Endurance of the Faithful

Churches of Revelation 2 - Smyrna

 

The sun beat down on the hillside.

The leaves did little to shade the men as they walked along a path between the rows of trees. The sun was at their backs as the faced eastward away from the city.

 

Turning back occasionally as they walked, they could see the buildings of the temple standing elegantly as a symbol of God’s presence among His people.

The giant stones stacked one upon the other

gave the residents of Judea hope when they saw them.

But stones like these had fallen before, and they would again come tumbling down.

 

“Do you not see all these things?”

 

The Teacher stopped walking long enough to turn and,

with an outstretched arm pointing toward the city behind them,

demolished the confidence His students had in the beauty of such a place.

 

“Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

(Matthew 24:2)

 

The thoughts of the disciples were brought back to reality.

Their Master, who had walked with them for the past several years,

would soon be taken from them.

They didn’t fully understand what would happen in only a matter of days,

but they knew that their Lord had promised to come again when the time was right.

 

Jesus sat down on the side of the Mount of Olives

in the quiet of the afternoon among the olive trees,

His twelve companions spread out nearby,

resting and talking among themselves

about the things they had just heard from the mouth of God.

 

A few of the disciples who were nearby began to curiously ask questions of their Rabbi

about future times that they could not see for themselves.

 

“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be a sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

(Matthew 24:3)

 

Jesus always had the right answer to give, even when it wasn’t the expected answer.

He opened His mouth and began to answer them.

 

Matthew 24:4-6

… “Take heed that no one deceives you.

5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

 

He continued to describe what He called “the beginning of sorrows,”

most of which we have not yet experienced.

The words of our Savior recorded here are to serve as warnings to us to prepare for such a time. 

 

How can we possible prepare for what is to come?

 

How can we prepare for “wars and rumors of wars”?

How can we prepare for “famines, pestilences” far worse than what the world

is presently experiencing? What about “earthquakes in various places”?

 

The preparation that the disciples of Jesus Christ should be doing

is not focused on physical events.

Yes, of course we continue to work and live and plan for the immediate future

even though we are not guaranteed even tomorrow.

But we prepare spiritually for the events ahead which we do not have a specific timeline for.

 

Luke 21:12-15

12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.

13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

 

Jesus said that He would give His disciples the right words to speak

at the moment they would need those words.

But in order to bring those words to mind and give them the courage to speak those words,

they would first have to know those words.

The words from God would first have to be learned.

Thankfully, like us, they had read and heard “the Holy Scriptures

which are able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”

(2 Timothy 3:15).

Knowledge of the word of God is a start.

 

In addition to having the intimate knowledge of the word of God,

the disciples of Jesus Christ also need a connection with God Himself,

in their hearts and minds, to be able to hear His guidance and be able to understand His will. 

Thankfully, not long after that, Jesus promised His disciples

would “receive power when the Holy Spirit” would be given to them on the Day of Pentecost.

It would be at that time when God would begin to dwell in them and not just with them.

This is the same Spirit which dwells in all of the children of God,

those who have accepted His calling, who’s ears and eyes have been opened.

 

Jesus continued in His description of the end of days,

the time leading up to His return which we wait for diligently.

 

He talked of betrayal and offense, hatred among family members,

false prophets bringing deception, and the increase of lawlessness.

As He spoke He paused at moments to give the men encouragement

because He knew that their minds would start to wander into places of fear.

 

Luke 21:18-19

18 But not a hair of your head shall be lost.

19 By your patience possess your souls.

 

This courage was needed since the disciples had much work ahead of them.

This was work that would not be done in a day or a month or even a couple of years.

This encouragement needed to be tempered with patience.

 

Matthew 24:13-14

13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

 

Endurance is key. The disciples of Jesus Christ must be in this for the long game.

 

One of the twelve, who sat on the mountain

and listened to the Lord describe treacherous times ahead,

experienced many of these things in his own lifetime once his work began.

On into his old age he lived through many difficult trials

which most of us have yet to see with our own eyes.

 

This man became a writer and wrote as he was inspired to do so.

His pen was used to put in print the words of his Rabbi which were brought again

to remembrance many years later through the power of God dwelling in his heart and mind.

 

He wrote passages such as:

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1-5)

 

Inspirationally this man recalled how the Son of God had stooped down to wash his feet.

He wrote of miracles of healings and miracles of forgiveness.

He wrote of the oneness between the Father and the Son,

and the desire for oneness with us that they have.

 

This disciple, John, finished his first inspired piece by writing:

 

“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

 

Alone on an island sometime near the end of his life,

John continued to be inspired by God through visions.

These visions he wrote in letters to some of the congregations of his day.

These letters, of course, serve as guidance and encouragement

for the disciples of this same Jesus Christ to this day.

 

One letter was inspired with the same message of courage and endurance

given to John and his fellow disciples all those years ago on the Mount of Olives.

 

Revelation 2:8-11

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

 

John was close to Jesus as they walked together along many roads.

John asked many questions and listened very intently to the answers.

Many times in his writings he faithfully described the true identity of the Messiah

as he did here.

 

No doubt John recalled how his close friend, his Teacher, his God

had laid down His own life for the sins of others.

He no doubt recalled the day Jesus hung on the stake until He breathed His last.

The fact that Jesus died and rose again no doubt came into John’s thoughts

as he wrote these words from the Messiah for all to read.

Jesus Christ’s authority and identity as the Savior of mankind

was once again preserved in writing.

