“I know how much you suffer for the Lord, and I know all about your poverty (but you have heavenly riches!). I know the slander of those opposing you, who say that they are Jews—the children of God—but they aren’t, for they support the cause of Satan.” TLBP [1]
|
C. The
Message to Smyrna: The Church That Is Persecuted, 2:8–11 |
|
|
1. The
recipients a. The messenger of
the church b. The Smyrna
churchDS1 2. The
speaker: Jesus |
8 And
unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first
and the last, which was dead, and is alive; |
|
3. The Commendation a. For afflictions b. For bearing poverty c. For spiritual wealth d. For bearing slander |
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art
rich), and I know the blasphemy of
them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. |
|
4. The
counsel a. The devil will
persecute b. The persecution
will be limited c. The charge: Do
not fear, but be faithful, even to death 5. The
promise: To the overcomers a. The crown of
life |
10 Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may
be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life. |
|
b. Deliverance from
the second death |
11 He
that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He
that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. [2] |
3. The
Cognizance (Revelation 2:9)
“I know thy works, and tribulation and poverty, (but thou art rich) and
I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the
synagogue of Satan” (Revelation
2:9). As we noted in the letter to Ephesus, every letter to the seven
churches has this statement that says Christ knows about the church. He is
fully cognizant of their conduct and character. Here the “I know” is fourfold.
• The cognizance of performance. “I know thy
works.” No matter how obscure our performance or service, Christ
knows about it. He knows about everything we do (Psalm
139:1–4).
• The cognizance of persecution. “I know thy …
tribulation.” This cognizance is most encouraging, for it includes
knowing about their troubles. We are prone to wonder if God is aware of our
troubles. But as we just noted, Scripture says He knows every detail in our
lives. He is aware of all our troubles and will act on our behalf in due time.
• The cognizance of poverty. “I know thy …
poverty (but thou art rich).”
Faithful Christians often experience economic problems on this earth, but “thou art rich”
encourages those in earthly poverty to keep following Christ and that in
eternity the believer will be very wealthy. He is, in fact, a co-inheritor with
Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17), and that
certainly promises wealth, a wealth that will not be touched by taxes or
corruption but is as great as it is eternal.
• The cognizance of phonies. “I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). At least three things are said about these phonies who would deceive folk about their identity. First, their mouth. “Blasphemy.” Conversion cleans up the mouth. But phony believers have trouble here. Second, their misrepresentation. “Say they are Jews and are not.” Phony believers lie about who they are. Third, their membership. “Are the synagogue of Satan.” Phony believers are workers for Satan; they may belong to an assembly of believers, but that does not convert them. Their real membership is in Satan’s group. [5]
3 (2:9) Church—Believers: there is the Commendation. The church is commended for four things.
1. The
church bore up under terrible tribulation (thlipsin). The word means
affliction, the pressure of crushing affliction. This word indicates that the
trials and persecution were the most severe. But the believers were holding up
under the attacks and refusing to deny Christ. They were faithful to Christ
despite all the ridicule, mockery, abuse, cursing, loss of property, possible
imprisonment, and martyrdom.
“But beware of men: for they will
deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles” (Mt. 10:17–18).
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted
and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Mt. 24:9).
“But before all these, they shall lay
their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and
into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake” (Lu. 21:12).
“Remember the word that I said unto
you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours
also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because
they know not him that sent me” (Jn. 15:20–21).
“They shall put you out of the
synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he
doeth God service” (Jn. 16:2).
“For unto you it is given on the behalf
of Christ, not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake” (Ph. 1:29).
“Yea and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
“For consider him that endured such
contradiction [hostility] of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and
faint in your minds” (He. 12:3).
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pe. 4:12–13).
2. The
church bore up under poverty. The idea is that of having nothing and of being
destitute and beggarly. Apparently, many were being forced out of their jobs
and having their property confiscated as lawbreakers. What happened was this:
Rome had instituted a law that said the state had to be the first loyalty of a
citizen. To show that loyalty, the citizen had to proclaim his loyalty once a
year. This he did by going before local government officials and making the
statement, “Caesar is Lord.” Of course, a true believer and follower of Christ
could not do this, for there is only one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. This was
the reason the church was being attacked so severely and suffering so much.
