entitled this series “things are not as they seem.” revelation wants to help us see reality in...

Entitled this series

“Things are not as they seem.”

Revelation wants to help us see reality in light of an unseen future and a present

reality seen only with the eyes of faith.

This series will be based largely on Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Smyrna Keeping Faith Under Pressure

Smyrna

John, a prisoner on the island of Patmos, is worshipping God on Sunday.

He hears a voice.He turns around to see Jesus

standing among 7 lamp stands [churches.]


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The format of these messages to each of the 7 churches.

1. Description of Jesus [related to the church]

2. Things he commends them for.3. Things he has against them.4. Tells them how to change and

the consequences of not changing.

5. Promises if they do


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Scripture Reading

Revelation 2:8-11


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Last time we looked at the letter to Ephesus and saw that they

had lost their first love.

Why did they loose their first love?

Why do we loose our first love?Why is it so hard to stay faithful?


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This second message was to Smyrna

-Loveliest city in Asia- “The crown/flower of Asia”

-Birthplace of Homer-Present day city of Izmir,

third largest city in Turkey


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How Jesus introduces himself in each of these messages relates

directly to the church.Rev. 2:8:

“These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,

who died and came to life again.”


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Isaiah 44:6:

“I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God beside me.”


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Smyrna considered itself “first”- Emperor worship- Rivaled Ephesus for “first” title- Stamped on their coins, “First City of Asia in Size and Beauty.”Smyrna prided itself for coming back to life - destroyed in 580 B.C. rebuilt in 290B.C.


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To the church in Smyrna, Jesus says,

“Your lives are not bracketed by Caesar, nor by the policies of the

powers that be, your lives are surrounded by me

– the First & the Last.”


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“I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,

but are a synagogue of Satan.” v.9

Jesus knows the afflictionsGreek: thlipsis = pressure,

crushing pressure


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Smyrna – emperor worship-To maintain their “First” status

Jewish population also persecuted them to protect their exemption

status.

Property confiscated.Martyrdom


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“I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are

Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” v. 9

In spite of this loss of property, Jesus calls them “rich.”


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Why were the Smryneans experiencing pressure?

Had they done something wrong?Lost first love?

Become lukewarm?Compromised the gospel?


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No! Nothing negative is said here.

They were feeling pressure because they were being faithful

followers of Jesus.


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Johnson: “The word Jesus uses, the word thlpsis, is

a technical word in the NT. It is never used of the normal frustrations of life, of the normal trouble we all experience in a

broken world. It is always used in connection with the coming of the

kingdom of God. Thlipsis is the pressure experienced as the kingdom of god comes up against the kingdom of human beings

in rebellion against God.” Discipleship, p.67


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We would like it if Jesus said next:

“I know your pressure. And I am here to take it away.”

But he doesn’t


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Jesus says:“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil

will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution

for ten days.” v.10

Not relief. More suffering!


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This pressure is inevitable.

Already in Rev. 1:9 John links three things:

“I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in

Jesus, . . .”


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Suffering, Kingdom, &

patient endurance go hand in hand.


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“To be ‘in Jesus’ means to partake of the kingdom of God, which means partaking of the

tribulation which the in-breaking of the kingdom naturally causes

and partaking of the perseverance being in the

kingdom produces.” Discipleship, p.68


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Being a citizen of the kingdom of God means that we will experience

pressure.

If you are a faithful disciple of Jesus, you are experiencing

pressure.And it looks like that pressure will

grow not decrease.


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Teenagers who want to be faithful to Christ are

experiencing the pressure to compromise.

College students who acknowledge Jesus as Lord are

feeling the pressure.


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Parents who are trying to raise their children to follow Jesus feel

the pressure.

Workers of all types, who seek to work from kingdom principles, will experience greater pressure the more faithful they are to Jesus.

Discipleship, p.68


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But notice that it is not just pressure from political powers or

religious leaders:“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil

will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution

for ten days.” v.10


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As members of the kingdom of light we will be attacked,

pressured by the kingdom of darkness.

Things are not as they seem.There is more going on than our

eyes can see.


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In light of this crushing pressure which will get worse and not

better, Jesus says:“Do not be afraid of what you are about

to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and

you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death,

and I will give you the crown of life.” v.10


Smyrna

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the

point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” v.10

Two things to do:

Do not be afraid.Be faithful.


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“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the

point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” v.10

Yes, you will suffer/be pressured.But don’t be afraid.

Be faithful.


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Jesus concludes:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the

churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second

death.” v. 11


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Jesus said in Matthew 10:28:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the

soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and

body in hell.”


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“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not

be hurt at all by the second death.” v. 11

One commentator put it this way, “the overcomer is promised immunity against the second

death.” R. Mounce, p.9


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You will be the ultimate “survivor.”

Immunity from the last death.

The prize is not a Million dollars.

The prize is eternal life.


Smyrna

entitled this series “things are not as they seem.” revelation wants to help us see reality in...

Documents

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smyrna loveliest city

description of jesus

series things

eyes of faith

scripture reading revelation

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