The short letter to Smyrna is an interesting one. Remember that all these letters to the seven churches were also intended for the churches throughout the world , in the last days. All the praises,warnings, resolutions and rewards are also intended for all who believe in Jesus unto salvation. So there is alot to learn in these letters.
To the Church in Smyrna,
Jesus is:
1) The first and the last, who became dead, and has come to life.
Praises:
1) I know your tribulations and your poverty (but you are rich)
Does that sound like rich to you? In the visible realm, it does not look that way. In the Spiritual realm it looks totally different. The apostle Peter wrote in his first letter Chapter 1, verse 6 and 7,
" In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Jesus is letting believers know that He is aware of the trials that the believers go through. One of the reasons He allows it, is because it shows evidence of a persons faith in Jesus. To me faith is defined as, trusting Jesus. Trials show more evidence of that trust, when you are still able to acknowledge and confess Jesus in the mist of them. If a persons life is going perfectly fine and all is good, it does not require as much trust as it would someone who is in tribulation and poverty. Also, the trials are more presious than gold, so the more trials a believer has to go through in their lives, the wealthier they are. In the apostle Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians, in Chapter 4, verse 17,Paul wrote,
" For momentary, light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison."
Believers are change from glory to glory. If you compare it to someone who is trying to build muscle, to build muscle you have to keep adding resistance (weight). The trials we go through are the resistance (weights) for the spiritual man, the New Creation. This is why it says that all this will result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. When Jesus is revealed, the New Creations will be revealed with Him. Hebrews Chapter 12, verse 2, says
"That for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross."
With or without the cross, Jesus would have joy. So what does this mean? Jesus saw the joy of what He would create by His sacrifice on the cross and that would be the New Creations.
2) Jesus lets them know that the blasphemy is coming from an oppisition that calls themselves Jews but are not. Instead they are a synagogue of Satan.
Warning:
Jesus' warning is not a warning to the church at Smyrna because they were doing something wrong. Instead,
1) Jesus was warning them not to fear what they were about to suffer. As if things weren't bad enough. I'll tell you what, these are very special believers. I can not wait to see what they look like when we meet together in the air. All I have to do is look for giants.
2) Jesus tells them that the devil is about to cast some of them into prison, that they might be tested, and they will have tribulation ten days. This group just keeps getting richer and richer.
Jesus is reminding them that even though they may be put in prison by men, that they are actually being put there by satan. So therefore they are reminded the writting of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians Chapter6, that says that we do not war against flesh and blood (man), but against principalities, powers and demonic forces in the heavenly realm.
Overcomers Reward:
1) Be faithful (trust Jesus) until death, and Jesus will give you the crown of life.
2) You shall not be hurt by the second death.
The first death is the death of the body. The second death is the death of the spirit. The second death will come about after Jesus thousand year reign over the earth. Then there will be judgement made from the great white throne that Jesus will sit on. Everyone who ever existed will be before the throne and whoevers name is not found written in the Book of Life will suffer the second death in the lake of fire. This lake was only intended for Satan and his demons (fallen angels). Everyone was intended to have eternal life and be written in the Lambs Book of Life, but not everyone wanted it. Those who refused the Truth as to be saved. So there spirits had to go were spirits are put to death, an eternal death. Satans has always tried to decieve as many people as he could, so that he could drag as many as he could into this second death.. Jesus is the Book of Life. Just make sure you get in Him.
Peace to you.
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