I Know Your Tribulation – Revelation 2:8-11

Revelation 2:8: “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.”

Jesus introduces Himself to the saints in Smyrna as “The First and Last” and “who was dead, and came to life.” In Revelation 1:11, 17, He also introduced Himself to John as “The First and Last.”

In Isaiah 44:6 it is written, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.” Jesus identified Himself to the Christians in Smyrna as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.

Jesus is the “First” because He existed before all creation. As the “Last,” Jesus holds the final authority over human history. He brings our existence to completion. Jesus pairs “The First and The Last” with the declaration, “who was dead and came to life.” Jesus has supreme authority over mortality and resurrection. People began with Him, are sustained by Him, and find their ultimate meaning in Him.

In Romans 14:9, it is written, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”

Revelation 2:9: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich). And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.”

“I know your works.” The Greek word for works in this text is “εργα.” We derive our English word “energy” from this word. Are we energetic for the Lord? Our outward works express our inward faith.

“I know your tribulation.” The Greek word for tribulation is θλῖψις (thlipsis). Thlipsis means “pressure,” “squeezing,” or “crushing.” In ancient and biblical Greek, it is used to describe intense emotional, mental, or spiritual pressure, such as suffering and persecution. [1]

In Matthew 24:9, Jesus warned us that in the last days before He returns, “They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake.” In Matthew 24:21, He said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

In Acts 14:22, Paul taught his disciples, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” In Acts 20:23, Paul told fellow church leaders, “The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”

In Romans 8:35, Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation... ?” In Romans 8:38-39, he responds to his own question, saying, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In John 16:33, Jesus taught His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus said to the saints in Smyrna, “I know your poverty (but you are rich).” In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In James 2:5, God’s Word says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

Do you see a theme here? The Lord is saying to keep our eyes fixed on being with Him in paradise and not on our circumstances in this world.

Hebrews 11:24-26 says of Moses, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

Jesus laid down His earthly life for us so that we could have a better life in eternity with God. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, it is written, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

Jesus told the saints in Smyrna, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.” In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul spoke of Satan transforming himself into an angel of light. The word “angel” refers to a messenger. The messenger can be from the spiritual or physical realm depending on the context. In 2 Corinthians 11:13, Paul is speaking of “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”

The religious leaders in Jerusalem gave Jesus the most grief during His earthly ministry. The same is true of the disciples in the Book of Acts. Imposter leaders hate authentic leaders because authentic leaders expose how self-serving and how ungodly they are. The Christians in Smyrna were being slandered by a synagogue of Satan, which means a gathering of Satan.

Sometimes lovers of Christ are betrayed by liars and deceivers in a very devilish way.

For example, in 1414, John Hus was invited to defend his teachings at the Council of Constance under an official, sealed ‘safe conduct’ guarantee from King Sigismund of Hungary. Sigismund claimed to be a protector of the true Christian faith and promised Hus he would return to Bohemia unharmed, regardless of the verdict. However, once Hus arrived, Church cardinals arrested him. When Hus’s supporters protested the violation of the king’s Christian word, the Council replied that no promise made to a heretic is binding. Hus was burned at the stake. [2]

In 1535, William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English, was betrayed by a fake friend named Henry Phillips. William was burned at the stake.

While serving the Lord in China, I was warned to beware of “Christians” from the government approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). TSPM churches were staffed by people loyal to the Communist Party. They preached the social Gospel. They turned over to authorities the names of Christians who they deemed too fanatical. Why? Because those who truly love the Lord Jesus expose liars who are really serving their own ambitions.

Revelation 2:10: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

In Matthew 10:28, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Persecutors can destroy our bodies, but not our souls if we have committed them to the Lord. For us who are in Christ, death has lost its sting. Death is for a moment, but life with God in paradise is forever.

While in China, I was tempted at times to panic for my life, but the Lord reminded me that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord one day. It is better to bow and profess Jesus now as His loyal followers than to do so after denying Him, and end up in hell.

Jesus told the saints in Smyrna not to fear what they were about to suffer. Yes, some would be imprisoned. They would experience ten days of tribulation, but a crown of life awaited them after it was over.

Praise the Lord that He places limitations on our suffering. In Job 1:12, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay a hand on his person.’” In Job 2:6, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.’”

The ten day test that Jesus speaks of in Revelation 2:10 compares with Daniel 1:12-15. Daniel and his three friends did not want to eat the pagan food of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel asked for permission to eat vegetables and drink water instead. Daniel pleaded, “Please test your servants for ten days.” In Daniel 1:15, “at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.”

For me “delicacies” are a snare. When I over stimulate my taste buds, I eat too much. It is better for me to eat basic foods and feed my soul with an abundance of God’s Word. When my soul is full of Jesus, it is less tempted to bite at attractive baits. I want to eat to live not live to eat.

If I am imprisoned for my faith in Christ, hopefully, a severe longing for delicacies will not defeat me as it did “the mixed multitude” in the wilderness. “The mixed multitude” were the people who left Egypt with the Israelites, probably some Egyptians. In Numbers 11:4-33, they complained about the manna and brought a great plague upon themselves and upon Israel.

In Psalm 141:4, David prayed, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing. To practice wicked works with men who work iniquity! And do not let me eat of their delicacies.”

The Lord advises us in Proverbs 23:1-3, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you. And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” Kings and rich people sometimes use lures like food or money to tempt Christians to compromise their relationship with the Lord.

Hunters study to know what their prey likes to eat.

Jacob knew what his brother Esau loved to eat so he made some, and then, offered it to him for a price. Hebrews 12:15-17 says, “Look carefully lest anyone... be... like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”

In Matthew 4:1-4, Jesus had not ate for forty days so the devil tempted Him to use His power to change stones into bread. Adam and Eve partook of forbidden fruit in the garden and lost their purity. Jesus did not succumb to the devil’s provocation. He told the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it is written, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

In 1 Timothy 6:10-12, Paul warned Timothy, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Paul advised Timothy to flee from the love of money. What should a Chrisian pursue? Pursue God! Hold onto your eternity with God with all your might.

Revelation 2:11: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

Jesus promises eternal life to those who listen to the Holy Spirit. “Yes, Holy Spirit, please speak to us and guide us to the Heavenly Kingdom’s shores to be with our heavenly Father forever.”

[1] Google
[2] GotQuestions.org