Smyrna: A Church That Suffered | Revelation 2:8-11 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Revelation Bible Study Series)

In light of today's message, I decided to do something a little

different. I decided to visit the website

of the Voice of the Martyrs and to look into their most recent

prayer request and post regarding persecuted Christians

around the world. And initially I was hoping to

maybe revisit some accounts of those who have suffered for

Christ's name's sake, to just bring to our attention things

that maybe we have forgotten. But then I thought it might be

more helpful to look at what is happening in our day.

What is happening to Christians across the world, common folk,

those who have regular jobs, those who have spouses and

children. What is taking place at this

very moment while you and I get to enjoy these freedoms, sing

with No Fear, come regularly. So I have a couple of things to

bring to your mind and I hope it stirs you as we prepare to see

what God's Word has to say regarding this.

These are just two testimonies from recent months, so I want to

begin with the following. A Christian families

registration book is being withheld because of their faith.

That was born and registered in a village in northern Leos or

Leo. But as a young man he left for

the southern part of the country to work at a coffee farm.

While there he married and also heard the gospel and he and his

family came to faith in Jesus Christ.

In January of 2024 he returned to his home village.

However, after learning that that and his family were

Christians, the head of the village refused to renew the

registration book, a document with vital records such as ID,

travel and work permits, marriage and birth records,

educational records, and residence permits.

Without registration books, families struggle getting work,

housing, social services, medical care and education for

their children. Pray for Vat's family and others

who are faced with a decision to deny Christ or lose these

documents, as this is a common persecution tactic and layoffs.

Here's another story. Two sisters were imprisoned by

their family for their faith and now seek safety in another

country. Noor and Rana grew up in a

Muslim home but did not like the way they and other woman were

treated. They searched the Internet for

information on different fates and eventually met some

Christians online. Through the Christians

friendship and witness, the two sisters became followers of

Christ. But when their family discovered

their new faith, they locked the sisters inside and physically

abused them for 13 months. The two women escaped and fled

to a nearby country, but they do not have the paperwork necessary

to stay or to move on. They are afraid, terrified that

they might be sent home, said a frontline worker.

He asked that Christians pray for the sisters to experience

God's peace and provision for a safe home where they can grow in

their faith. This is just a sample of the

countless testimonies of millions of Christians who are

paying a price for what they believe in.

And what you and I just got was a glimpse of something that

dates back to the very beginning, the very infancy of

the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because you see, the true Church of Jesus has always known

suffering. And as we come to our text

today, we are going to be reminded of that often forgotten

reality of our faith, that there is a price to pay for having

your allegiance tied to this Savior.

And as we see what Jesus is going to say to a church in

Smyrna, we're going to recognize that His desire is to embolden

them. Even in the very first words,

the very introduction of this short letter, He seeks to

energize them, to remain faithful.

He seeks to offer them hope and comfort in the midst of their

agony. And I want us to look at it

together in Revelation chapter 2, beginning in verse 8.

Revelation 2 · chapter mention

This is the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Church in

Smyrna, modern day Izmir in Turkey.

Verse 8 of Revelation 2. And to the Angel of the church

in Smyrna write the words of the 1st and the last who died and

came to life. I know your tribulation and your

poverty, but you are rich. And the slander of those who say

that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,

that you may be tested, and for 10 days you will have

tribulation. Be faithful unto death and I

will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.

The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

Father, we ask with this brief message that you would have your

way in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

We trust, Lord, that You have a word for us even here in

America. We need to hear your wisdom

regarding these things, so we look to you now in faith,

believing that you will indeed speak.

Give us ears to hear. In Christ's name we pray.

Amen. Can you imagine the holy shock

that surged through the hearts of these weary Saints as they

whispered these words in their meeting?

What was it like to discover that the very author of this

letter was God himself? It's right there in this amazing

title, this caption that exclusively belongs to the God

of the Hebrew Scriptures, primarily what we find in the

book of Isaiah, the words of the 1st and the last.

This is God speaking to us through his servant John, and as

powerful that as that is, the title only continues.

