The Letter to Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)
The short message to the church in Smyrna is a disturbing one to today’s western church. You see, Smyrna is one of only two of the seven churches here to not receive a complaint or correction from Christ. They are doing things right. They are enduring through persecution. And what are they promised as a result? More suffering.
This is not what modern western interpreters like to preach. It does not tickle many ears. The preferred packaging of the Gospel these days goes something like this:
“Is your life great? It isn’t, is it. However, if you will simply ‘accept Jesus as your personal Savior,’ your life will turn around! It will be so much better.”
And, if they are willing to embrace some even more blatant non-Biblical teaching, they might add:
“In fact, if you just exercise faith in Jesus, your financial life will improve and you will not get sick anymore.”
The Biblical message of the Gospel is a bit different. True, trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord is something you should want to do. The alternative is a life separated from the author of life in rebellion against His plans. And that is something no one should ever want to do. But, in this fallen world of sin and death, the choice to follow Jesus often means suffering, hardship, poverty, sickness, and persecution.
That, in part, is what Revelation is all about. Jesus promises His followers on multiple occasions that they will suffer in following Him. Here, He tells the Smyrnan church that they are in for more suffering, emprisonment, and death. Sure, they are assured a shortened, limited time of persecution, but He still talks in terms of those who might survive it all. Thankfully, not surviving is not a loss in the Kingdom of God, because as Revelation makes clear, perserverance in persecution is rewarded in the Christian walk, in both survival and resurrection.
This is not what modern western interpreters like to preach. It does not tickle many ears. The preferred packaging of the Gospel these days goes something like this:
“Is your life great? It isn’t, is it. However, if you will simply ‘accept Jesus as your personal Savior,’ your life will turn around! It will be so much better.”
And, if they are willing to embrace some even more blatant non-Biblical teaching, they might add:
“In fact, if you just exercise faith in Jesus, your financial life will improve and you will not get sick anymore.”
The Biblical message of the Gospel is a bit different. True, trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord is something you should want to do. The alternative is a life separated from the author of life in rebellion against His plans. And that is something no one should ever want to do. But, in this fallen world of sin and death, the choice to follow Jesus often means suffering, hardship, poverty, sickness, and persecution.
That, in part, is what Revelation is all about. Jesus promises His followers on multiple occasions that they will suffer in following Him. Here, He tells the Smyrnan church that they are in for more suffering, emprisonment, and death. Sure, they are assured a shortened, limited time of persecution, but He still talks in terms of those who might survive it all. Thankfully, not surviving is not a loss in the Kingdom of God, because as Revelation makes clear, perserverance in persecution is rewarded in the Christian walk, in both survival and resurrection.
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