Are you familiar with the fastest growing church in the world? According to the research organization, Operation World, in the last few years this church has grown from around 500 to over a million. Not only that, but this church is also reaching out with the Gospel and it’s Gospel witness is helping fuel the growth of the second fastest growing church in the world.

Let me tell you a little about the fastest growing church in the world.
This church doesn’t have a big comfortable building.
They don’t have a budget.
They don’t have entertaining music.
They don’t have entertaining speakers.
They don’t have a church structure.
But they have deep commitment to Christ and He makes all the difference.
They don’t have all these things because they are an underground church.
The fastest growing church in the world is the underground church in Iran.
The second fastest growing church in the world is the underground church in Afghanistan.
 Afghans are being reached with the Gospel largely in part by the gospel witness of the Iranian underground church.

These are underground churches because of intense persecution of the Islamic governments in these places. In spite of intense persecution, these churches are flourishing. The high cost of being a Christian in Iran fuels a deep passionate commitment to faithful service to Christ. These churches are faithful to Christ even unto death.

Let me remind you from the book of Acts when people try to oppose the Gospel, the church grew like wildfire. In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested and told not to speak about Jesus. The church gathered to pray and asked the Lord,
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word will all boldness.” (Acts 4:29)
And as a result of this prayer meeting,
“they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

After the stoning of Stephen, the church was dispersed from Jerusalem. As they went, they took the Gospel with them. Wherever these faithful Christians went churches were planted.

After James was killed by Herod’s sword,
“the word of God increased and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24)

Today we are continuing in our series Lampstand. We will pick up in Revelation Chapter 2:8. We have seen in Chapter 1 the vision Jesus gave to John on the island of Patmos. In this vision, Jesus is tending to lampstands to make sure they do not flicker out. These Lampstands represent churches. Annapolis First Baptist Church, let’s be a church shining brightly for the Glory for Christ!

In chapter 2, we find Jesus messages of commendation and correction to each of the seven churches in Asia. These messages were written to literal historical church to help make sure they shine brightly with the Glory of Christ. And these messages apply to our church today.

Let’s take a moment to review so far the kind of church Jesus wants. From the message to the church at Ephesus, we saw Jesus wants:

• A church working hard for His glory.
• A church patiently enduring for the His name. 
• A discerning church.
• A pure church 
• And a loving church. 

And today, we will add to this list, from the message to the church at Smyrna:

• A fearless church
• A church faithful unto death

“to the angel of the church in Smyrna”

If you remember from previous weeks, the word angel is angelos in Greek, referring to a messenger. Someone would take the letter and read it to the church.

The recipient church of this message is the church at Smyrna.

Smyrna was a very old and beautiful city, one of the finest and wealthiest in all of Asia Minor located 35-40 miles from Ephesus. Unlike Ephesus, it is a city still in existence, more than just ruins like in Ephesus. However, it is now called Izmir. Like Ephesus, it was an important port city on the Aegean Sea. In John’s Day, Ephesus was the most prominent of the cities of Asia Minor, and Smyrna was second in prominence.

Another thing you should understand about Smyrna is its culture that was a source of great hostility to the church at Smyrna. Smyrna was a free Roman city with a huge emphasis on Emperor Worship. The cult of the Roman Emperor in Smyrna would require the citizens of the city to receive a certificate as proof that they offered sacrifice to the emperor. In fact, about 50 years after John wrote this message to the church at Smyrna, a man named Polycarp, one of the pastors at the church at Smyrna, was burned at the stake for refusing to worship the Roman Emperor. This cult of emperor worship was a major source of hostility for the Smyrna church.

Another source of hostility for the Smyrna church was pagan religion. Not only was there Emperor worship, but a variety of false gods worshiped in Smyrna. Smyrna was a located at a gulf of the Aegean Sea. If you were to look up towards the hills called the Pagos, the hills would have been covered in Temples to false gods.

And a third source of hostility for the Smyrna church was Jews with a hatred towards Christians. The Jews in Smyrna had such a hatred towards Christ, that when Polycarp was burned at the stake, the Jews broke the Sabbath in order to carry logs as firewood to be used for the fire that killed Polycarp.