This caption goes on to say that this is the first and the last

who died and came to life. There has to be a paradox.

You're telling me that the Eternal One at some point died

and came to life? Staggering, but extremely

helpful because the Holy Spirit is precise and telling us who it

is within the Godhead that is addressing this battered church.

It is the sin bearer of the world, the one who dwelt in

eternity and stepped into time to take on flesh and to become a

sacrifice and a ransom for many. This is Jesus Christ who has

come to speak and to comfort his people in Smyrna.

And what's so fascinating about this?

It's it's another confirmation to the divinity of our Lord,

simply because he unashamedly declares himself to be the very

same one who says I alone am the 1st and the last.

Now for Christ to say that He is the first reminds these

believers and us that He existed long before there was a church

in Smyrna, long before Smyrna ever existed, long before the

very earth and the solar system was spoken into reality.

And for Jesus to say, I am the last, now he points in the other

direction of His eternal nature. I will always be.

I remain forever. I am sovereign perpetually.

No one can dethrone my authority.

And even though empires come and go and fade into history, I

still stand right away. What Christ is doing for these

believers is to have a larger view of their Savior.

I'm reminding you of how awesome I am, who I am, where I came

from, where this is all going. And so clearly there's something

about understanding the sovereignty of Christ that

becomes a source of strength. But it's not just his

sovereignty, it's his empathy. Because he adds again by saying,

yes, I'm the 1st and the last, but I at one point came into

your world, the world that I created with the intention of

dying. This is marvelous because what

the Lord is essentially doing here is reminding these

believers that He walked in their shoes.

And as these believers are facing much suffering, He

decides to merge his exaltation with His humiliation.

Yes, I'm high and lifted up, but I'm also the one who came low

and was disgraced by those who thought they had their way with

me. But why is He saying this?

Because He wants to tell these believers who are smelling

death. I know what death tastes like.

I know what it's like to obey God to the point of excruciating

pain and dishonor. I I know what it's like to look

into the eyes of lifeless souls who have no reason to attack you

but do so with demonic Glee. I know what it's like to give my

final breath. I know.

So these believers, when hearing this, are reminded he gets it.

He doesn't just know with his omniscience, He knows with

experience. There's a different level of

comfort that comes from somebody who has known the pain that we

are facing. And that is precisely what

Christ is offering these precious Saints.

I know it. You know what's so amazing about

Jesus saying that I'm the one who died and came to life as one

person said it so wonderfully. Think of the greatest man who

walked this world. Think of those in history who

have shaped history in different ways.

No matter what kind of praise you can give to such figures, we

have to say of all of them that they lived and then they died.

But there is only one person who we can say with great confidence

that he died and then he came to life as Jesus Christ.

He's in his own category. Oh, I'm sure that this would

have brought some kind of encouragement, but it's only

beginning. He says here who died to came to

life, which not only confirms his resurrected state, but it

also grants them the assurance of their resurrection as well.

Yes, I came to die, but in my death I paved the way into

eternal life through my death and my resurrection.

Now there's a way for you to share in my fate.

So right here at the outset, these Christians and Smyrna are

given so much to look forward to and we're only getting started.

He adds to this initial comment what we find in verse 9.

I know, I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are

rich. And the slander of those who say

that they are Jews and are not but our synagogue of Satan.

He says I know three things, three things about you, your

tribulation, your poverty, your slander.

Now he could have just said that he is aware of their difficulty

in a general sense, but he doesn't do that.

He is specific. And the reason why He's specific

is so that they can comprehend of how cognizant He is of their

trials, that He knows every angle of their anguish, that He

knows every source of their sorrow, that He knows every

detail of their distress. And so even in this, these

believers are to understand. He is nearer to us than we might

have believed. He's closer to us than we might

have imagined. He has studied us, but not just

with again, His knowledge, but with sympathy.

So the Savior is walking near, and our knee jerk reaction to

that truth and our pain perhaps might be.

Then why doesn't He do something about it?

