The letter to the church in Smyrna from Revelation 2:8-11, presenting Jesus as the "first and the last" and the one who was dead and is alive. It explains that the name Smyrna, meaning myrrh, symbolizes suffering, and that this church historically faced intense persecution from Nero's era to around 300 AD, exemplified by the martyrdom of Polycarp. The message highlights that suffering can draw believers closer to God, and despite their tribulation and poverty, the Smyrnan church was spiritually rich and endured reproach. The sermon encourages believers to "be thou faithful unto death" for the promise of the crown of life, assuring them that overcoming persecution means they will not face the second death.
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Well, we're happy to be here again and welcome you in the precious name of the Lord Jesus. Shall we look to God in a word of prayer and seek his blessing and ask his help not only for the words but for one another and the problems of life that we face? Beloved and blessed Father, we feel very deeply the need of coming into thy holy presence. Sometimes perhaps we may feel that even the weight of the world is upon our hearts, and yet how could it be we could never carry it? But with thank thee we do know that thou art above all, and before all, and thou art able to work all things that of the counsel of thine own will.
We turn with thankful heart that we can bring our voice and bring our heart's petition into thy holy presence. First of all, we would bless thee for the entrance that thou hast provided. And there was a time in the Old Testament when only the high priest could go into the sanctuary, the inner sanctuary, the holiest of all, and that but once a year. But since the death of thy daily beloved Son upon the tree, the cross of Calvary. We marveled that when he was upon the cross, finishing the work of redemption, paying the penalty and bearing the judgment in all of its fullest measure to thine eternal satisfaction, he triumphantly cried, it is finished.
And immediately the veil in the temple was rent in twain. from top to the bottom. And thus we can rejoice. The veil is rent. Our souls draw near to a throne of grace. The merits of our Lord appear. They fill the holy place. We know we're upon the earth. But we want to thank the when we're saved we should be enjoying the truth that we belong to heaven. And have access into the heavenly places. How precious. We bless before it. We need the sanctuary of thy presence.
And we need also the touch of thy blessed spirit to bring before us the glories and the excellencies of thy dear son, the Lord Jesus, to comfort, to encourage and to strengthen our hearts in the pilgrim task. We pray one for the other. Thou knowest the burdens that each of us carry. Sometimes it may be physical. Sometimes it can be even mental and moral. Giving heartache and grief that could be even greater than physical pain. And we pray for one another. We especially would remember the homes that we represent. Every one of us in the Lord has certainly a concern for the welfare of our families.
We pray for them. We thank you for those in our families who know the Lord. We pray to go on with him and for him. But we think of others who don't. And sometimes it is thy way, Father, to bring grief, sadness, trial and trouble to speak to the heart and speak to the conscience. We think of many homes, some in particular, may be upon the hearts of thy dear people here. that are in need of thy grace and mercy. We do rightly, Father, that you speak through the circumstances of life. Some of those circumstances we sometimes rebel against.
But there's no circumstance, Father, for what thy blessed purpose can be to bring spiritual and eternal blessings. So whatever thy dear children, as well as those who are not thy children, may be passing through in circumstances of pressure, use them for thy glory. Bring thee unsaved to the Lord, and strengthen the hearts of thy people to be drawn closer to thee. Now we thank thee again for bringing us together. Oh, how we pray. Open thy word that we may behold wondrous things out of it. For we bless thee, we have the teacher, the Holy Spirit.
Lord, we are studying something that is very tragic in its message when we realize it concerns the state of the church. And our Father, no matter who we are, where or who we are, we who are thy children, would ask thee to help us share thy concerns. and the concern of the Lord Jesus, the head of the church. And most of all, as we study what the prophetic word even tells, as well as the past history may reveal, and the present conditions, may it have an effect upon our own heart and our own lives.
For, Lord, regardless of the failures surrounding us, we would ask thee, keep us faithful. We think of the text we shall see today. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. May this be our portion. We ask giving thanks in the Savior's name. Amen. Revelation chapter two, if you please. Our lesson will be on page number three, where you have on that page two particular letters, one to the Church of Ephesus, the other, which will be our chief consideration this morning.
the letter to Smyrna in chapter two verses eight through eleven not very lengthy is this is this letter to the church at Smyrna his but I believe it is the shortest letter of the seven that we shall consider but there are precious proof within it for our edification comfort and blessing chapter two in the book of the revelation in verse eight the Lord Jesus singing and unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things set the first and the last, which was dead and is alive.
