Protected

Revelation 2:8-11 “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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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.”
 
THE Smyrna church is second of the seven. Note Jesus again affirms his resurrection authority: “of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” How often do we consider Jesus’ teachings as coming from the eternal, resurrected Son of God? Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Would this true consideration change your faith walk?
   The everlasting God is a Protector. Deuteronomy 23:14a For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. The church is the “camp” for his people today. Jesus, Lord and brother, assures Smyrna he knows of their trouble. People of the world spoke evil of the church. We know that today, too, don’t we? The battle is always engaged. Our work is to defend the gospel’s power amid a slandering enemy. We can only call people to faith when we are faithful to the First and Last.
   That’s why Jesus inspires and comforts Smyrna. “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” For ten days they will experience persecution that could lead to death for some. What if your pastor tells you that? You’d quickly dismiss his exaggeration. But this is Truth. The one who died and came to life again prepares us for the possibility we must offer our lives to the church as many have throughout history. Graciously, then, he promises a “crown of life” awaits the Lord’s faithful martyrs.
   Jesus again commands the church to “hear”. And trust in your heart that “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” The One who lives promises death will not hurt believers. Yes, both nonbelievers and believers die a first death. But the faithful who die in Christ will not die the second death, which is Jesus’ final judgment over unbelievers.
   Yes, the Everlasting God will protect his own forever. He has said so. He has died to make it so. Believe him and live.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your great words of life everlasting to John. Amen.