OK, he knows. He knows what's happening in my

marriage. He knows what's happening with

my body. He knows what's happening with

my health. He knows what's happening with

my finances, as you say. So where is he then?

To which I would respond. If you believe that he is the

all knowing one, then you must also believe that He is

perfectly good. And in His goodness, whatever

pain He permits, despite your constant pleas, He is allowing

it for you to achieve a good that is impossible to attain

apart from this way. Didn't you catch that when we

read this initially, Jesus comes to them not to promise them

immediate relief, rescue from their troubles.

He does provide comfort. But in the midst of their

troubles, actually, He's going to tell them it's going to get

worse. He's not here to say your

circumstances are going to get better.

He's going to say it's going to get more intense.

But I'm going to give you the necessary things for you to be

able to successfully endure it. So I know these things.

And we talked a little bit about the poverty aspect of this.

If the prosperity gospel is supposedly true, then why not

give them the ingredients to claim their fortune, to claim

resources so they can escape their poverty?

He doesn't do that. You can make the case that this

is one of the most praised churches and they are the

poorest among the seven. He doesn't criticize them for

their poverty. Shame on those who say

otherwise. Shame on those who guilt

Christians and try to twist their arm thinking that wealth

is a sign of God's favor. You're going to stand before God

and give an account because my Jesus, I'm not concerned what

you say in the name of Jesus. I'm concerned ultimately about

Jesus said, my Jesus looks at this church.

He says you're, you're poor, but you're actually rich.

You're actually rich. And if that teaches us anything,

it is this that we must see as Christ sees.

We must behold our circumstances, people, events,

our personal journey, the way the Lord sees it.

And it doesn't end here. He says, yes, you are

experiencing poverty, you're actually rich, though.

And then he goes on to say, I'm also aware of the slander of

those who say they are Jews. So in their own perception,

whoever these Jews are, as they believe that they have spiritual

privilege because of their ethnicity, they say that they

are Jews, but they're actually a synagogue of Satan.

So that only expands on that truth that we must see as Christ

sees. And in this case, he wants these

believers to understand the spiritual nature of the struggle

that they're in. Moreover, we can say that the

Tribulation and the poverty that these Christians are

experiencing is the result of the slander of these Jews.

So you had a prominent, prominent community of Jewish

people in Smyrna who clearly had a level of influence for their

lies to persuade the governing authorities to harass this

church. We, we don't know the nature of

these lies, but whatever they were saying was working.

It was tainting the reputation of these Christians.

It caused these Christians to sever relationships with others,

to lose their businesses, to have even their property

confiscated. You have to remember here that

the Jews were furious with this new movement of Christians also

inviting Gentiles in claiming that Jesus of Nazareth was the

Messiah. So they were vehemently

attacking this group and in this specific area.

They had a lot of freedom to do so, and they took advantage of

it. And they could do nothing about

it. They could appeal to a higher

court. The court is against you.

They couldn't call the police. The police is against you.

Let me remind you that that is the case for many people around

the world. As you and I sit here and

hearing a sermon, I know, I know what people are saying about

you. Here's a little nugget.

Jesus in His wisdom. Listen carefully.

Servants of Christ Jesus in His perfect wisdom will sometimes

allow people to slander you. Be prepared for that.

Be prepared for that type of persecution where people malign

your reputation with a question. They broadcast your apparent

false motives that want to taint you.

So don't think of it as a strange thing when it happens.

He allows His people to go through that.

As painful as it is, as much as you want to try to defend it and

persuade others not to believe it, oftentimes Christ will allow

His people to be slandered. And even in that kind of

suffering, you have to trust them.

This defamation was apparently working, but the way you and I

are supposed to respond to it is to allow Christ to defend us.

It was Wesley who said I've put my reputation in the same place

where I've rested my soul in the hands of God.

And in this case here we see that this Jesus of ours who says

I'm aware of their slander, indirectly comes to the defense

by criticizing where these Jews are really coming from.

Now unfortunately, like many truths in the Bible, people have

used the words of Jesus here to support misleading doctrine and

to even encourage blatant anti-Semitism.