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich, and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not. but are of the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried. Ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of light. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.
He that overcomes shall not be heard of the second death. May God bless the reading of this portion from his word. Would you please look very briefly but quickly at your lesson sheet. At the heading of page three, we would like particularly once again and carefully to make the application of these letters in that threefold manner that we have mentioned at the heading of the sheet. You notice under number one, number two, and number three, there are three particular words used relative to the application of these seven letters.
First of all, there is the historical application, and we're all fully acquainted with the fact that there was a local church relative to these churches, whatever were named, whether Ephesus and down to Laodicea, historically... They did exist at the time when the Lord Jesus wrote through his servant John. So those local churches certainly revealed to us the state of their local history at the time the letter was written. But then you have a second suggestion regarding their application. And this will particularly begin coming out today in the letter to Smyrna.
the prophetical application I read the words that you will find that each letter in its moral character there are it covers a specific period of church history now let me repeat it again we'll develop the thought as we go along and the truth of it these letters and the chance we should rather remember these seven were particularly chosen by the Lord Jesus for a specific purpose to convey not only to them in that day, but even to us in our day and down through the church age, what he recognizes as to the condition of the church at large through his whole history upon the earth.
May I put this thought before you? In these summer letters, you've got a prophetic history spiritually of the church. from the beginning of the Apostles' Day, when they were written, down to the end. There are many books written on church history and good books, but usually they are chronological, referring, of course, to the local history as the periods went on. But if you want a graphic correct and the most specific history of the church, that applies in its proper manner the seven letters given.
And as you have in the reference, let me again go to that reference again, it reveals the moral character of the church. And it covers, by the seven letters, different specific periods of church history showing the character of the church from time to time and time to time until you get down to the end, Laodicean. Now let me give you the thought. And I'm sure many of you, if not all of you, may often hear the expression, we must be in the Laodicean age of the church's history. For when we come to that letter, we'll have so many things that reveal what are called the Laodicean conditions morally and spiritually of the church at large.
And may I give you the thought, and mark this very carefully. The progression of this moral history at the end of it all reveals, and I just quote part of the Laodicean letter, when the Lord condemned, the Lord had no words of commendation for the Laodicean church, but only condemnation. And of that church he said, I will spew thee out of my mouth. There was no reality. He saw it as an outward profession. Both things, yes. Ingridly? Well, you remember the text, you know it very well.
In chapter three and verse twenty, the Lord Jesus said, Behold to that church. I'm standing outside at the door. I'm knocking. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and stop with him and he will name. and the position of the Lord at the end of the church age in the lay of the same state of things he's outside wanting to get in thank God he wants to get in and thank God he says if anyone maybe an individual even open the heart I'll come in so there I want you to see the trend as you go through the seven letters the moral history is covered until you get to the end It's the worst state of the church in history on the earth.
But may I be reminded with you again, don't want to let you down all the way and not pick you up again. At the end of that history, the Lord's coming for His true bride. Those that really belong to Him, born again, washed in His precious blood, and thank God when we get to the end of the seven letters, In chapters four and five, we're going to find the believing church in heaven above. And what is joy to realize? Heaven is the home of the church. But now let's look at the third application. Let me mention it. This is the most important one.
The spiritual one. For the spiritual application reveals the true condition of the church. on the earth at any given time. If I may suggest, and we begin it today in Smyrna, it reveals at any specific time, following the sub-apostolic days when John wrote to Ephesus, there came the Church of Smyrna in the next letter. And we shall see that it revealed the condition of that church and the condition of the church on the earth at large. during the next period following the apostolic days and so on likewise as you go from letter to letter down to the end and may I point out this with emphasis the spiritual history is the most important now let me make that application very clear well I'm not going to ask you how old you are I don't want to know the history of your life I'm not going to tell you the history of my life either it's not worth telling except for what the Lord has done.