 

9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

 

An understanding and relatable statement from our High Priest

who “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

This congregation in Smyrna dealt with the pressures of Rome and the Caesars

who thought themselves to be gods and expected everyone to worship them.

The true God does not force us into worship of Him, but gives us the choice,

and is on our side as our advocate.

He wants us to be successful.

 

The brethren in Smyrna were called out by God from an old city rich with culture.

A place where rulers were worshiped and people who were different than the masses,

people who stood their ground against moral depravity, were not very well liked.

They had gone through many trials,

standing up for true worship even in the face of direct persecution.

 

They didn’t have much in the way of earthly riches.

In fact at that time some of the people in the congregation might have been homeless,

having to make choices between having a meal and maintaining their faith.

But their God had made them rich in the blessings to come.

 

One of John’s own students, Polycarp,

who had been encouraged by the very same words we read today,

courageously defended the faith.

 

He stood up against false teachers from Rome in the debate over which to celebrate:

Easter or the Passover.

His story of courage came after the writing of the Bible.

The pages of history books give us the details of his strength in difficult times.

 

While Polycarp was triumphant in the eyes of God,

he was later burned to death for his disagreement.

Many others from this same place went through similar persecutions

and yet there would be more testing of their endurance to come.

 

Jesus had words of courage and words of endurance to give to these poor people

who were rich in “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys

and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Luke 6:20).

 

Revelation 2:10-11

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

 

Those who have been given an ear to hear these words from the mouth of the Messiah

can glean the same courage that was given to the congregation in the city of Smyrna.

 

One day we will have our own spiritual endurance tested through tribulation.

 

We are being called upon to become faithful until death, the first death,

a physical death that is only a temporary sleep.

Just like John and his student Polycarp, just like our spiritually rich brethren of this ancient city, we’ve been offered a chance to win a crown.

 

The crown referenced here is a crown of victory that is won in an athletic competition.

Life for a Christian is a competition against sin, against self, against, temptation,

“against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,

against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

It is like a long distance race which can only be won by those

who have trained with their Teacher, if the rules are followed,

and if the runners have great endurance.

 

2 Timothy 2:3-5

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

 

The crown is more than simple laurel leaves or precious metals.

The prize at the end of this race is life eternal which is awarded to those who work with God

in overcoming sin time and time again.

The runners of this race must be willing to get back up off the ground and dust themselves off after they have stumbled and fallen, and continue the race.

“For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again,

But the wicked shall fall by calamity” (Proverbs 24:16).

 

Who is there for us reaching out His hand to help us up when we are down?

Who is always on our side, shouting our name to keep us running strong?

Who’s word lights a way for us when we are running on darkened roads?

Who gives us the strength when we are feeling depleted from running for so long?

 

Deuteronomy 7:9

9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

 

“He who calls [us] is faithful, who also will” keep His promise

to endure with us through hardship. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

In this race we are running, we are never promised a smooth and easy path.

Instead we are promised that obstacles will come,

but we will be given the courage to endure each and every one of them.

 

Philippians 1:3-6

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 

The prize makes the race worth running for.

The crown makes enduring persecution worth the competition.

 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

 

Does it settle your mind to know that this is a race of endurance?

Does it give you courage to know that you are not in this alone? 

 

Hebrews 11:13-17

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.

15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

 

There are many who have gone before us in this race.

Those who have been left destitute, had been tormented, stricken and scourged,

tempted and slain, awaiting a better deliverance in the grave.

And many more will be asked to endure similarly as that day of Jesus Christ approaches.

Many wonderful examples of people who have already endured and will be awarded a crown.

 

It should give us courage to endure,

knowing that there are those who have already finished their portion of this endurance race.

They haven’t yet received their prize, but when they are awakened in the resurrection

that crown of life will be waiting for them.

 

Hebrews 12:1-4

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

 

As that old disciple of Jesus Christ sat for long hours

writing carefully every word that His Teacher spoke to Him in visions,

his mind no doubt went back to those words which he heard when face to face with the Christ

on the side of that mountain all those years ago.

 

The devastation that would be brought upon the world.

A time of false words spread abroad by many who would come claiming to be the Messiah.

A time in which, “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;

but for the” sake of those who run this race with endurance,

“those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

 

All the times he had been taken away in chains,

or yelled at by angry crowds for the words which he spoke that were not his own.

All those moments, when he endured by relying on the courage given to him,

seemed like they were to be his last.

 

He came to understand that his work was not yet over.

His race had not yet been completed.

Not until he had written down the words of courage and endurance for others to be inspired by.

 

In the quiet of his island prison, John longed for the triumphal sound

which would herald in the coming of the next age, the age of the Kingdom of God.

I wonder how often he stared across the water looking for the “sign of the Son of Man”

that would “appear in heaven” when the people of the earth would see with their own eyes

“the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”

(Matthew 24:30).

 

John longed for the “great sound of a trumpet” when he would once again see His Lord’s face,

and the faces of his companions who had already finished the race.

He longed for the day when all the elect of God would be “gathered together”

to meet their Lord.

 

But into his old age he was asked to endure onward.

Pen to paper, stacks of copies to be sent out when the time was right.

Pages of truth and inspiration to be read and taken to heart by other runners

who might just be at the start of this race of endurance.

 

This race is ours.

We are among those who have been called upon to endure.

Like John, and those faithful people in Smyrna that he gave great encouragement to,

we long for the day when we can say, as Paul had written at the end of his life:

 

2 Timothy 4:7-8

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.