Listen very carefully please. There are so many people today

who make the claim that the Jewish people today are not the

real descendants of the patriarchs.

And there are wild conspiracies, and there are enthusiasts who

like to promote these strange legends and have the audacity to

come to the Bible and to draw from Christ's words to support

their arguments. And so there are people today,

if you Google Synagogue of Satan, you will find atrocious

things, even people in churches preaching that because the

Jewish people have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they

have forfeited their ancient identity, that they have

absolutely 0 relevance to God's program of redemption today and

tomorrow. And we'll even point to the

nation of Israel today and point to Jewish people today and say

you are of the synagogue of Satan.

Let me ask you a question. Do you really believe that what

Christ is saying here about these particular groups of Jews

is His way of making a sweeping statement of the Jewish people

as a race being of Satan? Is that how you conclude what

Christ is saying here? And he says it again in the same

book? Or is it more possible that in

light of the rest of Scripture, the Lord is pointing out that

any Jew who intentionally opposes or resists the Messiah

and His message is fulfilling the will of Satan, whether they

are aware of it or not? What did Jesus say to Peter?

After teaching that he was going to go to the cross and he

rebuked the Master in Matthew 1623, the Lord turned to him and

said get behind me. What Satan?

OK, be consistent with your teaching.

Is Peter a part of a global agenda that controls everything?

Is Peter of Satan as well? Get behind me, Satan.

Why did he refer to Peter in this way?

Well, 1 he is highlighting the thinking of Peter, the

rationalization of Peter as being satanic in nature, and

Peter was to understand that. Moreover, He is also telling

Peter, you're not aware of this, but you're actually in line with

the will of the devil and trying to keep me from going to the

place that I've been destined to go.

What did he say to the Pharisees and other Jews in John chapter

John 8:44

8, verse 44? You are your father, the devil,

and your will is to do your father's desires.

He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in

the truth because there is no truth in him.

When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a

liar and the father of lies. Hey, hey, your father is the

devil. Do you know why?

Because his native tongue is to lie, and you're lying as well.

You're trying to set me up to make me look like I'm guilty.

So you're like your father, the devil.

So when we return to the scathing words of Jesus here in

Revelation chapter 2, he is again not making the statement

Revelation 2 · chapter mention

of the Jewish race or Israel's national identity is devilish or

energized by satanic rituals. Instead, he is condemning A

localized, specific group of Jews who took so much pride in

their spiritual, or rather in their race, thinking that they

have spiritual security in their ethnicity when in fact they were

in spiritual trouble because of their vehement attack against

the truth. Let me say another way.

Christ is not condemning their ethnicity.

He's condemning their behavior. It's so plain, it's so simple,

but there's so many who are willing to twist the words of

Christ. You want to slander these

Christians? Oh, OK, good.

You're Jews, but you are just like Satan because the very name

Satan means accuser. Sir, you're accusing these

beliefs. You're like the devil.

Your little ministry. You know who really presides

over it? The devil because you're acting

like him. All people who have No Fear of

God when it comes to the handling of God's Word.

Hopefully what's been said so far has been helpful, but we're

going to come to the real heart of this message.

Christ goes on to say in verse 10 three very important words,

do not fear. Do not fear what you are about

to suffer. You have to read that very

carefully. He's telling and preparing this

church that there is more persecution and pain on the way.

And they were afraid of it. And for many of us, that's the

essence of our fear. It may not necessarily be

because of what's taking place right now, but it's because of

the mere thought of potential hardship on its way.

And it's not limited to persecution.

Are you paralyzed in fear today because of what you think might

happen tomorrow, what you may be confident will happen tomorrow?

Based on what Jesus says here, He doesn't want you and I to

have an ounce of anxiety. Do not fear.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

And again, don't limit it to people harassing you because of

your faith. It could be true that even in

this moment, in the sound of my voice, you're trying to drown

out your fear. Hopefully the music will help.

Hopefully the message will medicate me.