“And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes
have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not
where to lay his head” (Mt. 8:20).
“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as
poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Co. 6:10).
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Co. 8:9).
3. The
church was spiritually wealthy. They were outwardly poor, but inwardly they
were rich toward the Lord and His mission. They were faithful to the Lord …
•
loving Him and one another and even
those who opposed them (agape love).
•
ministering to all in need.
•
studying and teaching the Scriptures.
•
living righteous and holy lives.
And
because of their faithfulness, they were filled with all the fullness of God’s
presence. God poured out upon them the riches of His grace and the fruit of His
Spirit. As they walked day by day, they were filled with …
•
love
•
joy
•
peace
•
longsuffering
•
gentleness
•
goodness
•
faith
•
meekness
•
self-control
God flooded them and carried them through all their trials. He strengthened and settled them, empowered and assured them with His presence, the very presence of God Himself.
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal” (Mt. 6:20).
“Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be
perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Mt.
19:21).
“Sell that ye have and give alms;
provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that
faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth” (Lu. 12:33).
“The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the
riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power” (Ep. 1:18–19).
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his
great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that
in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ep. 2:4–7).
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom
I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ” (Ph. 3:8).
“But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Ph.
4:19).
“And the grace of our Lord was
exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:14).
“Laying up in store for themselves a
good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life” (1 Tim. 6:19).
“By faith Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to
suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (He. 11:24–26).
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (Jas. 2:5).
4. The
church bore up under all kinds of slander. The slander came especially from the
Jews of the city. There was a large community of Jews in Smyrna. We know from
historians that they were very prosperous and made large gifts to the arts and
to the cultural development of the city. As a result, they were influential
with the city officials and local Roman government. As stated, it was the Jews
who were stirring up so much trouble against the church. Note how they
went about it: they slandered the believers. They used their tongues to …
• ridicule
• mock
• lie
• gossip
• accuse
• backbite
• criticize
• murmur
• insult
• tear down
• discriminate
• divide
But note what Christ says about the slandering Jews. They may profess to be Jews, but they are not. They are the synagogue of Satan. What does this mean? The Jews were God’s appointed people during the Old Testament period of history before Christ came into the world. They were the people whom God had raised up to be His witnesses upon the earth. But many of them had failed to believe and follow God. In fact, they had even killed God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews in Smyrna professed to be Jews, to be followers of God, but they were not. They were persecuting the real followers of God, those who believed and worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself. Therefore, they were not worshippers of God—not of the true and living God. On the contrary, they were worshippers of Satan.
Thought 1. This
is a strong message to every church. We are either an assembly of God, of the
true and living God, or of Satan. It all depends upon whether or not we worship
and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We are a true church if we proclaim and stand
up for Christ in the midst of an evil and corrupt world, a world that slanders
those who live righteous and godly lives.
“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me
before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But
whosoever, therefore, shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 10:32–33).
“Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed
of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with
the holy angels” (Mk. 8:38).
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with
him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Tim.
2:12).
“But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily
[quietly] shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2
Pe. 2:1).
“Who is a liar but he that denieth that
Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that
acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” (1 Jn.
2:22–23).
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but
try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone
out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that
confesseth Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every Spirit that
confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this
is that Spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and
even now already is it in the world” (1 Jn. 4:1–3).
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 Jn. 4:15). [6]
“I know about your
suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they really aren’t
because theirs is a synagogue of Satan.” 2:9 NLT
The
church in Smyrna was suffering
because of persecution, and believers faced poverty
even in this wealthy city. This probably refers to material poverty because
Christ immediately assured them that despite their poverty, they were rich, referring to their heavenly riches
(James 2:5). These Christians’ poverty may
have come from sanctions against them as part of the persecution they faced.
Much of the persecution seems to have been coming from the Jews who, as noted above, were actively opposing Christianity. Christ identified them as those who claimed to be Jews but really weren’t. They may have claimed to have descended from Abraham, but true Jews (God’s people) are those who have accepted Jesus as Messiah and Savior. Paul had written to the Christians in Galatia, “Now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you” (Galatians 3:29 nlt). Because these Jews had rejected the Messiah, they were, in reality, no more than a synagogue of Satan (John 8:31–47). The phrase “synagogue of Satan” means that these Jews were serving Satan’s purposes, not God’s when they gathered to worship because they hated and persecuted the true people of God, the Christians. [7]
Wealth in poverty
“I know thy works and tribulation and poverty, but thou
art rich.” “I know thy tribulation and thy
poverty.”
