Revelation 2:8-11 It is God who chooses our lot. It is us who must choose how we should live
Revelation 2:8-11 It is God who chooses our lot. It is us who must choose how we should live
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will 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 Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
Background
Among the seven churches, the churches in Smyrna and Pergamum are explicitly mentioned as undergoing great persecution. Jesus encourages the Smyrnareans to be bold in embracing it. They must not envy those who are not going through persecution. They must never complain but to persevere and hope in God’s deliverance. When they are found faithful amid troubles and hardships, Christ will exalt them to sit with Him at God’s righthand. That said, God exposes believers to different circumstances so that all may grow. Indeed, it is God who chooses our lot. It is us who must choose how we should live.
Observation
The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
What does it mean when Jesus said, “I am the first and the last”? It means that He sees at one glance all human history; from the beginning of time to eternity. He is the Creator and beginning of all things (see Colossians 1:15). And He is the King, who sovereignly brings all things to a perfect conclusion.
To “come to life” is to possess the God-life and reign with Him. To die is to be estranged from God, and become a slave of darkness. Jesus was the only one who was cut off and thereafter acquired the God-life by His own merit.
‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
The Christians in Smyrna are literally poor, but in heaven, they possess great wealth. Notwithstanding their poverty, they are severely persecuted as the result of Jewish “blasphemy” (which is to slander). These slanderers are not real Jews, but a synagogue of Satan. It is likely that the Jews in the act of slandering had denounced the Christians to Roman authorities causing them great hardship. The Jews have a long tradition of persecuting Christians. According to Acts 26:11, Paul persecuted the Jewish Christians by forcing them to blaspheme (probably to curse Christ).
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days.
Jesus calls the Smyrnaeans to be bold to embrace the sufferings that they will shortly experience. He calls them to stand firm on the truths and not to waver in the face of tribulation. For the tribulation will be limited to ten days; a relatively short period of time.
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Those who are faithful to this command will be rewarded with the crown of life. Unless one loves the truth more than his own life, he will not receive the award. What is the “crown of life”? Here, “the life” refers to the God kind of life which is characterised by divine virtues, wisdom and power. And “the crown” is the symbol of authority. Jesus received the “crown of life” by inheriting the very life of God which is to sit at God’s righthand. There, He reigns with God forever. Jesus, who obtained the crown of life because He did not waver at the face of death will award it to those who follow His example.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
“He who has an ear” refers to all mankind. The one who overcomes, who continues to do what Jesus would do even until death will not be hurt by the second death. “The second death” (also found in Revelations 20:6, 20:14 and 21:8) refers to the judgment that will come.
Truth
It is God who chooses our lot. It is us who must choose how we should live.
Among the seven churches, the church in Smyrna is the only one that faces extreme hardship. God exposes each believer to different circumstances so that as a body we may grow to receive the crown of life. In times of poverty and hardship, we learn to put our trust in Him who delivers. We also learn to love and forgive those who hurt us. When Jesus was arrested and judged as a criminal, He learned to be faithful and never to complain. He learned to accept His lot as the sin sacrifice and forgave those who tormented Him. Hence, God called Jesus faithful and awarded to Him the crown of life.
What about those of us who do not experience extreme hardship and are living in relative peace and abundance? Here, we learn to be singleminded by resisting the lust of the world, and to support those who are going through hardship.
Whether in poverty or prosperity, whether in persecution or peace, God appraises our faithfulness towards Him. It is God who chooses our lot. It is us who must choose how we should live. Hence, we are not to envy one another. We are not to wish that we were born in this family or that country. In the area of giving, one may think it is hard to give when he is poor. But experience tells us that it is even harder to give when he is rich. Who knows, it may be better for one to remain poor. For if his fortune turns around, he may betray the Lord. Therefore, God knows us and predetermines our lot so that we may grow and acquire the crown of life.
God exposes us to different circumstances so that we may grow.
Job was very rich but he never sought the face of God. He offered sacrifices, but only out of fear. When sudden disaster came upon him, he sought God with tears. And amid extreme sickness, poverty and loss, he found God. Indeed, through great calamities, Job lost that which is earthly to gain that which is heavenly.
The Apostle Paul learned the secret of being faithful when he was exposed to various circumstances. Paul said,
“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” – Philippians 4:12
In prosperous times, Paul learned to use his wealth to help others. In times of lack, he learned to persevere in God’s work while trusting in Him to provide. Therefore, God places us in different circumstances so that we may grow in faith.
The testimony of Pi Hniar Te (Myanmar)
In mid 2021, Pi Hniar Te’s house was destroyed after the Myanmar junta troops started burning down villages. However, she made a declaration of gratefulness to God that moved many including the Buddhists. She posted this message on social media,
“The Lord blessed me this house in 2002. But He takes it back today 2021. I heartily thank God for allowing us to stay at this house for over 20 years freely. Praise the Lord that we still survive.”
The believer’s hope and gratitude in times of trouble glorify God. It is through our faithfulness amid hardships that people see the Christ in us.
Application
How can believers be faithful in times of troubles and hardships?
Let us utter the words of Paul:
“In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NLT).
Dear Lord, in whatever circumstances, I will praise you for your faithfulness to me and my family. Whether in times of poverty or abundance, help me to grow in faith; to be grateful, to be hopeful, and kind. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.