Don’t Fear, Remain Faithful

1. Smyrna

V. 8 — And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:  This is what the first and the last says, who was dead and came to life:

Smyrna, today’s Izmir, Turkey, was a large port city famous for its beauty, wealth, and fine wines. Associations of goldsmiths, winemakers, textile producers, and merchants contributed to the wealth of the city. It was also famous for its longstanding loyalty to Rome. It built a temple in honor of the emperor Augustus, his mother, Livia, and the Roman Senate. In A.D. 26, emperor Tiberius chose Smyrna out of eleven applicants to be the temple warden and build a temple for the cult of Tiberius. When the people of Smyrna heard the words, “the one who was dead and came to life,” it had special relevance for them. The city was destroyed in 600 B.C. and only refounded and rebuilt in 290 B.C. Smyrna was known as the city that was dead and came to life.

2. Jesus Is Lord of Creation, Life & History

Jesus is the First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life. He is the Lord of creation, life, and history. He is the all-powerful creator. He is “the firstborn over all creation, because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him … all things were created through him and for him, and he himself is before all things, and in him all things are held together” (Col 1:15-17).

Jesus is the Lord of Life. Jesus is the First to come from the dead. He triumphed over death and lives forever. Through his resurrection he revealed that He is eternal, He is God, the Lord of life and death. Jesus is the Lord of history. As the first and the last, he has sovereign control over history. He has supremacy in and over everything (Col 1:18). This includes the tribulation, the slander, the poverty, and death that the church faces. This encourages and strengthens the church. We can endure suffering faithfully knowing that our Lord can bring life out of death.

3. Poor But Rich

Vv. 9-11 — 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.

Jesus knows their tribulation. It included economic persecution and slander. And Jesus warns, that it’s going to get worse, imprisonment and possible death. They did not compromise their faith. They did not participate in the pagan religious activities associated with the local trade and craft guilds. Therefore, they were excluded from trade opportunities and business deals. They lost their jobs and properties. They experienced economic persecution that resulted in poverty. Their faithfulness was costing them, literally.

Yet, Jesus says, you are rich. How do we measure true wealth? In our consumer-oriented, materialistic culture, one of the greatest threats to faithful kingdom living is a love for money, material possessions, comfort, and instant gratification. Jesus turns things upside down and presents us with a counter-cultural kingdom value that our life doesn’t consist of earthly riches. In Luke 12 Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Then He told the parable of the rich fool who wanted to store up wealth so that he can take life easy and enjoy it. However, it is not true wealth when we store up things for ourselves but we are not rich toward God. Following this parable Jesus taught that we should not worry about our life, what we will eat; or about our body, what we will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. He tells us to seek God’s kingdom, and these things will be given to us as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

We may be physically and economically poor but in Jesus Christ, we are rich and possess everything. James 2:5 — “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” We have inherited God’s kingdom. We have eternal life and all God’s rich blessings in Christ. We are children of God. We are rich toward God. There is no greater wealth than this. Are we willing to stand up for the kingdom values, to speak out and act against dishonest, corrupt, and unjust business practices, against greed and the exploitation of others? And so risk losing our jobs, income, and material wealth? [EXAMPLES — ZAMBIA & MONGOLIA]

4. Slander & Insult

The Jews were exempt from worshiping the Roman emperor because Judaism was tolerated as an ancient monotheistic religion. At first, Christians were considered as a Jewish sect and were therefore also excused by the same rule. However, this changed later on as it was realized that not all Christians were Jews and as Jews began to slander Christianity and accused them before the Roman authorities.

We see this tension and conflict between Jews and Christians from the beginning. According to the Jews Christians were distorting God’s law and by confessing Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, they were committing blasphemy. Therefore, they slandered them, falsely saying all kinds of evil against them. We see in Acts 13 how the Jewish leaders incited the people and leaders, stirring up persecution against Paul and Barnabas. In Acts 18 we read how in Corinth they made a united attack on Paul.

In response to this Jesus says that they are not Jews but a synagogue of Satan. Satan is the false accuser, the father of lies. He opposes God’s kingdom, blasphemes God, and persecutes God’s people. Anyone who does the same, who opposes God’s kingdom, who denies that Jesus is the Christ, such a person is not from God and is the antichrist (1 Jn 2:22-23; 4:2-3). Already in John 8, Jesus told the Jews that because they did not believe in Him, did not love Him, and did not hold to his teachings, they are not the true children of God. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires” (Jn 8:44).