It was not an easy place to be a Christian. It was a place of great persecution of Christians.  
Next see who this message is from. The way Jesus introduces Himself to the church at Smyrna would have given them great encouragement.

“The Words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.”

Jesus is reminding the church of His eternal nature. Jesus always was, always is and always be. He is “the first and the Last.” He is pointing the minds of the Christians in Smyrna away from their current situation to give them hope of their future.

And Jesus reminds them of the Gospel. Jesus died on a cross to rescue them from sin and give them eternal life. He is the one “Who died and came to life.”

Because Jesus has power over death, these Christians in Smyrna have a wonderful future awaiting them. The have the gift of Eternal life.

Jesus encourages them next by letting them know, He knows. He knows what they are going through.

Remember those eyes of fire? Those eyes of Jesus know everything going on in the churches. The good the bad. Every circumstance and every situation. And in the case of the church at Smyrna, this is a message of comfort. I know. I know.

“I know your tribulation.” Jesus knows the hostility the church at Smyrna was facing. False religion is most zealous in opposing that which is true.

See some of the tribulation the church was enduring.

Jesus knows, “the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” The Jews in their rejection of Christ, are zealously opposing Christians. They are proving that they are not true Jews. They are a synagogue of Satan.

Jesus even knows of suffering that will take place in the future. “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.”

The church at Smyrna will be going through at time of testing. And in this time of testing, only true Christians will be able to endure.

This testing will only purify the true church. You see, false converts do not stick around when tribulation comes. Tribulation and persecution have a purifying effect on the church. The purifying fire of affliction causes the lampstand to burn all the more brightly.

“I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich).”
Jesus also knows the churches poverty.
This church was not just poor; they were utterly destitute.
Why? Most likely as a result of the persecution they faced.
They were constantly robbed of their goods because of their faithful endurance in Christ.

But notice what Jesus says to encourage them.
“But you are rich.”
This church does not have two nickels to rub together, but they were rich.
How were they rich? They were spiritually rich. They were rich in Christ.
And in Christ, they are coheirs with Christ in the Kingdom of God.
To true Christians, belong all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.

Next, I would like you to notice Christ’s correction to the church Smyrna.
Oh wait. There is none.

As Jesus was tending to the Lampstands, He found this to be one of the most brightly shining churches of all. Rather than having a message of correction for the church at Smyrna, its only encouragement.

Unlike the church at Ephesus, the Smyrna church loved Jesus with all their hearts. And they loved each other. They were a pure church, refined by the fires of tribulation.

Next see Christ’s instruction. His instruction is to encourage them.

“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.”

The church was about to go through some tough circumstances.
But they did not have to be afraid.
I haven’t counted it myself, but I have heard that in scripture, God’s word tells us 365 times not to be afraid. That’s enough for every day of the year.
Christian, do not be afraid.

Jesus also encourages the church at Smyrna, “be faithful unto death.” Would you risk your life to faithfully serve Christ? Jesus is instructing us to be faithful even unto death. As a Christian, we must be willing to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Take up our cross, a death sentence.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-3

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

Church, because of these promises, we can be faithful even unto death.
Here in the United States, persecution has not come to the point of suffering to death, but it is on the rise.
Let’s be a church that will not compromise in our faithfulness to Christ.

Next, notice Christ’s warning. Oh wait.
There is none.
Only encouragement.
This church as it fearlessly and faithfully serves Christ, is shining brightly for His glory.

Notice the encouraging promise Christ give to the church at Smyrna.

“I will give you the crown of life.” 
We do not have to fear death, because as a Christian, we have the crown of life to look forward to.

“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.” Matthew 10:28
We don’t have to fear, because a crown of life is waiting for us.

“The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.”

True Christians do not have to fear, because they will not be hurt by the second death.

Revelation 20:11-15
then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 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 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.

True Christians who faithfully endure, do not have to fear the second death. Because we receive the gift of eternal life.

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

The true Christians will have an ear to hear.
They will listen.
Lord would you open up ears to hear!