Words from The First and The Last
The book of revelations records,
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of 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. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”Revelations 2:8-11
As I noted in my previous blog through the book of Revelations Jesus speaks to seven churches.
Scholars have noted that these churches can be taken as symbolic of churches even church movements, that are around today and have existed throughout history. Additionally they can be personalized by individuals.
The Second church mentioned is Smyrna. That was located at a major port city just north of Ephesus. The Imperial Roman cult was presence in the city as was a large number of Jews.
Here Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, “who died and came to life again.”
He notes that the church has gone through affliction and poverty yet is rich. It notes that they are slandered by people claiming to be Jews but were not.
It also offers words of comfort for anyone undergoing persecution for their faith today saying,
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Today around the world there are churches and individuals who are as one person said “in dangerous neighbourhoods”. Areas of the world where being a follower of Jesus Christ can get you put in jail, attacked or even murdered.
It is said one Christian is murdered for their faith every seven minutes somewhere in the world. Many more are put in prison.
If you are a Christian living in the west that is not undergoing persecution take time to remember the persecuted church. Men and Women who are suffering for their faith. Take time to pray and if you are in the western democracies especially write to your member of parliament, or prime minister. Ask them to bring up the plight of persecuted Christians. It can’t hurt but it may just do a lot of good.
Perhaps even bring up to your pastor and Church congregation the need to keep praying and doing what you can to help believers in Christ that are being persecuted.
Please think about it.
The book of revelations records,
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of 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. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”Revelations 2:8-11
As I noted in my previous blog through the book of Revelations Jesus speaks to seven churches.
Scholars have noted that these churches can be taken as symbolic of churches even church movements, that are around today and have existed throughout history. Additionally they can be personalized by individuals.
The Second church mentioned is Smyrna. That was located at a major port city just north of Ephesus. The Imperial Roman cult was presence in the city as was a large number of Jews.
Here Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, “who died and came to life again.”
He notes that the church has gone through affliction and poverty yet is rich. It notes that they are slandered by people claiming to be Jews but were not.
It also offers words of comfort for anyone undergoing persecution for their faith today saying,
“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Today around the world there are churches and individuals who are as one person said “in dangerous neighbourhoods”. Areas of the world where being a follower of Jesus Christ can get you put in jail, attacked or even murdered.
It is said one Christian is murdered for their faith every seven minutes somewhere in the world. Many more are put in prison.
If you are a Christian living in the west that is not undergoing persecution take time to remember the persecuted church. Men and Women who are suffering for their faith. Take time to pray and if you are in the western democracies especially write to your member of parliament, or prime minister. Ask them to bring up the plight of persecuted Christians. It can’t hurt but it may just do a lot of good.
Perhaps even bring up to your pastor and Church congregation the need to keep praying and doing what you can to help believers in Christ that are being persecuted.
Please think about it.
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