REVELATION 2 - The Church at Smyrna
The book of Revelation reveals an invisible world to us. As we look deeper into this book we will learn much about what is happening, in both our physical world and this invisible world around us.
Our physical world is a sub-section of the spiritual realm…But, because we live in our present bodies, we perceive the invisible universe, only through the eyes of faith…And, because our faith is often deceived, we tend to believe that this invisible world is somewhere in outer space…When it’s right here.
When Adam sinned, Satan was given the title deed to all of the earth…And, the world has been subjected to the authority and deceit of Satan, our flesh and the systems of this world ever since…
But, for over 2000 years God has been re-colonizing the world with the children of the old Adam, who
have become God’s children and His church, by the new birth in Jesus Christ, the last Adam…1Cor 15
The true church of Jesus Christ is the means by which this old earth will be re-inhabited and this new earth that is revealed in the book of relation, will be ushered in…And, all of this happens by faith.
The church in Smyrna was on the front line of God’s plan…So, they needed a faith booster to help.

Rev 2:8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
Smyrna means myrrh, a perfume that’s fragrance is release by crushing…Smyrna was being crushed.
Christians in Smyrna had to live between two extremes…A loving fellowship and a persecuting city.
So Jesus presents himself as the Lord of extremes…And says, he’s in control of all that is in between.
Faith needs to know the truth about life…And God is present and at work in the lives of his people.

Rev 2:9 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.
Although the Christians in Smyrna seemed poor…The truth was, God declared that they were rich…
When Jesus was on earth he ignored much of the visible world and dealt directly with the heart of it…If believers are going to follow him, we need to see and believe things differently than the world says. The world is waging a campaign against Christians using misunderstanding and slander against them…That’s why scripture is read in the synagogues and churches…Scripture holds the realities of God…And God uses Revelation with its morals, symbols, codes and prophecies as His signature of reality. God doesn’t require that we have blind faith…But that our faith be tested and made known to be true.

Then, Jesus told Smyrna and all churches…Rev 2:10 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 (until) the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
God knows that his children will experience life in the world, and so he warns them ahead of time…
As God’s people reject the false values of the world and embrace the realities of God…God sends help.
He makes sense out of suffering…He prepares us for testing…He equips us for persecution…
And He promises that faithfulness to life according to His reality will be rewarded… With real rewards.

Rev 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who
overcomes (subdues) will not be hurt at all by the second death.
The people of the world live to die…God’s children must die, to live and be born again…(John 3)
Not all of God’s people will be physically killed for their faith…But we must be willing to put to death our desires, our egos and all that is left of ourselves as we subdue our own ideas of truth…And live by faith.

There are two types of churches that can learn something from this encouraging letter to Smyrna…
Local churches that act like retirement communities (refuges from the world) or amusing country clubs…
Local churches who interact at all levels in their community, evangelizing people in every generation…These are local churches willing to destroy the invisible strong holds of evil in high places, by faith in God’s words and by the practical application of that faith in every part of life, as we live in this world.
2 Cor 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…At New Hope Chapel let’s help them to see.