Faithful unto Death (Revelation 2:8-11)
Shawn walked into the Dale Ridge church building one Sunday, and I set up a Bible study with him that morning. Shawn came to understand that he had been properly baptized, but he had been living and worshipping in error. He repented of his sin, and he identified with the Dale Ridge church.
Shawn continued to study and to grow, but he began to miss worship sporadically. And it didn’t take long for his absenteeism to grow more frequent. He stopped returning my phone calls, but his wife called me to say Shawn was having an affair and had moved out of the house. A couple weeks later, Cathy called me to say that Shawn had died of a heart attack at his mistress’s home.
How many people have you seen become unfaithful to Jesus? How many of you have seen your family members become unfaithful? On the other hand, how many people have you seen come back home? Did any of you live unfaithfully before you came home? How many people have you seen remain faithful after their baptism?
Jesus said that you must remain faithful. He said, “You are faithful regardless of the consequences.”
Scripture (Revelation 2:8-11)
verse 8:
Jesus “died and came back to life.” Jesus would ask the Christians at Smyrna to remain faithful in the face of death. Knowing he had conquered death would bring them great comfort!
verse 10:
These Christians did not need to fear what they were about to suffer. The devil—not the Jews and not the Romans—would soon throw some of them into prison. In the modern world, prisons are for punishment. But, in the first century, prisons only housed folks before trial, so people often left prison on the day of their execution.
If these Christians were faithful unto death, they would receive the crown of life. People often read this as though Jesus expects faithfulness until death—that’s not what he said. The preposition “unto” would best be translated as “up to and including.” What Jesus really said was, “Be faithful even if you have to die.” That was the reality for many first-century Christians.
If one were faithful unto death, he would receive “the crown of life.” “Of life” defines the crown; the crown one receives is life itself. Thus, the reward for dying for Jesus is life.
Application
“You are faithful regardless of the consequences.” Jesus expected the Christians in Smyrna to suffer horrible deaths if that’s what it took to remain faithful. You must also be willing to do whatever it takes to be faithful. What can you learn about faithfulness from Jesus’s words?
One: Party
Satan was the responsible Party for persecution. Why would Satan wish to make these Christians suffer? He wanted them to deny Jesus and go to hell.
Satan wants you to deny Jesus and go to hell. Notice his role in temptation:
- “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” (Lk 22:31).
- “The devil had . . . put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray” Jesus (Jn 13:2).
- “Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?’” (Acts 5:3).
- “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).
Each time you are tempted, Satan whispers to you. Each time you think your sin isn’t that big a deal, Satan whispers to you. Each time you think about leaving the Lord, Satan whispers to you. Why listen to the one who wants your eternal damnation?
Two: Proficiency
These Christians had Proficiency, for Jesus had told them precisely what would happen: “Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation” (Rev 2:10).
You can have the same Proficiency. I do not know if you will be persecuted, but I do know that you will suffer temptation. Jesus: “Temptations to sin are sure to come” (Lk 17:1). “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’” (Js 1:13); James said when, not if, one is tempted.
Don’t act surprised when the adversary comes to you and tempts you to sin. Be on your guard. Know that he is coming. Be prepared. Bathe yourself in prayer. Know the word. Be ready.
Three: Priority
These Christians needed to decide if life in Smyrna or life in heaven would be their Priority. You need to decide if life here or life in heaven will be your Priority.
You must choose between the two. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26). “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev 12:11).
About 100 years after Jesus spoke to the church at Smyrna, Polycarp was one of the bishops in Smyrna. At the age of 86, he was brought before the proconsul to deny Christ. When given that opportunity, Polycarp replied, “Eighty-six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” He was then told that he would be burned alive, and Polycarp replied that that fire would burn only a short while but there was another fire which would burn forever.
Polycarp knew his Priority. What is your Priority this morning?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.