The Suffering Church

SMYRNA: the suffering church.

Christ = the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

The compliment

Christ tells them, I know your works, tribulation and poverty ...be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The suffering saints at Smyrna are scheduled for crowns! In the New Testament, crowns always refer to rewards.

Crown of life … Found here, in the letter to Smyrna, and in James 1:12. It awaits those who suffer and endure temptation, persecution and trials.

Incorruptible Crown … Found in 1 Corinthians 9:25. It awaits those who have run their race well in living for Christ.

Crown of Rejoicing … Found in 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

It has been called the soul winner’s crown. It awaits those who have faithfully helped to get the Word of God out, and have helped precious souls to come to Christ.

Crown of Righteousness … Found in 2 Timothy 4:8.

It will be given to those who love his appearing, who are eagerly watching and waiting for Christ to come.

Crown of glory … Found in 1 Peter 5:4.

It is the teacher and/or pastor's crown. It will be awarded to those faithful saints who have diligently fed God’s people with the Word of God.

The Lord concludes

He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. Hebrews 9:27

It was the avoidance of the second death that Jesus was referring to when he said to Martha;

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die [experience the second death]. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26

Dr. D. L. Moody, speaking of the necessity of being born again through faith in Jesus Christ, said, 

"He who is born once will die twice, but he who is born twice will die once". Christ assures his suffering believers at Smyrna that, as overcomers, they will never be hurt by the second death … the only real and permanent loss mankind has to fear.

7 Love letters

 

Have you ever thought about the 7 letters to the churches in the book of Revelation as Love letters?

I haven't. But I came across a  sermon where a pastor talks about the letters as "love letters" It is thought provoking since most of the sermons I have heard from the book  of Revelation have been about rebuke and judgment; thunder and hail; fire and destruction. If  I look at the letters as love letters from Jesus it gives a different perspective. The love of Jesus forces him to take action, and he tells the truth about what has been good and what is bad; and he also makes a prescription how to recover and start anew.

EPHESUS  where love has grown cold.

These things  says He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands. This description emphasizes that Christ is the head of the Church.

The church of Ephesus was:

a working church

a separated church.

a theologically sound church.

Jesus  commends them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans which he also hate. Jesus is pleased with a church that stands firmly against  heresies.

THE PROBLEM

… Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Their hearts had grown cold toward the Savior

The recipe for the cure:

First,  Remember

Second, Repent.

Third,  Do the first works.

Read his Word

Talk to him  in prayer

Tell others about him

Those are first works.

THE ADMONITION AND THE PROMISE

Hear what the Spirit says to the churches! 

The promise:

To him that overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

1 John 5:5,

Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

An obstacle?

Am I an obstacle to you?  Do I block the way so you can not see Jesus,  but only my mistakes? Am I the reason you are not saved? Am I the excuse that you use when the issue comes up?
"I do not care about salvation. Just look at her! She is the reason I do not want to be saved"
 
If so, I want to explain one thing. That argument does not hold. My salvation and forgiveness of my sins is between God and me. Your salvation and forgiveness of your sins are between God and you. I am a sinner saved by grace.I am forgiven by God. Yes, I get to work on my holiness, but as a pardoned sinner. I am sinless before God, for God sees me through Jesus. If you look at me you see a thousand reasons for not saying "Ye"s to Jesus but he isn't asking you to look at me but to look at him. What he did for you. What he is doing  now and what he will do in a very near future. 
He is the important one not me. He has all the answers to your questions. He has all the solutions to your problems. He is it! The perfect reason to accept salvation through him and to begin a new life with him.
 And ... I'm sorry to say it ... but you have to take me along with you ... as your sister in Christ. With faults and failures and all. Because you will join a bunch of broken sinners who are restored into a new life in Christ. The old is gone the Bible says and something very new has come. The new life in Christ in the Holy Spirit. We become alive in our spirits with the Holy Spirit. 
You might dislike me for one or another reason that I'm not aware of. But I am not the problem here; I am of no importance to your decision to follow Jesus the rest of your life. Because it is up to you alone and how you deal with his call to come to him. It is for better and for worse; from this day on and forever. 
A bride doesn't ask her friends if she should marry the bridegroom. She has to decide for herself. But when you get married you will get the whole package; and along comes all the relatives whether you like it or not. And it is a very big family. It spans over the entire earth with all colors, shapes and forms. And the family is "under construction" 
So don't blame me and my faults.  It doesn't hold in the eyes of Him who sits on the throne and who knows ever heart inside out. I am much aware of that I fall short in my Christian life but I'm working on it every single day. He doesn't let me forget anything that he thinks I should work on and believe me he doesn't give up.
Sincerely your, Ida

"I am alive for evermore"

Revelation 1:12-18

12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the chest with a golden girdle.

14 His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

16 He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shines in His strength.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

I have searched for pictures to add to the entries as I follow the chapters in the book of Revelation but it isn't  easy to find pictures that are relevant and can describe  what is written. 

I have found a site with very special art but since it is a matter of copyright and permission to use one or buy all on a CD, I refer to the web site and you can look for yourself.

http://www.revelationillustrated.com/shop/

You can also find a Bible study here if you like to study on your own:

http://www.biblebookofrevelation.com/chapters.htm

I will focus on how Jesus is described and what he says. After all; here you have it: 

The final chapters of mankind and planet earth, and  Jesus  is in control. He  will
complete everything according to his plan no matter what powerful men might think they can decide or control.

Sincerely yours, Ida

(picture from Goggle and I'm afraid I don't know who the artist is. The web site written on the  picture doesn't say either))