A Study of Revelation 2:8-11

Part of the

Series

Presented on February 1, 2015

at Calvary Bible Church East

in Kalamazoo, Michigan

by

Calvary Bible Church East

5495 East Main St

Kalamazoo, MI 49048

CalvaryEast.com

Copyright © 2015 by Bryan Craddock

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the

ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),

copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good

News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved

— 1 —

In 2009 an art collector paid almost $120 million

for the iconic painting known as The Scream. This

haunting work of art created by Norwegian artist

Edvard Munch flows from his own life story. He lost

his mother at age 5, his father was emotionally

unstable, his family lived in poverty, and Edvard

himself was chronically ill as a child and struggled

with acute anxiety throughout his life. I think The

Scream is popular because it captures the powerful

effect of fear in our lives.

— 2 —

If left unchecked fear can enslave us, stifling any

joy and choking out every hopeful thought. What do

you fear? Embarrassment? Rejection? Pain? Injury?

Sickness? Poverty? Death? When we give in to those

fears, they begin to take the place of God in our lives.

Our fears are our idols.

Many people consider the contents of the book of

Revelation to be frightening, but it was written as an

encouragement for Christian believers. The original

recipients of the book faced tremendous opposition to

their faith, particularly in the city of Smyrna. Jesus

addressed them in Revelation 2:8-11.

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna

write: “The words of the first and the last,

who died and came to life. "'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

— 3 —

the churches. The one who conquers will not

be hurt by the second death.”

Most of us cannot imagine what it would be like to

face that kind of persecution for our faith. We might

assume that this letter does not really apply to our

situation, but at the center of the letter Jesus says,

“Do not fear.” Though we live in a country where there

is a general respect for the Christian faith, we are still

timid. A lot of Christians only become vocal when they

are angered by moral issues. Our fears keep us from

living for God and from boldly sharing the good news

of salvation in Christ.

Jesus’ letter to the church of Smyrna comforts us

with four thoughts to conquer our fears. He was

preparing the believers in Smyrna to be “faithful unto

death.” They faced the possibility of martyrdom. So if

these thoughts prepared those believers to conquer

the ultimate fear, they can certainly help us find

victory over lesser fears.

— 4 —

Thought 1: The Power of Jesus .................................... 5

Thought 2: The Compassion of Jesus .......................... 9

Thought 3: The Wisdom of Jesus .............................. 13

Thought 4: The Reward of Jesus ............................... 16

Conclusion .................................................................. 20

Questions for Further Reflection ............................... 22

— 5 —

When Neil Armstrong set foot on the surface of the

moon in 1969, it seemed as if mankind had broken

through a barrier showing American power in the

midst of the Cold War. Yet since that point, only

eleven other men have walked on the surface of the

moon, all of them over 40 years ago. That barrier was

stretched but not really broken.

Jesus, on the other hand, demonstrated his power

by shattering the ultimate barrier, death itself.

Revelation 2:8 shows us two ways that Jesus has

power over death. Jesus says, “And to the angel of the

— 6 —

church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and

the last, who died and came to life.’”

First, Jesus has power over death because of his

divine nature as the Son of God. When he calls

himself “the first and the last,” he is expressing the

fact that he is eternal. He has always existed and will

never cease to exist. He is not affected by death or

decay or age; his power is constant. This attribute of

God has always been a source of comfort for believers.

In Psalm 90:1-2, Moses said, “Lord, you have been our

dwelling place in all generations. Before the

mountains were brought forth, or ever you had

formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to

everlasting you are God.” Things in our world are

constantly changing, but God does not. We can have

stability in our lives, even in the face of death, by

having a relationship with the eternal God.

Jesus also has power over death because of his

resurrection. He describes himself in Revelation 2:8

as the one “who died and came to life.” Even though

Jesus is eternal, he became human in order to

experience death for us, but he did not stay dead. The

Bible speaks of a handful of people who were brought

— 7 —

back to life after they died. The Old Testament

prophets Elijah and Elisha both raised people from

the dead. Jesus also brought people back to life during

his ministry, but these miraculous resuscitations were

only temporary. All of these individuals died again,

but that is not what happened with Jesus. When he

appeared to John in Revelation 1, he said, “I died, and

behold I am alive forevermore.” Jesus broke through

that barrier completely.

Paul explains the powerful effect of Christ’s

resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22,

But in fact Christ has been raised from the

dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen

asleep. For as by a man came death, by a

man has come also the resurrection of the

dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in

Christ shall all be made alive.

The resurrection of Jesus was more than a one-time

event. He removed the barrier of death, so that

everyone can be resurrected. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-

55 Paul says,

“When the perishable puts on the

imperishable, and the mortal puts on

immortality, then shall come to pass the

— 8 —

saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed

up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your

victory? O death, where is your sting?’”