But what's the most important part of your life? Your spiritual part. The spiritual history. That's the most important. Whether it's an individual or whether it's a local church or even the church universal at large upon the earth. And the spiritual history. Please let me read that once again. It would reveal the true condition of the church on the earth at any given time. Now let's look at what we have. Going down to the letter of Smyrna and the election sheet below, please. Note this. As we have followed the letter to Ephesus, we saw that, and may I point out to you that don't forget it, the letter of Ephesus revealed there was nothing outwardly wrong with the conduct of the Ephesian church.
And I would like to commend the concern that the Ephesian church was the most powerful testimony during the days of the apostles. You read the Ephesian epistle, there was not one word of censure, not one word of rebuke given to that church. And in the opening of that letter, Paul addressed it to the saints which are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. To his faithful.
And we saw last week the commendation of the Lord upon the faithfulness of that church. But there was something inwardly that he noted. He felt the waning of their love. That first love. for him now let me make an application please you've heard of backsliding Christians haven't you you know where backsliding begins begins in the heart before it begins in the feet it begins in the heart I think I mentioned last week the prodigal was the prodigal before he left home his heart was in the far country And thus you can recognize what the Lord saw, their love for him was waning, cooling, and the affection for his person he missed.
And may I say this, beloved fellow believers, the Lord enjoyed being loved by those who were his people. and I want to give you something to think about particularly you sisters I love to think of this and let me mention it did you ever notice in Luke chapter seven and you can read of the woman that came into the house of Simon the Pharisee because she heard Jesus was there and then you've also read in John chapter twelve about Mary of Bethany both of those women without ever speaking a word.
They showed more love for the Lord Jesus than all the brethren did. And the disciples of the Lord. One who had met him in grace and he had brought her forgiveness of sins. In Luke seven. Luke writes she was the sinner. But Simon the Pharisee and those people that were with him They kept saying she is a sinner. Luke says she was. The Lord had come and forgiven her. But without speaking the word, she showed more love and affection for the Lord Jesus. Likewise, Mary of Bethany.
And even the disciples grumbled because she wasted, as they thought, the ointment upon the Lord Jesus. My beloved, may I say this? Let me go further still. Speak to you of another woman. Mary Magdalene. There was a woman out of whom the Lord had driven seven demons. She must have been a rascal as far as her temper was concerned with seven of them in her. But the Lord cast them out. But she was the first one of the sepulchre. She was the first one. through a devotion of tears, thinking that his body had been stolen, wanted to find his body.
She says, I'll carry him away if you'll tell me where you've laid him. And she thought Jesus was the gardener. There was affection. And may I say this, the Lord, put it this way, the Lord Jesus appreciates affection more than knowledge. Paul writing to the Corinthians in chapter eight of the first epistle said knowledge puffeth up love edifier now as the background of the letter to Smyrna we can see the lack of affection that come in the church in the early days now we come to this letter please notice you see the Lord seeks to revive that affection the name Smyrna if you notice means murder got the word murder suffering wherever you find mention of myrrh in the word of God the typical meaning is concerning suffering remember the wise men that came to worship the child Jesus they brought unto him frankincense gold frankincense and myrrh and
how typical that was of his sufferings that were yet to be and when he was upon the cross of Calvary they offered him vinegar to drink mingle with myrrh that it might be an opiate for him, a sedation which he refused to take. That's typical of his suffering. And when Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea burrowed in, they burrowed him with spices of myrrh, as well as other spices. But myrrh, a hundred-pound weight. And so myrrh is so suggestive. Let me go back. I don't know. Some of you call Mary here. We have quite a few Mary's here.
And what a wonderful Bible name it is. But you remember Naomi? Her name meant back in the story of Ruth Pleasant. But when her husband took her and the children into Moab, tried to find a living there when he should have stayed and trusted the Lord, even though the famine was great in Bethlehem. And she lost her husband. She lost her two sons. God took them away. And all that she had. was Ruth the Moabites who clung to her. And when she came back to the village with Ruth, her hometown of Bethlehem, they looked at her, can this be Naomi?
