
population in India is among these “untouchables” – those who have absolutely nothing from the world’s standards, but
are the richest of all of India because, as Paul says, they “have nothing, yet
possess everything”.
In fact, in this video, we learn of the story of a family of
believers. The mother and daughters in this family cannot read, and since they
cannot read, they have spent their time and resources to memorize the
scriptures. This year, they will spend the year memorizing Ephesians 2. This
family acts as trailblazers – they go into unreached villages that have never
heard the Gospel and bring the Gospel to them. To date, they have reached 175
villages.
By Indian standards and the rest of the world’s standards,
these people are as poor as can be imagined. Their house being made of bamboo
sticks held together by mud and manure, they have faced oppression and poverty
that we can only read about here in the US.
But are they poor? Jesus says: “No! You are very rich!”
They know the treasure that they have in Christ and long to
share those riches with those who have never heard.
Ephesians 2:4-7 tells us:
“But God, being rich
in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were
dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have
been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians
2:4-7 ESV)
My friends, are you rich? Are you very rich? If we have
Jesus Christ, Paul says you were loved with a great love and have had grace poured
on you. Why? So that He might show us the immeasurable riches of His grace in
kindness.
I
mmeasurable riches. You may be
poor. You may be suffering. But friends, you are immeasurably rich in Christ.
4.
4. You
do not have to fear suffering because great reward is promised to those who are
faithful unto death. (vs. 10-11)
(vs. 10-11) “Do not fear what you are about
to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that
you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto
death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by
the second death.’”
Why does God appoint suffering for His church? I did not say
allow. I mean appoint. Why does God
appoint suffering? Just as we see in Job, where Satan asks for permission to
test Job, and where we see Satan demanding to have access to Peter and the rest
of the disciples, Satan plays a role in the suffering of God’s children. But we
also know that he can do nothing without God’s permission. We see this same
thing unfolding here.
“The devil is about to
throw some of you into prison…”
Satan is continuing his age-old quest to destroy God’s
people and to thwart God’s plans. But, even here, we see that God is using
Satan to bring about His purposes.
The text continues in saying that they are being thrown into
prison in order to be tested. This is not Satan testing these people. This is
God. God is using this persecution to test them. We remember in Genesis 50,
where Joseph tells his brothers,
“As for you, you meant
evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20 ESV)
So, why does God appoint the suffering of His people? Why
mustn’t we fear suffering now or in the future?
First, Paul answers this question for us in 2 Corinthians
4:17-18:
“So we do not lose
heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed
day by day. For this light momentary affliction… (this light momentary affliction in
prison, Smyrna – your persecution, tribulation, and poverty. Your death.) … is
preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look
not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the
things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV; parenthesis added)
Affliction and suffering prepare us for an eternal weight of
glory far beyond comparison. Far beyond.
One of most widely-read parts of scripture, as it relates to
suffering is Romans 8. Oh, how I love Romans 8. In the chapter we read this:
“The Spirit himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with
him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
For I consider that
the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that
is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:16-19 ESV)
And then further on in the end of the chapter, Paul
concludes with the following:
“What then shall we
say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not
spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him
graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who
died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed
is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger,
or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed
all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep
to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that
neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to
come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans
8:31-39)
Jesus told us in His Sermon on the Mount that:
“Blessed are you when
others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)
How do you respond to your suffering? Do you rejoice and be
glad? What reward is there for remaining faithful until the end?
When I started this sermon, I asked what would drive a
husband and wife to forsake all – comfort, possessions, even life – for the sake
of being faithful to Jesus? What is it that would lead a man to be content in
being stoned to death because of his faith in Jesus? Why would an 86-year-old
Bishop in Smyrna named Polycarp willingly be burned at the stake for his faith?
Polycarp was the last living link to the apostles. He had
studied under the Apostle John, who remember, is the author of the book of
Revelation and the recorder of this letter that Jesus wrote to the church in
Smyrna, where Polycarp is the bishop.
