The Church at Smyrna in Revelation | church of Christ

The Church at Smyrna in Revelation | church of Christ

Lessons From the Book of Revelation Speaker Sermon Title   (Right Click to Download) Media Bobby Stafford Smyrna (The suffering church) Revelation 2:8-11  Lesson 5       The Letter to the Church at Smyrna Lesson 5 Text:  Revelation 2:8-11  Body:  Verse 8 The city of Smyrna was a major city of commerce about thirty-five miles north of Ephesus.  It was a center for Caesar (emperor) worship. Christ is described as “the first and the last.”  See:  Revelation 1:11  Christ is eternal, the emperor isn’t! For descriptions of Christ’s eternal nature, see Micah 5:2 and  John 1:1-2. Jesus was “dead, but is now alive.”  Death could not keep a hold on Him.  Acts 2:23-24 Verse 9 Jesus had complete knowledge of all that went on in Smyrna.  He could read the hearts and minds of all. The Christians had suffered greatly.  They had been “crushed” by those who hated them because they had not bowed down to the emperor.  I Peter 4:12-16 They were in poverty, destitute, due to their faithfulness to Christ.  Hebrews 10:34 They had something better.  James 2:5 Some Jews had bowed down to the emperor.  “synagogue of Satan” Verse 10 The Christian life is not an easy one.  Face trials with courage.  Matthew 10:28, Luke 6:26 The real source of all the trials was Satan.  He would bring more persecution upon them. “Ten days” This was a symbol for the time of persecution.  While they would undergo great persecution, it would be short compared to eternity.  II Corinthians 4:17 “Be faithful” even to the point of death!  This shows the sacrifice that may be required.  Matthew 10:21-22 The reward is “the crown of life.”  It is one that will never wear out.  I Corinthians 9:24-25, I Peter 5:4  Those who endure persecutions and truly love the Lord will be rewarded.  II Timothy 4:8, James 1:12 Verse 11 The promise is to those who overcome.  This is a key phrase in the book of Revelation.  Those who overcome are those who win out over tribulations.  They are not defeated by them. “Second death” is the final separation from God at the Day of Judgment.  Revelation 21:8, II Thessalonians 1:9 Those who overcome will have eternal life in Heaven. Bobby Stafford  More Sermons & Studies

Church of Christ Lessons on the Revelation of Jesus Christ 1.  Understanding Revelation 2.  Symbolic Objects in Revelation 3.  Understanding the Numerical Symbolism in Revelation 4.  Identifying the Opposition Characters in Revelation 5.  John's Introduction to the Churches of Asia 6.  John's Vision of Jesus Christ 7. The Church who Left Her First Love, Ephesus 8.  Smyrna, the Suffering Church 9.  Pergamum, the church in Hell's Headquarter 10.  Thyatira, the church that Condoned Sin 11. Sardis (The Dead Church) 12. Philadelphia (The Church With Opportunity) 13.  Laodicea (The Lukewarm Church) 14.  Letter to Your Church 15.  John's Throne Vision (chapter 4) 16.  God the Redeemer Revealed  (chapter 5) 17.  God the Avenger of His Children (Chapter 6) 18.  Who Will Be Able To Stand  (Chapter 7) 19.  The First Four Trumpets (Chapter 8)20.  The Fifth Trumpet (Chapter 9:1-12) 21.  The Sixth Trumpet Announcement (Chapter 9:13-21) 22. The Little Book and the Unutterable Thunders (Rev 10) 23.  The Seventh Trumpet Announcement (Rev 11) 24. The Conflict (Revelation 12) 25.  Revelation 13 (Identification of the First Beast) 26.  Revelation 13 (Identification of the Second Beast) 27.  Chapter 14 (The Victorious Lamb and the Redeemed) 28.  Revelation 14 (The Turning Point) 29.  Revelation 14 (The Sickle and the Winepress) 30.  Chapter 15 (Comfort for the Saints) 31.  Chapter 16 (Bowls of Wrath) 32.  Chapter 16 (The Battle of Armageddon) 33.  Chapter 17 (The Scarlet Woman) 34.  Chapter 18 (Fallen  is Babylon) 35.  King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Chapter 19) 36.  The Fall of Satan  (Chapter 20) 37.  Heaven, the Home of the Soul  (Chapter 21) 38.  The Spirit and the Bride Say Come  (Chapter 22) 39.  The Dating of the Revelation Old Testament Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy | Joshua | Judges | Ruth | 1 Samuel | 2 Samuel   1 Kings | 2 Kings | 1 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles | Ezra | Nehemiah | Esther | Job | Psalms | Proverbs  Ecclesiastes | Song of Solomon | Isaiah | Jeremiah | Lamentations | Ezekiel | Daniel | Hosea | Joel  Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Micah | Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah | Haggai | Zechariah | Malachi  New Testament Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | Acts | Romans | 1 Corinthians | 2 Corinthians | Galatians Ephesians | Philippians | Colossians | 1 Thessalonians | 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy | 2 Timothy | Titus | Philemon | Hebrews | James 1 Peter | 2 Peter | 1 John | 2 John | 3 John | Jude | Revelation Home | Church of Christ Sermons | Online Bible | Church of Christ Bible Studies Daily Bible Reader | Bible Reference | Plan of Salvation | FAQS What Does the church of Christ Teach?   The material found within this website is free to everyone. The price was paid when Jesus died on the cross. Feel free to use any of the content found within this website for the spreading of the Gospel to all.  Revelation 21:5-7 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.