REVELATION LESSON 6

    We will begin this lesson with verse 8 of chapter 2.  We will be
reading about the church in Smyrna.
    Revelation 2:8 "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;
These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is
alive;"
    Revelation 2:9 "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] the synagogue of Satan."

    It is interesting to me that Jesus calls Himself differently here
than at the church of Ephesus. In the Ephesus letter He says, "...he
that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks..." Revelation 2:1

    Here at Smyrna He calls Himself, "...the first and last, which was
dead, and is alive..." Revelation 2:8

    The designation here is that this message is not from the Father
or the Holy Spirit, but from God the Son, Jesus as we know Him.
Jesus' flesh truly did die and rose again.  His Spirit is eternal.
Probably a better explanation would be, became dead for our sakes.

    We see from this that God does not deal exactly the same with
everyone. He deals with us to the level of our understanding.  This
tells me also that He is God of all the denominations, who believe in
the Lord Jesus.

    You see in the synagogue in Jerusalem, when Jesus called them
"...whited walls..." Matthew 23:27, clean on the outside and filthy on
the inside. Jesus said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites!" Jesus called them a generation of vipers, Matthew 23:33.

    You see, not all those who claim to be Christians are actually
Christians. If we are not careful, we will be like these Jews. We may
say we are a Christian, and the world might actually believe that we
are because of our outward appearance.  Jesus looks at the heart.
We read in Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Matthew 7:23 "And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity." Their Christianity was a front for some selfish
motive.

    The repentance and salvation that really counts is what goes on in
 the heart. It is like having a new regenerated heart placed inside of
 you, washed in the Blood of the Lamb. Being born again is having a
 brand new heart, having no desire to sin. The heart is either
 desperately wicked or clean in Jesus.  Some call it a change of
 heart. Whatever commitment is made, must be made in the heart.

    When Jesus speaks of His being "...the first and last...", He is
speaking of His eternal Spirit.

    When He speaks of "...which was dead, and is alive...", He is
speaking of His body which resurrected from the grave.

    Jesus knows all; He was walking, and is walking amidst the
churches. These eyes of fire see everything, even in our hearts.  He
has nothing but good things to say about this church in Smyrna. To
know them is to love them. Jesus knows how hard they have worked for
the kingdom. He knows that they are rich in service to Him. They are
rich in knowledge of His Word. They have diligently sought Him in His
Word. They are rich in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They have been
through great tribulation. Tribulation comes to make you strong. They
are strong, because they have been tried and they have not failed God.

    Perhaps, their poverty spoken of here indicates that they are not
obsessed about having worldly wealth.  They are not rich in things the
world would class as wealth.  Their wealth is of spiritual things. The
treasure that we should all be seeking is the treasure stored up in
heaven.

    If there is a church in this group that we should all want to be
like, it would be this church at Smyrna.

    This "...synagogue of Satan..." that comes against them is what we
were discussing before.  These are religious people with an outward
appearance of belief but with no inward conviction. This literal
church at Smyrna had many martyrs who stood against the evil,
idolatrous people around them even unto the death.

    In our day it is the same situation.  If we are in God's army, we
 must be willing to stand for what is right even unto death.  The
 Spirit and the flesh (world) will be locked in battle until the
 return of Jesus.  The world and its system, and even the idolatrous
 church is opposed to true righteousness and holiness.  Jesus is
 coming back for a church that is without spot or wrinkle.

    Revelation 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that
ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

    Over and over throughout the Bible, we are instructed of Jesus not
to fear. Fear is not of God.  Fear is the opposite of faith.  We
should have faith in all things. In John 14:1 "Let not your heart be
troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." We are the one who
allows fear to come in.  God wants us to have faith enough to move a
mountain, Matthew 17:20.

    Notice in V-10 Jesus did not tell them that they would not suffer.
He said they would suffer. He is letting them know that He and the
Father know all about their suffering. They must stay faithful unto
the end , and great rewards will be theirs in heaven. Jesus warns them
they will be thrown into prison.  We know from history that these
believers, in the literal church of Smyrna, were thrown into prison.
    Many in our day are being thrown into prison for their faith.  It
is becoming harder and harder to be a Christian, and even more
difficult to be a minister. The church is under attack of the devil.
If your church is not under attack, check why not. We must be a threat
to the enemy before we are attacked. So many churches are so
infiltrated by the world that Satan is not even bothering with them.
This "...ten days..." here has to do with world government. The number
ten means world government. This is probably a literal number for the
literal church at Smyrna.