In those moments when we are tempted to fear

death or any lesser fear, we need to remember and

celebrate the power of Jesus.

— 9 —

The Bible is not complimenting us when it

compares us to sheep. Sheep are unable to find their

own food or water, they are prone to wander away and

get lost, and they are easy prey for predators.

The one benefit of our similarity with sheep is that

Jesus cares for us like a good shepherd. When we

suffer we may think that we are alone and no one

understands, but Jesus knows and he feels deep

compassion for us. In Revelation 2:9, Jesus

demonstrates his compassion for the believers in

Smyrna. He says, “I know your tribulation and your

— 10 —

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.”

The book of Revelation was probably written over

sixty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

By that point the gospel had spread throughout the

Roman Empire and beyond. There were already

hundreds, if not thousands, of Christians, but Jesus

was still aware of the circumstances faced by the

church in Smyrna. In fact, the connection between

Jesus and his followers is so strong that he

experiences our suffering with us. Prior to his

conversion the Apostle Paul, or Saul as he was then

known, persecuted Christians, but Acts 9:4-5 tells us,

“And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to

him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he

said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus,

whom you are persecuting.’” Whenever we as

Christians suffer, Jesus shares that experience with

us.

In the case of the believers in Smyrna, Jesus uses

three words to describe their suffering. First, he

speaks of tribulation. They were under pressure for

— 11 —

their faith. Smyrna was known for devoutly

worshiping the Roman emperor. The unwillingness of

Christian to participate would make them seem like

political traitors. That perception may explain why

they also suffered poverty; people might have avoided

doing business with them. Finally, Jesus speaks of

slander. Church history records that several false

accusations were regularly made against Christians

during the first few centuries of the church’s

existence. They were considered cannibals for eating

Christ’s flesh and drinking his blood. Some thought

they must be sexually immoral because they referred

to one another as brothers and sisters.

In Smyrna, these slanderous attacks came from

the Jewish community. Outsiders tended to see

Christianity as a Jewish sect and for good reason.

Christians accepted the fundamental teachings of the

Jewish faith, they simply believed that Jesus is the

promised Messiah of the Old Testament. The Jews

who rejected Jesus wanted to distance themselves

from Christians and discredit them. Lest there be any

doubt among the Christians about whether the Jews

— 12 —

were justified in their attacks, Jesus says they are not

true Jews. He even calls them a synagogue of Satan.

Even in the midst of their suffering and poverty,

Jesus says that they were actually rich. When life is

going well and we have all that we need, we are

tempted to ignore God. But when we lean upon Christ

in hard times, we begin to see how blessed we are.

Paul speaks of this paradox in 2 Corinthians 12:9,

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for

my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I

will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’”

Whenever you are tempted to fear any kind of

suffering, remind yourself of the close connection we

have with Jesus, our compassionate shepherd.

— 13 —

Going to the doctor’s office is seldom an enjoyable

experience. From an early age we learn that doctors

want to stick sharp needles into us. If anyone else did

that to us, we would call it assault, but we trust that

doctors make us suffer for a good purpose. We rely

upon their medical wisdom.

When we face suffering in life, we need to have a

similar, but much greater confidence in Jesus. The

first part of Revelation 2:10 gives us the perspective

we need to think this way. Jesus says, “Do not fear

what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about

— 14 —

to throw some of you into prison, that you may be

tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.”

We need to realize that suffering often comes into

our lives at Satan’s initiative. The name Satan means

adversary. From the Old Testament we learn that he

was an angelic being who rebelled by wanting God’s

glory for himself. Soon after creation he was there in

the garden tempting Adam and Eve to disobey God’s

command. Here he is called the devil, which means

accuser. Job 1:11 records the accusations he made to

God against Job, “But stretch out your hand and

touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your

face.” Satan was the one who brought suffering into

Job’s life, but he could not do so without God’s

permission.

In Revelation 2:10, Jesus reveals that Satan is

going to have some of the believers in Smyrna thrown

into prison. They were going to experience ten days of

intense suffering. Some people think that this period

of time may have some kind of symbolic significance,

but nothing in the text suggests that. Just as in the

case of Job, Satan is not able to act here without God’s

permission. Jesus says that this trial would happen in

— 15 —

order to test them. In his perfect wisdom, he was

using even the vicious attacks of Satan to refine their

faith. As Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know

that for those who love God all things work together

for good, for those who are called according to his

purpose.”

Are you confident in the power and wisdom of

Jesus? Nothing is outside of God’s ultimate

control. God is at work in any trial that comes your

way, even if it is initiated by Satan. Trust the wisdom

of Christ!

