To the Church in Smyrna

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 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. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

Let us not get caught up in labels. We should know there is but one bride and one wedding and the Universal Church encompasses all labels, and administrations. The issue of being slandered is paramount in the opening verse.

It is interesting to note they have already suffered tribulations and poverty and yet warns them that their suffering is not over. While the term devil is used in their testing that lasts for only ten days might remind us of other scriptures that are familiar.

Mark 13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

We might want to connect these prophetic words but just because they sound familiar does not mean they are connected. So many times in history students of the word have said “He is coming!” They were wrong then and we should not get caught up in the hysteria just because it “sounds good”.

The larger issue for me in this reading is the dissimilarity with the first named church. He does not call them out for bad behavior and encourages them to remain faithful unto death. He who is faithful to the end of their own life receives a crown and that designation should not be seem to apply only to one church or one time in the life of any particular church, named or unnamed.

“The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” We all die eventually, unless we should live at the time of being caught up in the air. ref. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Our first death may or may not be painful but the second death will only be painful for those separated from God for all eternity.

Getting back to churches being led by Satan, we might see them as the falling away spoken of in prophecy, but do not count on it. Those churches might never have been founded by God. The falling away should be a warning that the faithful might suffer great illusions and fall away from the faith. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 speaks of rebellion and rebellion can only come from within the camp, not from without. Just because it has not happened to the church at Smyrna does not mean it cannot happen to any one of our local churches. We need to heed the warnings.

To the Church in Ephesus

 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

The Lord begins with what has been done properly. Works, patience, avoidance of evil and avoiding false witness and fakes are all important. We can only view this in comparison to our own churches to ensure we have not failed to make these priorities. He ends this portion with prairie in their tireless effort to hold up His name.

Then comes the not so good news.

Love wains over time and the zeal that they once had has not inspired the next generation as the church aged. This is a warning that is difficult to hold to the next generation since our love is always less than perfect in performance in comparison to God’s perfect love. We must help the next generation understand not to judge God’s love based on our love performance. God has to be seen and we must not make the focus of love be about us.

Repentance is required on our part to keep our own hearts in love for God. Knowing we are not perfect does not excuse us from doing what is necessary to do better. Hate the works of churches that adopted false teaching and led their members in unhealthy practices that God has rejected over and over again in history. The church does not have the right to redefine sin and allow themselves to be infected.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

This is right in the sight of God, take heed.