They hardly realized it was her. What was the trouble? Well, she said, don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara, Mara. For the Lord has dealt bitterly with me. It means weeping. It's not you sorrowful. And the Lord undoubtedly chastened them. But all the joy of realizing suffering, there's nothing better than suffering to develop spiritual appreciation for the Lord. Read the hundred and seven psalm at your convenience.
You have four particular times when men pray. It's when they're in trouble. It's when they're in trouble. It's trouble. Then they call on the Lord in their distresses. And what you have in Smyrna, you've got the Lord permitting trouble to come. Persecution and tribulation against the church. What for? He wanted to bring it back to his heart. Now let's read on. Let's first of all mention, as you've got on your lesson sheet, the historical application, very simple.
It was a church that was forty miles north of Ephesus. And it was the center of Christian persecution that raged in Asia Minor. It came to be the center of that persecution period. As the rages of Satan and the enemy through the people around came against them. And historically they passed through him. Now let's look at the prophetical application that we want to mention very carefully. It was the period from Nero's day to about three hundred AD. When this period of intense persecution went on.
And there was one man in church history, you will find it written, in secular church history, by the name of Polycarp, who was martyred for the Lord's testimony at Smyrna. According to church history, let me just mention it so we can get the background, and that is the prophetical background of the church here. That period of history was so great in its persecution and martyrdom that took place. And there was one old saint by the name of Polycarp. If I recall reading correctly, the authorities demanded that he recant, deny his profession and confession of Christ.
And he was an old man, I think, of eighty-six years at the time. And as he stood before his accusers at the trial that they were giving him, And they demanded his retraction of his Christian faith. He might have been older than eighty-six, but he said, All in my life, my eighty-six years, I have served the Lord Christ. And he's never done anything against me. I cannot. I will not deny him. They marred him. Now that period from Nero down to the year about three hundred, it was a period of great persecution.
Now look at the spiritual application. And there you can see what the Lord says regarding it. He approves it, as we shall see in our detailed study. No accusation, suffering, poverty was theirs, but the Lord says you're right. May I say again, I'm sure some of you have experienced it as well as I have. Suffering can bring you closer to the Lord than any other experience. And what a joy to know. The precious fact that the Lord knows how to bring you closer to Him.
May I say There have been one or two, particularly one experience in my life I would never wish to go through again. But may I confess it became the greatest blessing to me, to my spiritual condition. Dear old sister Abigail and old Saint and I knew of in Buffalo, Mrs. Abigail Love, godly woman, who knew I was going through it, who prayed for me, And the very last time I saw and said goodbye to her before moving south, she said, John, remember, your darkest experience can be your greatest spiritual blessing.
When I proved her, she was right. She was right. Well, let me say very frankly, Well, if you're not getting any trouble, then maybe you're not living right. Remember what Paul wrote to Timothy, saying to me in chapter three, They that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Now let's go on. Look at our letter then in detail. First of all, go with me to verse eight and see how the Lord presents himself in some characteristic special way to the church.
to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things set the first and the last. The first and the last. Now let's consider who's speaking and calling himself by this title. And beloved, I commend to you a detailed consideration of the titles that you ever read in the Word of God that the Lord Jesus takes and speaks of regarding himself. And here is the title that certainly presents to us the greatness of his deities. First, last, we added in the opening of chapter one, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega.
I am the first. And may I say this, he's the first before every other person. And he's the one who's above every other person. You know one thing I get rebuked for in my heart? and I feel that all the believers need to be reviewed for it. My fellow believer, you and I have got the greatest person to go to that we could ever reach. The one who is the first, the one who is the last. And it comes to the church at Smyrna in that attitude, that characteristic attitude. I'm the first, I'm above all, I'm before all.
and I'll be existing at the end of all. What a person. The first and the last. Wonderful title. But then notes. You know what follows in the attitude that he takes toward them. He goes to say to them, and now precious, and which was dead or became dead, and is alive. Now beloved, we know that last week we should see it further on. Again and again, not always, but most of the time the Lord takes some of the reference to become the world. I'm the first and the last, and I became dead, and I'm alive.
