Are you Spiritual Smyrna of Today?
Smyrna is the second community of people (aka. church) that our Messiah addresses through John in the Book of Revelation.
THE MESSAGE
Messiah know:
your tribulation… affliction… hurt/pain
your financial/material poverty (He reminds you that you are rich spiritually + rich in the Kingdom of Heaven)
the lies and slander of those who claim to be Jews, but are imposters in actuality.
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer…”
“Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.” - Revelation 2:10 (TLV)
The enemy has consent to imprison saints marked to receive the crown of life. Endure; knowing that the imprisonment and tribulation is only a test of your faithfulness. Your reward in heaven will be worthy. Refer back to the gospel of John to recall the living words of The Messiah.
“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for the sake of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” - John 15:20-21 (TLV)
He continues…
“When the Helper (Holy Spirit) comes… He will testify about Me. And you also testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” - John 15:26-27 (TLV)
His Prescription:
“Be faithful until death.” - cont. Revelation 2:10 (TLV)
Evidently, accessing the promises that The Almighty has for Spiritual Smyrna is by no means prescribed to be an easy journey. It’s critical that as saints and family/friends of saints, we find comfort in knowing that His children are pre-programmed and equipped to face and overcome all that await on the path to salvation.
Spiritual Smyrna is called to be patient and endure! You are chosen and have a friend, brother and saviour advocating for you. He is seated on the throne at the right hand of The Most High.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. I am no longer calling you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. Now I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I selected you so that you would go and produce fruit, and your fruit would remain. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.
These things I command you, so that you may love one another.
If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. If you were of the world, the would love you as its own. But you are not of the world, since I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hates you.” John 15:12-19 (TLV)
His Promise:
“I will give you the crown of life.” - cont. Revelation 2:10 (TLV)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities. The one who overcomes shall never be harmed by the second death.” - Revelation 2:11 (TLV)
The promised ‘crown of life’ is a worthy reward brothers and sisters! Let’s keep each other focused on enduring despite challenges… loving and living with infinite joy while present in the world.
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who is able to destroy both soul and body .
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground apart from your Father’s consent. And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Therefore whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:28-33 (TLV)
PEEK-A-BOO
Earthly death of selves and loved ones can invoke a myriad of feelings because life on earth is all you and I know. However, it would be dismissive, and maybe even simplistic and somewhat narcissistic of us to believe that life ends when we can’t see it anymore. Reflect on personal experiences playing peek-a-boo with toddlers and consider psychology 101, where Jean Piaget explores the developmental concept of “object permanence”.
“The term ‘object permanence’ is used to describe a child's ability to know that objects continue to exist even though they can no longer be seen or heard.
If you have ever played a game of ‘peek-a-boo’ with a very young child, then you probably understand how this works. When an object is hidden from sight, infants under a certain age often become upset that the item has vanished. This is because they are too young to understand that the object continues to exist even though it cannot be seen.” - verywellminded.com
Earthly death is a comparable phenomenon in some ways. Do you think there could be levels to understanding permanence in our human experience?
ANECDOTAL REFLECTION
Neither the soul, nor spirit has a tactile, auditory or visual presence. It can be difficult to know that it actually exists.. and even more so… that it will continue to exist after earthly death.
Having overcome the fear of death and separation of self and loved ones, the truth we share is anecdotal. It is also confirmed in scripture. When the Most High wills for us to dive deeper into consciousness (with His covering), everything concealed is revealed.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear in your ear, proclaim from the housetops!” - Matthew 10:26-27 (TLV)
The Holy Spirit also nudges us to share the warning… again from personal anecdotal experience that trying to deep dive alone (without the covering of The Most High) can have tragic consequences. Stay covered brothers and sisters.
HIS WORD IN WHOLE (TLV)…
Smyrna: Do Not Fear Satan’s Testing
To the angel of Messiah’s community in Smyrna write: “Thus says the First and Last, who was dead and came to life.
I know your tribulation and your poverty (yet you are rich), as well as the slander of those who say they are Jewish 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, so that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach is saying to Messiah’s communities. The one who overcomes shall never be harmed by the second death.” Revelation 2:8-11 (TLV)
Reading Aid:
Crown of Life - eternal life worthy of honour, a glorious reward — but accessing it will not be easy by any means. Those who endure will prove their faithfulness and access the crown.
Second Death - John compares the second death to a Lake of Fire - final judgement destination for the wicked at heart.
Ruach - a Hebrew word meaning, “wind”, “breath” or “spirit”
Spiritual Smyrna, what’s your personal strategy for staying lit in the Kingdom of Heaven?
Study Reference:
Scripture: The Book of RevelationPDF article: “Paul’s Epistles and the Seven Churches” by Fred R. Coulter - June 11, 2011Youtube Revelation Series by Minister Barton Porter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4neWDBUl6gM&list=PLmK-ixPVECI-OKK-rcb9A-ZlOMwBFY3khAnimated Revelation Literary Study Guide by The Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nvVVcYD-0w