Because you're worried about a future disease, abandonment, an

accident, the loss of a loved one, the loss of your life,

betrayal. Whatever it may be, whatever the

source, whatever the object that your fear is, Christ says do not

fear what you are about to suffer.

And he gives these Christians 3 reasons, three reasons in the

same verse why we can be rock solid, rock solid, confident for

whatever we're facing now or whatever may surprise us

tomorrow. And the umbrella, the theme of

our security is the sovereignty of Christ again, but in three

specific domains, 3 specific domains of Christ's sovereignty.

That should give you and I the key of unlocking A bravery for

anything. Can we look at them three things

in verse 10. The first thing is Christ

sovereignty over Satan. What does he say?

Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison

that you may be tested. Now ask this is this a language

that depicts Satan being in control of the circumstances in

these Christians lives? Or is this the language of

Christ showing them who's in control?

Look carefully and just in case there is even a debate about it,

let's settle it now. First, Christ is showing that He

is totally aware of the schemes of Satan.

Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison.

I know his every move, I know his every plan, I know his

plots. I know what he's going to do.

And that alone should bring us great grace.

He, he's aware Christ is never taken by surprise.

You going to your room to pray about the phone call that you

got does not catch the Lord by any surprise.

He was fully conscious of it, fully aware of it, prepared.

It's you and I that are surprised.

And in our surprise, we should come to the feet of the

Sovereign 1 and covered ourselves with the truth that

you already knew about this. So I trust that you've allowed

it for some reason. And then that place you can know

life changing fellowship. I know.

And this is something for you and I to consider because

whatever he does allow always has a redemptive end.

Always. Because what does he say?

He's going to throw you into prison, some of you at least

that you may be tested. Who's doing the testing here?

Is Satan putting these Christians in a prison cell to

test them, or is he trying to snuff out the Christian witness

in Smyrna? The one who is doing the testing

is the sovereign Christ. I'm allowing this for the

testing of the genuineness of your faith.

What does Christ need to know? The level of the strength of our

faith? No, you need to know.

I need to know, is it not a source of encouragement that

through all the pain and all the things that happened, you come

out like gold? You come out still singing to

the Savior, still serving the Savior.

Isn't that a means of building you up?

This thing in me is real. I still love him.

Even though I lost this. I still love Him.

Even though I'm still sick, I still love Him.

Even though people walked away from me, I still love Him.

That you may be tested, yes, that you may see what's in you,

but also for others to see what's in you as a witness to

the world of the worthiness of Jesus Christ.

So the devil thinks he's actually going to gain

something. I'm telling you, you're going to

gain something if you overcome. So we see the sovereignty of

Christ over Satan #2 the sovereignty of Christ over our

tribulation. What is He going to say?

And for 10 days you will have tribulation.

I can't express in words the immense joy that flooded my

heart when I first learned that Christ is not only aware of what

my tribulation is, but how long it will go on for 10 days.

It's going to go on for 10 days. It may be intense, but it's

going to be brief. And listen, when you comprehend

the precision of Christ supervision not just over the

affairs of your life, but even in your suffering, I can

guarantee you that it has the ability to chase away every

temptation for you to be weary in that suffering.

There's an expiration date on this thing.

More than that, the Lord not only knows the temperature to

set in my trial, but the duration of it so that it will

have its full effect in my life. Not a day sooner, Not a day

later. He knows the exact moment where

this will bring about His desired will in me.

Doesn't that give you gas? Doesn't that give you fuel to go

on 10 days? Apply the principle.

He knows when this will end, He knows the moment it was supposed

to start, and He knows when I will graduate.

And so we see here that He's sovereign over the tribulation

itself. Lastly, the sovereignty of

Christ over death itself. What does He say?

Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.

Who can say that? Who can say that?

Think about the implications of this.

Who can say be faithful unto death?

And I, I, I, I, I, I, I will give you the crown of life.

The only one who can say that is the person who claims in

Revelation One that he holds the keys to death in AIDS.

I have authority over death. And so I'm telling you that if

you're willing to be faithful unto death, and if death is your

portion, you're going to meet me on the other side.