Now blessed to realize, I don't know how true, but the secular history of Peter's life that some have written regarding his deceit, and it's repeated he was crucified. when he was so crucified he begged that he would not be crucified straight up but rather his head hanging down because I don't deserve to be crucified with my head up like my Lord so one can recognize what grace what mercy what comfort what peace was given to those persecuted Christians when they've out suffered And here's the Lord Jesus said, I've been through it.
I've been through it. He gave you this illustration from life. I had a dear good friend, a doctor up in Virginia. He's now with the Lord, a retired doctor from New York State. And one time visiting him, he was telling me of all of his troubles. And one of the main part of his trouble was one scholar, particularly a young man that he was helping a lot. And doing all, he and his wife doing much for that boy. And he said, Gene gives me a lot of trouble. Oh, he said, my blood pressure goes up. And then he told me, he said, you know, Brother Saul, so he mentioned another Christian, came to see me, called on me.
And he says, I was telling to him all my troubles. And how terrible I felt the way this young fellow was treating me. And he said, he listened to me very kindly. And then he said, after I was finished, he looked at me and said, Doc, have you been crucified yet? So that kept his complaints away. Oh, let me say this. And I think of a dear lady that was dying with cancer, a neighbor of mine about fifty years ago. I went to see her in her home on one morning. She lived just across the street. And I spoke to her, I said, Sister, She's dying with cancer of the throat.
I said, Sister, it must be awful painful for you sometimes, isn't it? Mr. Bramall, it is. I said, Well, what do you do when the pain is so bad? And sedation doesn't seem to help. You know what I do, Mr. Bramall? I start thinking about my Lord when he was crucified for me. That's a good sedation, isn't it? how he suffered and this is what the Lord's telling the church here I suffered too I was subjected to death but I'm alive but now go further and I want you to know what he now goes on to say and here we find that's his sympathy and consolation in their sufferings he'd gone through it and now he brings his commendation I know thy word he doesn't say much about what they were doing He just puts it all together in these few words.
I know thy works. I know what you're doing for me. And it's precious to realize he knows. He knows. He knows. I remember many years ago when my wife and I were first married. And the little company of believers that we were fellowshipping with. I was at work that time, working in business that time. My wife and I took an obligation on. we clean that chapel building every Saturday by ourselves. And I recall one time, I'm glad she's not here. She wouldn't want to be reminded, but anyway, I recall that she said to me one Saturday, you know, John, nobody ever says thank you for this.
I looked at her and said, well, who are you doing it for? You'll get the thought. He knows. He knows. And what a joy to realize there's a complete knowledge of what we are doing and what that church's murder was doing. But then go further. There's something else in you. He says, I know your tribulation. I know your tribulation. And my beloved, may I say, whatever trial you're going through and whatever trial I'm going through, he knows. A dear old hymn we used to sing.
So on I go not knowing I would not if I might. I'd rather walk in the dark with God than go alone in the light. I'd rather walk by faith with him than go alone by sight. Where air he leaves, I'll follow. My trust in him repose. And every hour in perfect peace, I'll sing. He knows. He knows. You'll never have anyone that can sympathize with you better or even as well. It's the Lord Jesus. I know your tribulation. One wrote these words I've never forgotten.
There's not a sorrow. Reds the heart for what the man of sorrows have the power. Now note the third thing he goes on to say. I know your poverty. It was materially a poor church. physically, materially, monetarily. There was poverty. What a beautiful parenthesis follows. But thou art rich. Now I want a joint and own. They had true riches. We used to have a little chorus as children we sang. I'd rather be poor and know Jesus than own the whole world and be king.
For it's only those who know Jesus in heaven is praise the show saying. One thing is certainly true. You'll never take your earthly riches to glory, will you? We've brought nothing into this world and we're going to take just as much out. To have the furnishers with clothes when we came in. And they'll have to do it when we go out. And you can recognize. We have not. But when we've got Christ, he says, you're rich. Rich. We sang a quartet in my younger day in which I enjoyed.
The riches of earth are not mine. I hold not its silver nor gold. But a treasure far greater is mine. I have riches of value untold. All the depths of the riches of love the riches of love in Christ Jesus. Far better than gold or wealth untold are the riches of love in Christ Jesus. My beloved, let me say, every dear blood-bought thing, knowing the Lord Jesus is his and her Savior, is far richer than all the wealthy men of the world who know not Christ. Thou art rich.
