The Church That Suffered Well
REVELATION 1:17-19 (NASB95)
… “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
The things which you have seen: The Vision of Christ
The things which are: The Seven letters to the Seven Churches
The things which will take place after: Revelation 4 - Revelation 22
THE THINGS WHICH ARE…
* Contextually - The things that were taking place at that time…
* Prophetically - The things that inform the global church from that time at the end of the 1st century AD until today, 21st century AD.
* Individually - The things that inform you as an individual, concerning how you are to obey what Jesus has said.
READ IT, HEAR IT, and OBEY IT
REVELATION 2:8-11 (NASB95)
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I KNOW YOUR TRIBULATION and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say 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 cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. BE FAITHFUL UNTIL 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. HE WHO OVERCOMES WILL NOT BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH.’
REVELATION 2:8 (NASB95)
“the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life”
REVELATION 2:9 (NASB95)
‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), AND the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
REVELATION 2:9 (NASB95)
AND the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
JOHN 8:39,44 (NASB95)
(39) They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham… (44) “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He WAS A MURDERER from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he IS A LIAR and the father of lies.
HOW DO WE SUFFER WELL?
1. UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS KNOWS OUR TROUBLES
REVELATION 2:9 (NASB95)
‘I KNOW YOUR TRIBULATION…
REVELATION 2:9 (NASB95)
‘I KNOW YOUR TRIBULATION AND YOUR POVERTY (BUT YOU ARE RICH)
HOW DO WE SUFFER WELL?
1. UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS KNOWS OUR TROUBLES
2. DO NOT FEAR WHEN WE ARE TESTED
REVELATION 2:10 (NASB95)
‘DO NOT FEAR WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUFFER.
1 PETER 4:12 (NASB95)
Beloved, DO NOT BE SURPRISED at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
REVELATION 2:10 (NASB95)
‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be TESTED, and you will have tribulation for TEN days.
TEN IS OFTEN USED IN DIVINE TESTING, PROVING, AND COMPLETION OF FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS GOD…
1. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17 NASB95)
Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
2. Daniel's Test (Daniel 1:12–15 NASB95)
But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please TEST your servants for TEN days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.
3. Tithing (Malachi 3:10 NASB95)
“Bring the whole TITHE into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and TEST Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
1 PETER 5:8 (NASB95)
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
HOW DO WE SUFFER WELL?
1. UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS KNOWS OUR TROUBLES
2. DO NOT FEAR WHEN WE ARE TESTED
3. REMAIN FAITHFUL UNTIL WE TRIUMPH
REVELATION 2:8
“the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life”
REVELATION 2:10-11 (NASB95)
… BE FAITHFUL UNTIL 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. HE WHO OVERCOMES WILL NOT BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH.’
FAITHFUL IN FOUR THINGS
1. LIVING
2. GATHERING
3. GROWING
4. GIVING
1 PETER 4:12-13 (NASB95)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; BUT TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU SHARE THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, KEEP ON REJOICING, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