That's the image that you're supposed to have.

That's the image that he wants to grant these Christians in

Smyrna. I will greet you with a reward

in my hand. Just be faithful until the end.

And what's so wonderful about this is, and I can't say it

enough, because Christ defeated death, He radically redefines

the experience of death. Because he defeated death, he

radically redefines your experience of it and mine, as

one person said, Jesus didn't just change our lives, he

changes the way we die. Yes, absolutely.

And we see that with Paul. Who can say in Philippians 121

for me to live is Christ and to die is what gain to to die is

what Paul to die is. What can you say that again,

Paul? To die is gain.

Only a man who has been granted revelation from God, revelation

about the sufficiency of his sacrifice in Christ, revelation

about the deliverance of Christ, revelation about the presence of

God that awaits us, the rewards that await us on the other side

because of our faith in Christ can say to die is gain.

So that reinterprets our understanding, even our language

concerning this, that death because of Christ and what

awaits you and I after death, offer something that surpasses

the best in this life. That's what he's saying there.

To die is gain. No matter what you can gain in

this life. Dying in Christ offers something

far greater. That's why there should be an

element in our funerals as Christians where we celebrate.

Yes, we grieve, we're human, and there's something about loss

that is painful. But oh, when you see what death

really means for us, we're hidden in Him.

We can face it. And the Lord gives us a glimpse

into that realm where he tells these Christians, I will give

you the crown of life. I wasn't originally planning to

share this, but I thought I would because it made me jump

out of my seat almost when considering the sovereignty of

Christ. You heard me quoting Exodus

earlier. It's because I'm reading it

personally and I want to show you a little passage that even

in the Old Testament that heralds the sovereignty of God.

When you go to Exodus 21, this is the Lord giving the

Israelites specific instructions regarding societal affairs,

including murder. And he talks about what's to

take place for the one who commits intentional premeditated

murder. But then he also addresses what

happens with accidental manslaughter, involuntary.

And notice what he says in Exodus 21, verse 12.

Exodus 21:12

Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.

But if he did not lie and wait for him, this is the phrase,

Look at this. But God let him fall into his

hand. Then I will appoint for you a

place which he may flee, and that would later be the city of

refuges, cities of refuge. Did you see that?

The middle part, God let him fall into his hand.

Now you can use this verse as a springboard for much

philosophical and theological debate.

How does God Latin, Who and who is this and that?

Can I tell you what it did for me?

It soothed my soul to be reminded that God is sovereign

over death. Even from a human perspective,

we may interpret it as a freak accident.

He's talking about accidental death here.

And even in this he tucks in a truth regarding His sovereignty.

God let him fall into his hand. So whether it's persecution or

just a routine drive to work and something happened on the way,

we are a peculiar people and we are to understand Christ the

Sovereign. He knows.

He not only knows the the duration of trial, but he knows

the day I see him face to face. And so we come back to our main

texts as we're ready to close. In Revelation 2, verse 11, he

Revelation 2:11

gives one more reason. I mean, if this wasn't enough,

he gives another reason for these Christians to be

emboldened. Revelation 211 He who has an

ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

This is the first occurrence in your Bibles and mind of the term

the second death. Second death, Well, when you

gather all the evidence, it is something that refers to the

fate of the unsaved following their bodily resurrection.

Some again make the claim that the second death.

The language of that proposes that when a person who is not

saved dies, he then ceases to exist as God's punishment.

Annihilationism. There's no eternal punishment

known. You just cease to exist.

But that's not what the Word of God means by that.

What's more consistent is that the second death speaks of you

being separated from the life of God, you being removed from the

good presence of God, and you enduring eternal punishment

instead. Why is he saying this to this

group of believers? Because again, death is

imminent. It's just around the corner.

And he wanted, he wants to let them know that dying in this

life is not the worst thing. Dying in the next life is you

can face this. Why?

Because I'm waiting on the other side and I have the crown of

life in my hands. And remember, you've been spared

from the second death. This is temporal.