Thou art rich. And then there was something else he knew as you read on, as you'll never follow, he knew not only their true riches, which were the spiritual riches, he knew their reproach. I know the blasphemy of them which say they are, of them which say they are Jews, yet are not, but of the synagogue of Satan. He knows the persecution. You know, beloved, let me say this. What do we do in days and times of persecution? All the joy of realizing...
Well, let me quickly... Let me just give you the example of the Lord Jesus. You know it well. And Peter well wrote of it in First Peter, chapter two, I believe. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again. when he was threatened he threatened not but committed himself to him to whom completely to the one who would vindicate him the Lord Jesus and here was the suffering church the reproach that they were bearing and let me give you a little idea about their reproach the Lord Jesus mentions it very specifically they say they are Jews Will you go with me to the first epistle of Thessalonians, please?
The first epistle of the Thessalonians. I want you to know what the dear Apostle Paul, and you know he was a Jew by nature and nationality, but know what he writes to the Thessalonians. I think it's in chapter... Let me go to chapter three. No, chapter two, first of all. Moses lives. Chapter two, let me go down, if I may, to verse thirteen. Notice these words. For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which he heard of us, you received it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
For you, reverend, now these are Gentile believers in Thessalonica, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, when, even as they have of the Jews, who both killed, now please note, who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophet, and have persecuted us, and are contrary, noted, to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins all way, for the wrath has come upon them to the elements.
Go to chapter three, please, quickly. And there in chapter three, let me just read very quickly in verse two. We said, Timothy is our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith. that no man should be moved by these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forebear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter having tempted you, our labor be in vain.
and Paul recognized and acknowledged that the greatest tribulation that ever came against the early church came from who? Chiefly the Jews. They would incite the Gentile heathens. It's an incident in the book of Acts. At the city of Corinth when the enemy and particularly the Jews, the Jewish people and leaders were incited sought to incite the Gentiles against Paul in its ministry. And Galeo came to take charge of that particular part of Asia for the Emperor at Rome.
And the Jews presented their case before him. But Galeo was too smart for them. He knew that they themselves were inciting the riot against Paul and his companions. And he drove them from the judgment seat. Get them out of here, he said. And you know what? The Gentiles started beating up the priests, the Jewish priests. And he followed us. But let me give you this thought. The priests of that synagogue. Who got beat up too.
He got converted. So the devil does overstep himself, don't he? He got converted. But one can recognize the persecution was... And know, if you please, that you're the end of verse nine. But they're not Jews. Now, may I remind you, you can read Romans nine, ten and eleven. And you'll find that the Apostle Paul in Romans nine, ten, eleven, when we studied last year, takes up the Jewish question whether of the past and the present of the future. You remember on one occasion there he wrote to say, he is not a Jew who is one out with me, but who is one in with me.
And the Jew boasted, I'm the favored nation. God didn't agree with him when he was wicked in his heart, disobedient in his life, and wandered away. And Paul said, it's not what you are outwardly, it's what you are inwardly to make sure. And may I say that, that goes for a so-called Christian. Maybe they came to clean the house this morning, one of the things I was asking about, a concern about the political situation. And she says, Consolidate, is that man a question? He says he is. Because she had, like a Scotch woman, said, I had my dupes.
Where's the reality? It's an inward condition. And you know this is what the Apostle called them. They are the synagogue of who? Synagogue is faith. You know what a synagogue is? It's where people gather together. The church is not a synagogue. The word church means called out. Ecclesium means the word church in the Greek language. It means we're called out from the world to become God's children. To become the bride of the Lord Jesus.
sin a synagogue you get a bunch of people together gather them together and you know as well as I do after the dispersion of many Jews way back in history before Christ time as well as doing it in sins wherever they went they had their synagogues and they still have them can't call them a church though I hope they're not all synagogues of Satan but anyway you can recognize in this time of persecution Spirit of God said there is synagogue of Satan. He's behind it. Now go to the next. You've got his encouragement. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Please, wait a minute. He's telling them you're going to have more suffering. He's writing to them to comfort them. But first thing he tells them is that you're going to have more suffering. more suffering. Oh, beloved, you know, let me give you this thought. It's a lovely truth. It came to me years ago from one of my fellow brethren, the dear brother that led me to the Lord in my youth. I never forget hearing more than one occasion I hear him speak. Let me quote Peter's word, first Peter one seven, that the trial of your faith be a much more precious than a goal which perishes.
