Smyrna: Be Faithful Unto Death!

Smyrna: Be Faithful Unto Death! (Revelation 2:8-11)

1. Introduction

2. Jesus Knows Their Situation (8-9)
   a. Their tribulation (9a)
   b. Their poverty (9b)
   c. The slander from so-called Jews (9c)

3. Jesus Encourages Them (10-11)
   a. They need not fear suffering (10a)
   i. Because Jesus knows exactly what will happen (10b)
   ii. Because Jesus has a purpose for it—testing (10c)
   iii. Because Jesus has limited its duration—“ten days” (10d)
   b. They need to be faithful unto death (10e)
   i. Because they will receive a gracious reward (10f)
   ii. Because death cannot harm them (11)
   1. Because Jesus is in control of time and space—as the First and the Last (8c)
   2. Because Jesus died and came to life (8d)
   3. Because we have been raised with Him—the one who died and came to life (union w/ Christ).
   a. Being raised with Christ, we live for the things above, where Christ is (Col. 3:1-4).
   b. Even in persecution, we are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:31-39).

4. Conclusion
   a. What does it look like for us to “not fear suffering” and to be “faithful unto death”?
   b. Why are we able to “not fear suffering” and to be “faithful unto death”?