We wonder whether we would have the fortitude and the faith to hold out. John does not offer an explicit answer, but the implication is clear: true Jews are the people of the Messiah. He similarly admonishes the church at Philadelphia to "hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown" (Revelation 3:11). Do you know what that is? Though many of these believers died a martyr’s death, Satan could not stamp out their testimony. It was one of the chief cities of Roman-dominated Asia and competed with places such as Pergamos and Ephesus for the title "First City of Asia.". So any other religious loyalties could easily be perceived as political threats. “Leave me,” he said. 4:16-18). Christ identified them as “those who say they are Jews and are not.” They may have claimed to have descended from Abraham, but the Jews (God’s people) are those who had accepted Jesus as Messiah and Savior. This is the heart of the gospel message. Thus Israel of the New Covenant is, Therefore, Israel has its fulfillment in Christ and His Church. We must live for Christ today. [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”, [3] Poverty: the word used here for poverty means “abject poverty, possessing absolutely nothing.”, [4] (Revelation 1:17-18) “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. It could have been due to the fact that most of them belonged to the lower classes of society. I know your works and tribulation (trials and difficulties) and poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy (speaking against God) of those who declare themselves to be Jews (they state that they are true believers in God) and are not but are a synagogue of Satan . and Lysimachus (301 - 281 B.C.). Satan would cause some of the believers to be thrown into “prison” and even killed. So, when a believer fails to overcome the trial and recants because of the pain of the persecution, would he not then be hurt or harmed by the second death because he would then have lost his reward (2:11)? He will not allow His saints to be tempted—proved, tried—beyond what they can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). However, it would be Satan behind them instigating this whole thing. God was in complete control. One of apostle John's students, Polycarp (who lived from 69 to 155 A.D.), is thought to have played a major role in leading the church in Ephesus during the second century. Believers remain “faithful” by keeping their eyes on Christ and on what he promises for now and for the future (see Philippians 3:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:8). . However, God is also merciful, telling Smyrna that its tribulation will be of limited duration. What the Bible says about The OT temple was a picture of the, In summary, Peter reveals in very specific and unmistakable terms, that the Church is the fulfillment and continuation of Israel as a, Old Testament Israel and the temple of Israel always looked ahead to what it would become in Christ. It is most significant that our Lord spoke as He did to the assembly at Smyrna, for this church was in the midst of bitter sorrow and suffering. Many believe that this church represents the martyrs of all the ages and the … To the persecuted church, Christ sent his comfort. None can deny that there is at present many indications of what is coming—liberal churches preaching a social message, a drop in church attendance, increasing atheism, sex, violence, and homosexuality, government inroads into religion, etc.
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