OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION – PART 8 Listen to Audio

                                       July 12, 2009

 

2:8- moving to the church of Syrmna, Jesus characterizes Himself as

“the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.”-

this parallels vs.11- indicating Christ as Initiator and Consummator in His work as Mediator of God’s relation to the world (see part 5).   See Col.1:16 as well-

1) “by Him [Christ] all things were created..on earth”= Christ is the ultimate cause of creation.  

2) “All things were created through Him..” =Christ is the mediator of

this creation. 

3)“ …and for Him” = Christ is the goal or object

   This reality that Christ is cause, center and climax of God’s plan is also

discussed in Eph.1:4-11.

    Further, we are reminded of His great work of resurrection with the

words “who was dead and came to life” [ingressive aorist].

 

2:9- again, Christ begins with commendation of Smyrna by contrasting

their apparent circumstance with the unseen reality-“I know your works, tribulation, poverty (but you are rich)…”  Walvoord suggests the word for

“poverty” means abject poverty—perhaps they had been robbed for goods

as part of their persecution for being believers.  Throughout history, a considerable proportion of believers have been financially poor.

   “the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not..”

is likely to be understood as identifying Jews who have failed their legacy of spiritual heritage— see Rom.2:28-29 where the inward attitude is emphasized.  The added-“synagogue of Satan” may attribute the collective persecution of believers to these same Jews.  Often in Acts, persecution of believers was initiated by unsaved Jews. 

 

2:10- the present persecution will continue for “ten days”—it will be a

time of the testing of these believer’s faithfulness to Christ with reward –

“I will give you the crown of life”.  There must be a careful distinction

between eternal life as a free gift through grace and crown of life as a

given reward for personal sacrifice.  Christ calls them “be faithful until

death”—He calls them to steadfastness under such persecution for

His sake—a subject never far from our Lord- Matt.5:11, 44; 23:34; Lk.21:12;

John 15:20;  Mark 10:29-30 as well as echoed by Paul- Rom. 8:35, 12:14,

II Thess. 14;4; II Tim.3:11, 12.

  Persecution can be occasion of personal triumph:

1) Due to strength of inward conviction about what is right

2) Due to the enablement of the Holy Spirit’s power to sustain one’s life

3) Due to the confidence in the certainty of divine reward & commendation

 

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2:11  the same formula of challenge is made “He who has an ear…”

This repeated statement is a caution to not allow these valued words of

instruction from Christ to fall without regard.  No instruction from our Lord

is to be lightly treated.

  Symrna is one of two churches who are not rebuked (Philadelphia the other).

“He who overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death”- once

again, a promise is issued in relation to the application of instruction.

Some have inferred that this promised admits the possibility of losing or

forfeiting eternal life.  This reasoning claims that such a promise means

no believer has security of eternal life and that only those who “overcome” will enjoy security of eternal life.

   The wise response is to recall that difficult verses are to be interpreted

by simpler and less difficult verses.  Doctrine cannot be established by one

or two isolated verses that appear to contradict the larger body of material.  Multiple references in the NT clearly indicate a believer’s security (even in disobedience) and such security would NOT be disqualified by 2:11.

   “shall not be hurt of the second death” takes the truth of security for all believers and applies it more narrowly to these at Symrna who “overcome”.

The promise must be viewed as a complementary assurance, rather than a contrasting caution.