All who are in Christ belong to the new covenant. They are the true people of God. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed (his children), and heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:28-29). We are now all fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household … a holy temple in the Lord … a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). The church is the new, true Israel, the called, chosen people of God, sent to be his faithful witnesses in the world and to be a blessing to all nations. But to fulfill that calling we must remain faithful to the end.

5. Do Not Fear, Remain Faithful & Live Forever

Jesus warns that worse is to come. The devil, that is, the authorities under the rule and influence of Satan, are going to throw them in prison and they are facing the real possibility of death. This tribulation serves to test them and would last ten days. Ten is the symbolic number for completeness or a total period of time. It’s a limited time that will come to an end. Ten days of tribulation is a total or complete period of testing during which their faithfulness is totally tested. It alludes also to Daniel 1:12-15 where Daniel and his friends were tested for ten days. They passed the test and served God’s purpose in Babylon. Through suffering and tribulation, God tests us to prepare us to be His witnesses. Tribulation also tests us to distinguish genuine from false believers in the church.

The persecution did become worse. Polycarp, a disciple of John, later served as bishop of Smyrna. He was martyred around AD 156. (Martyrdom of Polycarp, the oldest written account of a Christian martyrdom outside the NT). The Roman proconsul tried his best to persuade Polycarp to deny Jesus — “Swear the oath, and I will release you; revile Christ,” Polycarp replied, “For eighty-six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

Jesus encourages his church and tells us not to fear but to remain faithful even to the point of death. We should not fear because our lives are in the hands of the eternal, all-powerful Lord of history and life. As the one who has conquered death, Jesus promises eternal life to those who overcome by remaining faithful. He gives us the crown of life. A crown was the wreath of honor, the prize, that was given to athletes in victory. When we overcome, remain faithful, even to death, we will receive the crown of life (Jam 1:12), which is the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8), the unfading crown of glory that lasts forever (1 Pet 5:4; 1 Co 9:25). We will not be harmed by the second death. At the last judgment, we will not be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev 20:14).

Are we willing to lose everything for Jesus? These days Christians seem fearful about what is happening and what the future holds. They are angry and anxious because Christianity has lost its privileged position in society. For some strange reason, Western Christians assume that we should be exempt from persecution while Christians around the world are facing persecution. At this moment thousands of believers are suffering and dying for their faith. All too often our hope is tied to a removal from persecution when the Lord does not promise us such. We are not exempt from persecution. When we remain faithful in following Jesus we will experience tribulation. Jesus’ warning is also for us. Worse is to come. We will experience suffering. We will be slandered. We will be tested. Are we ready?

Are will willing to give up everything for Jesus? How do we choose to live life, chose where we live and work? Safe, comfortable places? Jesus needs faithful witnesses, a living presence in the dangerous and uncomfortable places of this world. He needs witnesses to be the salt of the earth and his light in the inner cities, the crime-ridden suburbs, drug-infested areas, squatter and homeless camps. He needs Christian teachers and students in public schools and secular colleges and universities. Are we willing to become poor? Are we willing to live dangerously for Jesus? We are being tested already. We are being challenged daily to compromise our faith in so many ways. We will not compromise. We will take our stand for our biblical beliefs and kingdom values even if we are slandered, called names, excluded from certain groups or circles, and pushed to the margins. If we cannot remain faithful now, how will we remain faithful when more severe persecution comes?

How will we respond to tribulation, persecution, and suffering? Anger, fear, hate, and violence do not bring about the kingdom of God. Love, grace, mercy, joy, hope, meekness, humility, seeking justice and righteousness, making peace, being poor in spirit and pure in heart, these bring about God’s kingdom. [MAU-MAU & KENYAN PASTORS] Therefore, we will not return the hostilities. We will turn the other cheek. We will not repay evil for evil but overcome evil with good and with love in action. We will be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Ro 12:9-21). We will not fear. We will be willing to lay down our lives for Him. And when we face death we will be content to go through our first death with Jesus because we know that He will give us the crown of life.

But all of these, we cannot do it, only Jesus can. Therefore, we abide in Him, and increasingly He gives us the strength and stamina to remain faithful. He enables us to be quiet when slandered, to be silent when we are gossiped about and called all kinds of names. More and more we entrust our reputations to Him, and less and less to our words, emotions, and actions. More and more his love fills us and overflows through us into the world. More and more He empowers us to not fear, to remain faithful to Him in all circumstances even when we face death. Therefore, do not fear, remain faithful, and live forever with Him. Come, Lord Jesus!