Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Rev 2:8 address? How does Jesus identify Himself to them? What three things does He
know about them (Rev 2:9)? But what is their ultimate condition? What does He know about
whom else? What do they call themselves? What does Jesus call them? What does
He tell them not to do (Rev 2:10)? What are they about to do? Who is about to do
what to them? So that what may be done to them? For how long? What must they
do? Until what happens? And who will give them what? Whom does Rev 2:11 address?
What is he to do? Who is speaking? To whom? About whom? By what will he not be
hurt?
What comfort is there for suffering Christians? Revelation 2:8–11 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord’s fellowship with us and knowledge of us is the sweet, sustaining comfort for suffering Christians.
The Lord Himself has suffered. Smyrna was a hotbed of the cult of the
emperor. Jews were exempt from having to worship him, so it was profoundly harmful
when they disowned the Christians, and believers lost that protection. But the
Lord Jesus knew what it was to be turned upon by the Jews and betrayed unto the
Romans. He is not only the Living God (“the First and the Last,” Rev 2:8). He is also
a true man “who was dead and came to life.” This is important, because of the
saints in Smyrna are about to die for the faith: “be faithful until death, and
I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). He is both the God Who can give them
this life and the Man Who has been there before.
The Lord knows their suffering. It is important that He also knows their
works. Believers who suffer may wrongly conclude that they have brought their
suffering upon themselves. It is possible that these faithful believers were
being shamed as overzealous or foolhardy by those who saw offering a pinch of
incense as a small, wise compromise. By coming and speaking pure comfort to
them and noting that He know their works (Rev 2:9), the Lord affirms that they have
not brought their suffering upon themselves.
The Lord knows their true condition. Jesus says to them, “but you are rich.” This
is their true condition in the Lord. Often, we ourselves do not know our true riches,
our true blessedness, our true peace. We can be overwhelmed by visible,
palpable circumstances. We forget our riches. We need to be told by Christ.
When He Who tells us this is Himself more riches than all creatures taken
together, it rings true. They were truly rich. If you are a believer, you are
truly rich!
The Lord knows what the wicked are doing. Jesus’s denunciation
of the Smyrnian Jews is scathing. By disavowing the Christians, they have
rejected Christ. This is no just treachery against man but blasphemy against
God. Like all churches that abandon the truth about Christ, they “are synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9)—making them the
equivalent of some Jews whom Jesus encountered in His earthly ministry (cf. Jn
8:44). What comfort to know that, even
if the whole world sees nothing wrong in their behavior, the Lord Himself knows
it and condemns it.
The Lord knows what the wicked will do. He tells them
not to fear. But it’s not because there isn’t anything fearful in front of
them. Indeed, it’s not just the Jews or the people of Smyrna who are against
them; it is the devil himself (Rev 2:10). Some of them will be imprisoned, but
others will have to be faithful unto the death. But in either case, the devil’s
purpose is secondary to Christ’s superintending purpose. Those who are
imprisoned are being tested—having their genuineness proven and displayed.
Those who die are receiving the crown of life. And “ten” being one of the
numbers of completion, the implication is that this suffering is for a
predetermined, set, limited time. We don’t know what the wicked will do. But
the Lord knows. In fact, they will do whatever He has intended for good.
Live twice, so that you may die only once. Having told them
all of these things, the Lord puts all of this into an eternal context for
them. If they are born again, if they have “ears to hear” (Rev 2:11), the new ears
of the new life, then they will be those who overcome by virtue of the life of
Christ in them. We must live twice; we must have this new life, because there
is a second death coming in which those who have suffered the first death
outside of Christ are cast into the lake of fire (cf. Rev 20:14). It would be eternally,
infinitely foolish of us to try to escape the harm of persecution in this life,
or even of death, only to suffer the harm of the second death.
So Jesus, by His Spirit, through His ministers, speaks these things to
the churches. He speaks these things to you. Dear suffering Christian, the Lord
knows all about it, and He sends you this word of comfort. And if you are not
currently suffering, note that Your Savior still sends you this word. Take it
to heart, so that if the day should come in His good and wise providence, you
will be prepared to suffer well: not fearing, being faithful until death, and
overcoming by faith.
What have you
suffered? What are you suffering? How have you coped with it in the past? How
are you doing so now? What can you do to bring this passage to bear upon that
suffering? How can you be praying for other Christians who are suffering?
Sample
prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding us
that You Yourself have suffered and overcome. Forgive us, for we have sometimes
been unwilling to suffer. And we have been forgetful of Your sympathy,
fellowship, and compassion. So, we have been fearful, or we have wavered in our
faithfulness. But You have come, in Your Word, and comforted us by Your
intimate, personal knowledge of our circumstances. Forgive us our sin, and
strengthen us in Yourself we pray, in Your Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP59A “Free Me, My God” or
TPH509 “Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me?”
