What God Says to the Churches Part 3

“Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says: I know your affliction and 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. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.” (Revelation 2:8-11)

One of the names of God in Hebrew is El Roi. It is translated as the God who sees me. What a perfect name. He is the God who sees everything. His eyes are upon the earth and he sees us. That should both encourage us and provoke us to live a life pleasing to God.

And this is exactly what this letter is about. The life the church was living. This letter is to the church of Smyrna and God is telling them he sees what they are going through. It is only one of two letters that doesn’t rebuke or correct the church it addresses. Instead it encourages them to remain faithful! God commends those who do not compromise and conform. God does not want his children to waver. Be who you are; sons and daughters of God.

That is why the church of Smyrna was told to remain faithful. They were living as children of God and being attacked by others who claimed to belong to God. They were not living a life that needed to be rebuked and yet they were being slandered.

There are some people who claim to be Christians, but as the letter says, they are a church of Satan. Children of Satan live like children of the world. In the book of John, chapter 8:42-47, there is a dialogue that takes place about who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Jesus makes it very clear that the ones who belong to him love him. The Bible indicates that our love is expressed through action. Jesus loved, so much that he died for us. (John 3:16) Jesus says to us, “if you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15)

So here you have Jews who carry a title that they are religious but they only practice church rituals. They go to synagogue, pray, perform religious ceremonies, yet they don’t live their life loving Jesus and obeying his commands. This is like some of the Christians in the church today. They are not faithful to Christ. They live a life like children of the devil and then feel safe because they carry a title of Christian around like a badge. Just like the Jews attended synagogue, these Christians attend church, but they are not loving God and faithfully following him.

So here you have the faithful followers being slandered by religious people. What does God do? God prepares the faithful for the persecution by telling them what will come. Jesus spoke of this persecution while he was on this earth. John 15:20-22 says, “Remember the word I spoke to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don’t know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin.”

Jesus has no rebuke to the faithful in Smyrna. There is only preparation for affliction, suffering, and the testing of the Devil. Don’t let that discourage you because there is a reward for your faithfulness at the end. You will be rewarded! You will receive a crown of life. Remember, this life is temporary but eternity is forever. Stay faithful.