Letter to the Church at Smyrna

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Letter to the Church at Smyrna

• Revelation 28-11

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(No Transcript)
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Introduction

• Smyrna, one of two churches that were not charged
  for a wrong.
• Take note of how the speaker is described for
  each church.
• Several different descriptions of the same
  person.
• Each describes Jesus in a way suitable for the
  letter sent to that church.
• i.e. Ephesus Jesus was in the midst of seven
  lampstands.
• If they did not repent He would take away their
  lampstand.

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The Letter to Smyrna

• Address To the Angel or Messenger.
• The Speaker
• The First and the Last Was before all things,
  created all things He will judge the world and
  will endure when all things are destroyed.
• Who was dead, and came to life His suffering and
  victory over His enemies.
• These characteristics will be key to His
  messaged.
• I Know Prov. 153He knows our works.

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What is Right with the Church

• Your Works
• They were diligent to do the works given by God
  for His church.
• We will be judged by our works (Rev. 2012).
• Whether we do good or bad (Eccl. 1214).
• Your Tribulation
• Note description of Jesuswho was dead.
• He had to endure what they were going through.
• He could understand their tribulation.
• But there is hope 1. He is alive, so will we be.
  2. He is the first and the last, and He is on our
  side.
• 2 Tim. 312 Matt. 511, 12.

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What is Right with the Church

• Suffering inflicted by Synagogue of Satan
• They were persecuted by those who claimed to be
  the children of God.
• Synagogue assembly, congregation (Strongs)
• There are such assemblies who claim to be of God,
  but their deeds prove them to be of Satan.
• You are of your father the devil (John 844).
• Such are those who persecute faithful children of
  God, as the Jews did to Jesus and the apostles.
• Poverty (but you are rich)
• Physically poor, Spiritually rich.
• As Jesus was physically poor in His death, but
  became rich in His life and makes others rich who
  come to Him.
• 2 Cor. 89 Regardless of our physical condition,
  we are rich when we holdfast to our faith in
  Christ.

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Admonition

• Nothing found wrong with the church.
• 210
• Fear none of those things which you are about to
  suffer.
• Fear not is a prominent exhortation Rom. 831
• Be faithful unto death All who walk godly will
  face some persecution.
• Those who overcome are those who are faithful
  unto death enduring faithfulness.

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Promised reward (vs. 10, 11).

• Crown of life.
• As Jesus is alive after His death, so we will be
  if we endure.
• We will be victorious in Him and receive our
  crown.
• Not hurt by second death.
• Second death explained in Rev. 2014, 15.
• Death (eternal separation) faced by those who are
  cast into the lake of fire.
• Though we may face physical death, eternally we
  will remain alive and not be affected by
  condemnation.
• We can be written in the book of life.

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Conclusion

• Two deaths described.
• Also two births Physical and spiritual.
• Those who enter into the second birth can be free
  from the second death.
• We do so by obeying the gospel, being born of
  water and spirit.
• Do you desire such hope?