I wonder if the Christians in Smyrna took this letter to

heart. I think they did.

There is an ancient church father by the name of Polycarp.

He was directly discipled by John himself.

Saint John who wrote this letter.

He lived in the mid to late 1st century.

Going into the early 2nd century, Polycarp became a

Bishop in the church in Smyrna. Persecution broke out from the

Roman government and they were looking for Polycarp.

The Christians loved him and so they try to hide him, and they

did so successfully for some time.

Finally, through betrayal, they found Polycarp's whereabouts.

And when they came to him in that farmhouse, the soldiers

knocked on his door and he welcomed them like a friend.

He actually offered them food and drink.

He must be hungry, so he invites them in and these soldiers have

a bite to eat and he asked permission.

Will you give me some time to pray?

Stunned by his gentleness, the Roman soldiers agreed to it.

And so he goes into the other room and he prays, and they hear

him praying, and he prays for two hours.

He prays for the believers, he prays for the church, he prays

for himself. And he's getting his heart ready

to meet his Savior. Oh, there's so many details to

this. I encourage you to make it your

afternoon reading today. I'll go to the main part.

He eventually is brought before the proconsul and the proconsul

realizing his old age gives him the chance.

Look, just just we can't deny Jesus Christ, declare Caesar is

Lord and here's what Polycarp said.

Quote 86 years have I served him and he has done me no wrong.

How can I blasphemy my king and my savior?

You don't understand Polycarp. We'll release the wild beasts.

OK, bring it on my translation. He wasn't afraid of the wild

beast. OK, We're going to burn you at

the stake. And when I read this, when I was

reminded of this, I wondered if what came to Polycarp's mind is

how John concluded this letter. The one who conquers will not be

hurt by the second death. Listen to his words.

Quote. You threaten me with fire which

burns for an hour and then is extinguished.

But you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgement and

eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly.

Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.

I guess he said something similar.

There's debate about what happened once Polycarp was

brought to the stake before an audience.

Some claim that when they were ready to nail him to that piece

of wood so that Christians or anybody that they were putting

to death would not escape. And he said, no need to nail me,

Jesus will keep me. Others argue that the flames did

not even touch him, that they kind of encircled him.

What most believe is that the fire did not kill Polycarp.

So they took a spear and struck him in the heart.

And again, some say that it's very blood that gushed out,

extinguished the fire. This is Christianity, and as

I've mentioned before, one of the main things that makes this

church so unique is the absence of any criticism from Christ.

And then it hit me, why? Well, some would say it's

because they're suffering. So there's there's more need for

assurance and encouragement than pointing out any faults.

Well, it's better to prepare a people to meet Christ.

I'm sure that would be the heart of Christ if there was some

serious sin. That doesn't seem to be the

reason why. Instead, I think one of the

reasons this church was pure and their practical holiness is

because they suffered. Because suffering and trials and

difficulties have a way of purging us and cleaning us and

polishing us. This church was suffering and

they would know more suffering. And the Bible tells us in so

many places of the sanctifying glory that comes when you

embrace it in faith. I guess you can say another

reason why we shouldn't fear suffering is because if exercise

well, it will make you and I see clear and shine brighter.

For the glory of God, let's pray.

Well, we thank you that you've reminded us that through many

tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God, and if our

suffering would be slander or being LED to fire, help us be

overcomers. May our faith persevere until

the end. And Lord, today we've gathered

as your church to reflect on what you have done for us so

that we can overcome the second death and that you have

reinterpreted. You have translated death in

this life to be the entryway into true life.

For this, O Lord, we are eternally grateful and we come

to worship you as we eat at your table.

Prepare our hearts Lord, to remember that it's not because

of what we have done, it's not by our own merit, it's because

you have become a substitute and we are saved because you've

loved us. We give you glory and thanks as

we celebrate together now in Jesus name, Amen.

Amen. Well, the team will now come up

here and assist us in our singing so that we can focus

even better on what we are about to partake in.

So let's stand together. Let's worship the Lord.