though it be tried with fire might be found under praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. And never will I forget the illustration he gave so vividly that God permits the believer to be in a crucible. And the heat, the flame of trial, the flame of trouble, the flame of tribulation is applied. And he says, the old chemist, now this is not modern chemistry, but the old chemist, he would put the gold ore in the crucible. He would put the bunsen flame to the crucible. And he would thus put the fiercest heat that he could to melt that gold, that ore of gold.
And then he would watch it. And as he began to melt, he would see the scum right into the surface. He would take and skin the scum, that residue that needed to be separated from the pure gold, take it off. And he'd keep taking it off. He was not satisfied until his own face was reflected in the golden liquid. And, beloved, let me tell you frankly, your troubles and mind that can make you more like Christ if you let the flame do the work.
Now that's what you've got. Boy, you've got the picture here. Here's Ephesus wandering away in heart. And then comes an experience. Lord says, I want to bring them back to me. I want to bring their affection back to me. I want to see my reflection in their testimony. And he brings them trial. You're going to suffer more. And that was the whole purpose of it. No, no, the next thing that he goes on to say about it, thou shalt suffer, thou shalt suffer, and behold, now no, he very definitely declares who the persecutor would be, that the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be testing.
He really told them, then he wanted what's going to happen to them. And the devil's going to do it. He's going to do it to you. I remember a dear brother, we were walking together, we both had gone together that morning, I recall, to speak to a fellow Christian, a dear brother in Christ. Dear brother had asked me regarding something he wanted to do, and I thought it was a bit too hasty in making his decision, and I wanted him to wait on the law for a little bit, make sure it was the Lord's will. So I took my good friend along, who was a fellow believer, as well as a friend of this man, We went down to chat with him and counsel with him.
But we both saw that he was determined. He was one of these dear brothers that knew what he wanted to do and then said, Lord, I want you to do this. I want you to do it. I will. In other words, he knew the will of Lord before he asked him sometimes. But anyway, there was nothing serious. And yet it was very important in regard to his life. But we were unable to persuade him to take a little time. He was going to do as soon as he could. And on the way back, this brother, my friend and I were talking, I said, Brother, what can you say when you try to persuade somebody not to be too hasty regarding knowing the Lord's will about a serious matter in life?
Well, he said, Brother John, all you can say is the will of the Lord be done. He says, you know, brother, the Lord tries to draw us. He draws the drawers that we should follow him. But he said, once in a while he has to get the devil behind us to drive us. I said, brother, you've explained something in my life. And this is what the Lord Jesus was doing. Oh, he said, how could he be so cruel to have his people go through this period of time? I want to bring them back to my heart. Isn't that often true in one's individual life?
The same principle. I want them bring them nearer to my heart. And so he says, you will be tried. And then please note, he goes on to say, he tells them the period of trouble, how long it would be. He shall have tribulation ten days. Now, I don't think it was one of those cases where you read sometimes trying to get a product over to you. They'll give you ten days trial. No, but the specific mention of the ten days is without question of doubt. It would be a specific definite period. History declares Nero was the beginning of that period of trial.
That's when the dear apostle we know was executed by Nero too. But following Nero, and under the succeeding emperors of Rome, there were ten particular persecutions against the Christians. They were tortured. They were given to the lion. I was in Rome at one time looking over the forum, listening to the account of the guide. And I was amazed to hear that guy, as she was a woman, saying they never did give any Christians to the lion in that forum. I thought, boy, she doesn't know her history. He gladiated, torturing them, burning them at the stake.
