Sermon Notes:

THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
II.  SMYRNA: SUFFERING
REVELATION 2:8-11            
August 20, 2006

Introduction
Ephesus = love.  A willingness to suffer proves the genuineness of love.  Nothing is God’s Word is random or by happenstance.  The Christians at Smyrna had not lost their first love.  They were prepared to suffer for Christ.  Not much is known about Smyrna.  It is not mentioned in Acts or the Epistles.  Tradition says that Paul visited Smyrna on his way to Ephesus at the beginning of his 3rd missionary journey.

I.  The sufferings that they endured for Christ. 
The letter to Smyrna speaks of past and present sufferings and warns of more and harsher trials to come, ending with an encouragement of persevere.    The suffering spoken of here is persecution.  Life in Smyrna was dangerous for Christians because they refused to participate in emperor worship.   They were despised by the Romans and the Jewish people.  How did they suffer?  Four trials are mentioned:
                1)  Poverty, verse 9, a result of following Christ.
                2)  Slander, verse 9.  Proverbs 26:22.  I Peter 2:23. 
                3)  Prison, verse 10.  Since the 1st century, people have                        been imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ.
                4)  Death, verse 10.  Martyrdom was a real possibility for
                       Christians.           
Paul’s sufferings.  II Corinthians 11.  Suffering is a hallmark of the      genuine church.  Dietrich Bonhoffer. 
Where the Gospel is taught, preached and proclaimed, there you will find persecution and suffering.  Smyrna was a suffering church because she was an uncompromising church.

II.  The comforts they receive from Christ.
Christ calls the Church at Smyrna to be faithful and not fear, because faith banishes fear.  Christ teaches us 7 truths about Himself to strengthen our faith:
                1)  He is eternal.  Vs. 8.  Revelation 1:8 & 22:13.
                2)  He is victorious.  Vs. 8.  Philippians 2:8. 
                3)  He is all-knowing.  Vs. 9. 
                4)  He is balanced.  Vs. 10
                5)  He is Sovereign.  Vs. 10.
                6)  He is purposeful.  James 1:2-4.  I Peter 1:7.
                7)  He is generous.  Vss. 10-11. 
Polycarp.  Let us be faithful even unto death.