    It is, also probably, a spiritual number for the church today that
is trying to do God's will.  A church that is grounded on the true
Word of God is a threat to Satan and is under terrible attack.  What
one thing that gives us courage to go on in the face of all of this is
the fact that Jesus won this battle for us on the cross. We just need
to hang on and receive the victory.

    The devil has power on this earth.  He is our enemy.  It is a
constant battle to overcome him. Just remember that the power to
rebuke him is in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the rebuker; we are His
representatives .

    It is very easy to follow Jesus when everything is going good.
The true test is, will you stay when all odds are against you?  When
your friends and relatives have given up, will you stand? If we are
faithful and stand, there is a crown of life awaiting us. The crown of
life is the one the Lord Himself prepares for us.  Crown of life means
"ruling over death".  There will be no more death, neither shall there
be sorrow. "...neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any
more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4
"...Behold, I make all things new..." Revelation 21:5

    Revelation 2:11 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the
second death."

    We hear again, take out the stoppers in your inner man and receive
from God His truths. There is a great promise to the overcomers. The
death associated with hell, will not happen to them.  They have been
crowned with everlasting life.

    The greatest gift that we could ever receive is the gift of
eternal life with Jesus. To know we would be separated from Jesus for
all of eternity would be more hell than I would care to bear. The only
life worth having is with Him. I cannot say enough good about this
church at Smyrna. There are only two in the seven that God has no
reprimand for.  Smyrna is one of them. Under great persecution this
church stands, and having even faced death, still stands. If you were
to describe this church in modern English, you would just say that the
pure Word of God is preached to people who will accept the Truth. The
minister feeds the flock the Word several times a week. The
congregation studies the Scriptures, ever eager to learn more so they
can be more and more in the will of God. They are not shaken by winds
of false doctrine, for they test everything and everyone against the
Scriptures. They have on the whole armor of God. They are filled with
the Holy Spirit and operate in the gifts of the Spirit. They realize
there is a battle going on for the souls of men, and they have
enlisted in God's army to fight evil at every hand. They are willing
to give up homes, family, whatever it takes to serve God. They count
the everlasting life more than the short life here. Just as many were
martyred then, many shall be martyred before the return of Christ.

    Additional scriptures to read 2 Peter l:4, 1 Timothy 4:8, Psalms
34:10, and Zechariah 9:8.

    For this lesson, memorize St.  Matthew 7:22-23.










































                       REVELATION  QUESTIONS 6


1.  What did Jesus call Himself when speaking to the angel of the
    church at Smyrna?
2.  What three things did Jesus know of them?
3.  What did Jesus call those who say they are Jews and are not?
4.  The statement "...which was dead and is alive..." shows us what?
5.  This difference in the way Jesus shows Himself to each church
    shows us what?
6.  What kind of things does Jesus say about the church at Smyrna?
7.  What are they rich in toward Jesus?
8.  What does the "...poverty..." mean?
9.  What advantage is tribulation to a Christian?
10. Of all the seven churches, which should be a pattern for all
    churches to try to achieve?
11. This literal church of Smyrna had many ------- who stood against
    evil.
12. What will be locked in battle until the Lord comes?
13. What kind of church is Jesus coming for?
14. Jesus told them -------- would throw some of them in prison?
15. What did Jesus tell them not to fear?
16. How long would they be imprisoned?
17. If they are faithful unto death, what shall they receive?
18. What is the opposite of fear?
19. Who is attacking the church?
20. A church that is grounded in the ----- is a threat to Satan?
21. The thing that gives the Christian courage to go on is what?
22. When we rebuke the devil, what must we remember?
23. Crown of life means -------?
24. What is the greatest gift that we could ever receive?
25. Which of the seven churches did Jesus say nothing bad about?
26. In this kind of church, what is preached?
27. Write St. Matthew 7:22-23.
28. Is this church at Smyrna familiar to you?  Explain.