The
poverty here is secular, not spiritual; the wealth is spiritual, not secular.
These two conditions of being are separable and are, in the vast majority of
cases in human life, detached. Sometimes you find, as in the case of the
Laodiceans, secular wealth associated with spiritual poverty, and modern
society here in England abounds with examples of this condition. Secular
princes and moral paupers, but in Smyrna, the case is different. It does not
seem morally proper that, according to the order of administrative
righteousness, these two conditions should be separate. The sight of secular
abundance, where there is moral destitution—the destitution of true virtue—is
repugnant at once to our conscience and reason. Nor is the sight of virtuous
affluence in connection with secular indigence and want a less incongruous
sight.
Antecedently,
we should have concluded that, under the government of righteousness, in
proportion to a man’s moral excellence
will be his temporal prosperity and
the converse. Looking at these conditions, separate as they seem to have been
in the case of Smyrnæan Christians, which is the
better? Decidedly the condition of spiritual wealth with secular poverty,
and for the following reasons:
1.
Secular wealth is of contingent value;
spiritual is of absolute worth. All earthly property is but
life-leased, and all life-leased property decreases in value every day. Not so
spiritual; in all worlds and in all times, it is of equal worth.
2.
Spiritual wealth is essentially virtuous;
not so secular. There is no virtue in the possession of material wealth.
It comes to a man sometimes independently of his efforts and often by efforts
that involve the sacrifice of all the great principles of religion and fair
dealing. Wealth may, indeed, often stand as the effect and sign of great tact,
keen-sightedness, and resolute perseverance, but not always, alas! of righteous
dealing. The history of fortune-making is too often the history of low cunning,
moral falsehood, and legal fraud. Moral wealth, however, is virtue itself; all
must feel it is praiseworthy; it secures the “well done” of conscience, the
approval of all pure intelligence, and of the great God himself. It is
intrinsically meritorious and praiseworthy.
3.
Spiritual wealth is essentially a
blessing; secular wealth is often a bane. Virtue is its own reward; it
is the paradise of the soul. But secular wealth often undermines health,
enfeebles the intellect, and carnalizes the heart.
4.
Spiritual wealth is inalienable; secular
is not. How often temporal wealth takes to itself wings and flies
away! At death, all goes; not a fraction is carried into eternity. Not so
spiritual. The character we carry with us wherever we go.
5. Spiritual wealth commands moral respect; not so secular. A wretched flunkeyism shouts “Hosannah!” to a man in lordly mansions or wrapt in purple robes, however corrupt in heart he may be. But strip the hero of his grandeur, and reduce him to pauperism and beggary, and the miserable devotee will recoil with disgust. But spiritual wealth commands moral reverence everywhere.[8]
MONEY AND CONTENTMENT
Honor Masters
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
Error and Greed
3 If
anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is
proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words,
from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless
wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that
godliness is a means of gain. From such,
withdraw yourself.
6 Now, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The Good Confession
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Instructions to the Rich
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Guard the Faith
20 O
Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of
what is falsely called knowledge—21 by professing it, some have
strayed concerning the faith.
Grace, be with you. Amen.[9]
He is
no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot [10]
Revelation 2:9 Which Is Better, The Condition of Spiritual Wealth with Secular Poverty, Or Spiritual Poverty, With Secular Wealth?
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
DS
Deeper Study
[4] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
[5] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible
Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.
[6] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
NLT Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All
rights reserved.
nlt Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
[7] Barton, Bruce B. 2000. Revelation.
Edited by Grant R. Osborne. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL:
Tyndale House Publishers.
[8] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1909. Revelation.
The Pulpit Commentary. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
[9] The New King James
Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[10] Barton, Bruce B., David Veerman, and Neil S. Wilson.
1993. 1 Timothy, 2
Timothy, Titus. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL:
Tyndale House Publishers.
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