Beloved, frankly, one has to say what has been truthfully declared. It was the blood of the martyrs that became the seat of the church in those days of persecution. to rally and bring the hearts of dear saints in devotion and affection and faithfulness of the Lord. And it is the specific time of trial. Let me look on your sheet. I think I have something to mention there. Well, the purpose of the trial, we have mentioned that. The purpose of it. You know that in the next verse that they might be faithful. Be thou faithful unto death.
to bring out the faithfulness of the believer and show the faithfulness of those early Christians. May I say this, and our next letter will come developing in its teaching regarding the condition of the church in those days. That persecution raged on until the days of Constantine the Great, as he was called. And under Constantine the Great, there was a great change. Constantine the Great woke up to the fact that the Christians were not the enemy of the government. They were more obedient to the laws of the government than the rest of the population of his empire.
And Constantine began to show friendliness toward the Christians. We'll see next week what happened. In fact, according to history, he made a profession of faith in Christ. He was baptized supposedly. And then he showed friendliness toward the church. He elevated some of the Christians to positions of honor in his kingdom. Which became a great deal of more trouble to the church spiritually. When they became too friendly with the world. But here we can see the purpose of the trial in Smyrna.
to bring them closer to himself. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. James writes of it in chapter one of his epistle to the crown. The blessed is the man that addures esteem. When it shall be crowned, when it shall be crowned, blessed with the crown of life. And what a joy to recognize. Of course, there are many different crowns in the scriptures, but the suggestion is this. There'll be the enjoyment to know that his life was crowned with victory, if you don't mind.
Crown with victory. I will give him the crown of life. And I think this. I don't think of it as a particular literal crown. It's possible. You read Revelation four when we get there. We'll find the saints with crowns of gold on their head. But don't look at the crown here literally. It's the crowning of our life that shows faithfulness to the Lord Jesus down to the end. That's worth going after. That's worth suffering for. Being faithful. No matter the charge. I think of a dear brother that I met many years ago in my early days. He was retired from the country of Scotland, went over the, came here to live with his son, who lived in Pennsylvania, around Presbyterian preacher, I believe, and he went around the countryside preaching the gospel himself, in churches where he could find an entrance, in schoolhouses, in homes, wherever he could preach the gospel, a dear old man.
On one occasion he was accosted by a man in this particular area that he was trying to preaching and visit and give the gospel to the people with a shotgun. And the fellow said, if you don't get out of here, he says, I'm going to shoot you and kill you. He said, well, friend, I'll let you do it along the condition. What's that? Be sure you shoot straight. And you'll shoot me right into heaven. Well, the fellow didn't feel he could do that. I couldn't understand that. But brother, no. That's an example. Faithful unto death. It's the crown of realizing I've been faithful to him.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus in one of his parables? He doesn't say, well done thou good and successful servant. Well done thou good and what? Faithful servant. Now go to that verse ten. And here at the end of verse eleven rather. And here you have a plea. Now please note something very definite. Here you have a plea not only for the angel of the church, not only for those who supposedly are the leaders of the church, but for everyone that's singing. All they have to do is have an ear. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the church is. And he that overcometh shall not be heard of the second death.
And oh, what a promise. It's the most they've overcome the persecution. Be faithful to me. You'll never go into the second death. Can I give you this quotation? Hope you remember it. Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once. And maybe not at all. Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once. And maybe not at all. You get the thought. If a person is never born again, they're going to face the second death.
If they die unsafe, then not only die in the body, you'll have to die eternally. But when you're born again, you've got to worry about his one death. And maybe you won't get back. The Lord comes, you're missing. Oh, joy, oh, delight, shall we go without dying? But one can realize, please no. The Lord recognized, no. What a comfort the Lord Jesus. Well, he said, let me quote his words, Fear not them that can kill the body, but rather fear him that can kill both body and soul and cash where? Into hellfire. And may I say, Oh, I thank God I'm not going to hell.
Hallelujah. And nobody has to go there. They can be saved if they will. Thank God the offer is open. They don't praise God for the comfort of the believer who suffers. Thank God. Here's the blessed Lord Jesus to draw us closer to himself. Shall we pray? Oh, blessed Father. We marvel at thy ways. In fact, we need to know more of thy ways. Of thine earthly people thou didst write through the psalmist, Thou didst make thy ways known unto Moses, and thine acts unto the children of Israel.
Moses was able to be taught thy ways. The people of the nation had to be shown thine acts.