— 16 —

No matter how many people compete in an

Olympic race, only one runner receives the gold

medal. No one receives a prize just for finishing. In

ancient times cities like Smyrna held athletic events,

and the victor was crowned with an olive wreath.

Jesus draws upon that familiar picture in the

second half of Revelation 2:10. He says, “Be faithful

unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” We

need not fear death. A prize awaits us, like a victor’s

crown, except that it is awarded to everyone who stays

faithful to the finish. The prize is new life forever in

— 17 —

the presence of God. Death is the end of our race here

and the beginning of an eternal celebration.

Jesus describes the reward from a different

perspective in verse 11. He says, “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.” So what is the second death? As we saw earlier

Jesus broke through the barrier of death by his

resurrection, so that all people, believer and

unbeliever, will be resurrected, brought back to life in

a physical body just like Jesus was. Every person must

stand before God to be judged.

Revelation 20:12-15 describes this judgment. John

says,

And I saw the dead, great and small,

standing before the throne, and books were

opened. Then another book was opened,

which is the book of life. And the dead were

judged by what was written in the books,

according to what they had done. And the

sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death

and Hades gave up the dead who were in

them, and they were judged, each one of

them, according to what they had done.

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the

lake of fire. This is the second death, the

— 18 —

lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not

found written in the book of life, he was

thrown into the lake of fire.

So the second death is a way of referring to hell. Some

are resurrected to enter eternal life in God’s kingdom,

but others are resurrected to face eternal punishment

in the lake of fire.

How can you know whether your name is written

in the book of life, whether you will receive this crown

of life? From God’s perspective the decision has

already been made. He chose the names to enter in his

book of life, not according to our works, but purely by

His grace. Ephesians 1:5-6 says, “He predestined us

for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according

to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious

grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

From a human perspective, however, the life of

faith seems like a daily battle to conquer the trials and

temptations that threaten to pull us away from God.

In Revelation 2:11 Jesus promises us that those who

conquer, who persevere in the faith, can rest assured

that their name has been written in the book of life.

— 19 —

So how does this reward of Jesus help us

conquer fear? In Matthew 10:28-31, Jesus says,

And do not fear those who kill the body but

cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who

can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are

not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not

one of them will fall to the ground apart

from your Father. But even the hairs of your

head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore;

you are of more value than many sparrows.

If we are are right with God through faith in Jesus

Christ, we have nothing to fear. Stay focused on the

reward of Jesus.

— 20 —

Is fear keeping you from following Jesus? Are you

afraid of what people might say? This letter to Smyrna

shows us that following Christ is worth the risk of

slander, poverty, prison, or even death. If you have

not yet made a commitment to follow him, would you

take that step today? Place your faith in the eternal

one who conquered death. Receive his forgiveness for

your sins and begin to walk with him.

If you are still debating in your mind whether

following Christ is worthwhile, would you read the

fourth chapter of the book of Acts. That chapter tells

us of the opposition the early Christians faced and

shows us how important Jesus was to them. You will

be inspired by their example.

Are you struggling with fear? We face all sorts of

fears, but none of them are worse than the second

death that Jesus mentioned in this letter. Fill your

mind with the thoughts we have considered today of

the power, compassion, wisdom and reward of

Jesus. It might help you to commit Matthew 10:28-31

— 21 —

to memory so that you can meditate on those words

when you are tempted to be afraid.

Finally, be bold for Christ. People need to hear of

the power of Jesus over death, of his compassion and

his wisdom. They need to hear how they can be saved

from the second death in the lake of fire. Share Christ

with someone.

May we all conquer fear through the power of

Christ.

— 22 —

1. What fears do you have and how do they exercise

control over your life?

2. Which of these four thoughts are most

encouraging to you? Why?

3. What steps do you need to take to be more bold in

representing Christ?

Bryan Craddock has served as the Pastor of Calvary Bible Church

East in Kalamazoo, Michigan since the church began in 2007. He

is a graduate of the Master’s College and Seminary (B.A. and

M.Div.) and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

(D.Min.). He and his wife, Shari, live in Kalamazoo, Michigan,

with their three children.

Calvary Bible Church East is an independent, non-

denominational, Bible church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, guided

by a three-part vision. First, we seek to understand the Bible in

order to live out its teaching as Spirit-filled worshippers of God

and followers of Jesus Christ. Next, we seek to deepen our love

for one another as the family of God. Finally, we seek to be

actively engaged in our community in order to shine Christ’s

light through meeting pressing needs and communicating the

gospel of Jesus Christ. For more information, visit us online at

CalvaryEast.com.