Polycarp was brought before the Roman proconsul in Smyrna.
He had been arrested under the persecution of the Christians in Smyrna that we
have talked about today.
Polycarp was urged:
“Swear by the fortune of Caesar. Take the oath and I will
release you. Curse Christ!”
He stood firm, “Eighty six years have I served the Lord
Jesus Christ and He never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my king,
who has saved me?”
Continuing the exchange, the proconsul said “I have wild
beasts and I will throw you to them, unless you repent!”
“Call for them,” replied Polycarp; “for repentance with us
is a wicked thing, if it is to be a change from the better to the worse, but a
good thing if it is to be a change from evil to good.”
“If the wild beasts don’t scare you then I will burn you
with fire,” the proconsul angrily responded.
Polycarp replied, “You threaten me with fire, which burns
for an hour, and is soon extinguished; but the fire of future judgment, and of
eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly, you are ignorant of. But why do you delay? Bring on the beasts or
the fire. Do whatever you please. You shall not move me to deny Christ.”
As the fire was lit, Polycarp stood among the flames. In his
final prayer, he uttered these words: “O Father, I thank You, that You have
called me to this day and hour and have counted me worthy to receive my place
among the number of holy martyrs. Amen.” 4
Polycarp was a disciple of John. He was martyred 68 years after
John died and about 75 years after Jesus communicated His letter to the church
at Smyrna.
What truths led Polycarp to have such a bold stand for
Christ? Facing wild beasts or fire, what do you think he turned to carry him?
What was on the other side of physical death that made him deny his life for
the sake of something better?
Wasn’t it John, Polycarp’s mentor who shared Jesus’ words in
his gospel?
Whoever loves his life
loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal
life. (John 12:25 ESV)
Do not fear what you are about to suffer, Polycarp. Be
faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. The one who conquers
will not be hurt by the second death.
The word Smyrna in Greek is translated “myrrh” in Hebrew. We
see myrrh throughout the scriptures, probably most notably as one of the gifts
given to Jesus by the wise men. Myrrh was used in perfume and was made fragrant
by crushing a plant.
When you are crushed, what aroma do you give forth? Is it
the aroma of faithfulness to God?
My friends, do you believe that Jesus’ steadfast love is
better than life, as Psalm 63 tells us? Has your soul been so satisfied by
Jesus that you cannot, will not, deny Him? Do you believe that it is better to
die than to live without Him?
This is not just about dying as martyrs; this is about
living our lives day in and day out with an all-satisfying Jesus who loves us
and with whom spending an eternity with is vastly better than this life could
ever be. Do you live in the hope that his love is better than life? Are you
willing to give your life to show the absolute, unending, worth of Jesus?
Jesus does not call for faithfulness unto death without
reminding us that there is a future that awaits us that is so far better, so
deeply perfect, so far satisfying, and so full of joy, so full of His glory,
and full of “pleasures evermore” that are only found in His right hand. He does
not call us to faithfulness without the promise that whatever sacrifice we
make, it will be far outweighed by a never-ending life full of the greatest
reward.
Be faithful unto death and He will give you the crown of
life.
1.
Voice of the Martyrs, Heroic Faith, (Nashville, W Publishing
Group) p. 3-4
2.
David B. Barrett and Todd M. Johnson,
World Christian Trends AD 30 – AD 2200
(Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2001) http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/wct_martyrs_extract.pdf;
accessed January 24, 2014
3.
James H. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the
Churches, Preaching the Word Commentary Series (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), p.
76
4.
“Persecution Expected to Rise in
North Korea,” Christianity Today website, http://www.christiantoday.com/article/persecution.predicted.to.rise.in.north.korea/35521.htm;
accessed January 25, 2014
5.
Voice of the Martyrs and dc Talk, Jesus Freaks: Martyrs (Minneapolis:
Baker House Publishers, 1999), p. 136-138
