TEXT:  Rev. 2:8-11

INTRODUCTION:

A.  LETTERS TO CHURCHES OF ASIA.

          1.  Name the 7 churches.

          2.  Good information for us (1 Cor. 16:1;  4:17;  14:33).

B.  FORM OF THE LETTERS:

          1.  Salutation.                                                        5.  Warning or threat of judgment.

          2.  Jesus’ self designation.                                      6.  Exhortation.

          3.  Commendation of good.                                   7.  Promise.

          4.  Condemnation of evil.

C.  WE WILL FOLLOW THIS FORM.

I.      TO SMYRNA.

A.  ONLY MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

B.  FANATIC EMPEROR WORSHIP..

C.  THE IDOL DIONYSUS WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED AND COME BACK

          TO LIFE IN SMYRNA (Fausset's Bible Dictionary).

II.     JESUS’ SELF DESCRIPTION (vs. 8).

A.  THE FIRST AND THE LAST (1:17).

          1.  God described himself (1:8).

          2.  Eternal present tense (Ex. 3:14;  John 8:58).  “I AM …”

          3.  O. T. testimony (Isa. 9:6;  7:14).

          4.  N. T. testimony (John 1:14, 1-3;  Col. 2:9).

B.  HIS RELATION TO LIFE AND DEATH (1:18).  THE KEYS.

          1.  Was dead – now alive.

                   a.  Died for us (Rom. 5:8).

                   b.  Raised for us (Rom. 5:9-10).

                   c.  Witnessed (Acts 2:32;  1 Cor. 15:5-12).

          2.  The Keys è Authority.

                   a.  Ends the devil’s rule (Heb. 2:14-15).

                   b.  His voice (John 5:28-29).

                   c.  Our model (1 Cor. 15:20-26).

          3.  Our Victory.

                   a.  Over sin and death (1 Cor. 15:54-57).

                   b.  Our hope (1 Pet. 1:3).

C.  HE ADDRESSES THE NEED OF A DISTRESSED CHURCH.

III.    COMMENDATION – THOU ART RICH (vs. 9).

A.  “I KNOW…”  (Psa. 139).  GOD & JESUS KNOW (1 Pet. 5:6-7).

B.  PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCE:

          1.  Tribulation.

                   a.  False Jews.  Brethren? (Rom. 2:28-29).

                   b.  Error (Gal. 1:6-9;  5:1-4).

                   c.  Persecution at their hand (Gal. 5:7, 11;  6:12-13)

                   d.  Or on their account (Phil. 1:15-17).

                   e.  True Israel è God’s people (Gal. 6:15;  Phil. 3:1-3).

          2.  Poverty (Luke 12:15;  1 Tim. 6:16).

          3.  HOW WERE THEY RICH?

IV.   NO REBUKE OF EVIL.

V.    WARNING (vs. 10) è ABOUT TO SUFFER (2 Tim. 3:12). 

A.  FEAR NOT!

          1.  They are limited in power (Matt. 10:28).

          2.  Fear not their fear (1 Pet. 3:13-15).

          3.  He is able to deliver (2 Tim. 4:16-18).

B.  CAST INTO PRISON FOR TRIAL (James. 1:2-4).

C.  TRIBULATION FOR 10 DAYS (Rom. 8:18;  1 Pet. 1:6-7).

VI.   EXHORTATION (vs. 10).

A.  BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH (Luke 21:16-19;  Matt. 16:25-26;  Rev. 12:11)..

B.  I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE CROWN OF LIFE (James 1:12).

VII.  TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH: (vs. 11)

A.  NOT HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH.

          1.  The first all must experience (Heb. 9:27).

          2.  The 2^nd?  (Rev. 20:14-15;  21:8).

B.  Rev. 20:6.  THOSE OF THE 1^st RESURRECTION NOT HURT EITHER.  WHAT IS THIS?

          1.  Eph. 2:1.  Dead in sin. (Eph. 2:5;  4:17-18;  1 Tim. 5:6).

          2.  Eph. 2:5  Raised together with Christ (Col. 3:1).

          3.  To a new life!  When? (Rom. 6:3-7)

                           WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED!

CONCLUSION:

A.  DOES THIS DESCRIBE US AS A CONGREGATION?

          1.  Commendation?

          2.  Condemnation?

C.  HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THE 1^ST RESURRCTION?