2:8-11

NT

Revelation 2:8-11

esv

Description of Jesus' Sovereignty over Death

“And to the angel

Destination

of the church

Descriptive

in Smyrna

Locative

write:

‘The words

Content #1

of the first

Producer

and the last,

who died

and came

to life.

Exhortation to Fearlessness in the Face of Death

“‘I know your tribulation

Ground

and your poverty

( but you are rich)

Concessive

and the slander

of those

Subjective

who say

Negative

that they are Jews

Content

and are not,

but [who] are a synagogue

of Satan.

Possessive

Do not fear

Content #2a

what you are about to suffer.

Behold, the devil is about to throw some

of you

Partitive

into prison,

that you may be tested,

Purpose

and ... you will have tribulation.

Result

for ten days

Temporal

Be faithful

Condition

unto death,

and I will give you the crown

Content #2b

of life.

Promise of Everlasting Life

He

Explanation

who has an ear,

let him hear

Content #3a

what the Spirit says

to the churches.

The one ... will not be hurt

Content #3b

who conquers

by the second death.’

Means

The relationship between 10a-b and 10i-l is a Neg-Pos : they should not fear, but rather they should be faithful unto death so they will receive the crown of life from Jesus.

phrasing

Notes

Head: Focus: The focus of this section is the life of the mind . We want to think accurately according to the truth of God’s Word we’ve phrased. Questions: How should I think differently about God/myself/others because of what I’ve just phrased? What doctrines are taught in this passage? What specific contribution to those doctrines does this passage make? What other Scripture texts add to the truths taught in this passage? Verses 9-10: In 9c, Jesus’ emphasis here isn’t His provision for their earthly needs but their true spiritual riches ! For 9g-j, see Rom 2:28-29 and Rev 1:6. Isn’t it something that Jesus doesn’t encourage this church in verse 10 by saying, “Your persecution will end .” No, He says, “You will suffer – but don’t be afraid .” He then details what will happen, adding emphasis with the word “behold”: “the devil shall cast some of you into prison.” “Some of you will go to jail,” He said. Now, if the Lord said that to you today, “You are going to suffer in a dark, rat-infested jail without warmth or food because you trust in me,” would you find that very encouraging? Yet Jesus gives the believers in this church two encouraging reasons that they should not be afraid immediately after telling them that jail is the destiny for some of them. That is seen in the Purpose and the Result of the main phrase - 10f and 10g. Whose purpose is shown in the devil's actions in 10f? God's ! See 2 Cor 12:7. Under 10g, see Dan 1:12-15 ("ten days"). This is the same encouragement I feel , and you may have felt, when working with a personal trainer or someone trying to get you to perform a certain number of push-ups: “I want you to do ten of these .” And then, when you’ve done seven, and your arms are giving out, he shouts, “Come on – just three more! Only three more! Go, go, go – great work! Only two more now! You can do it!” Heart: Focus: The focus of this section is the life of the emotions . We want to feel accurately according to the truth of God’s Word we’ve phrased. Questions: How should I feel differently about God/myself/etc. because of what I’ve just phrased? What emotions are expressed in this passage? What emotions does this passage exhort me to feel? Verse 8: Who was at the beginning of history, and will be at the end? Who existed in perfect fellowship and love with God the Father before creation? Who will still be sovereign over all things when history ends and His people live on a New Earth? None other than the one who “was dead, and is alive” – the one who conquered death, the one who was exalted to the Father’s right hand after His victory, having received all power in heaven and in earth. He is the sovereign victor over death , eternal, reigning, utterly in control of every spinning atom, every event, ruling for the good of His beloved people. E ven though we aren’t suffering like they were, yet the lying lures of sinful pleasures , and peer pressure at school and at work, and the fear of people’s opinions, tempts us to deny Jesus, to keep our Christianity secret. We need this vision of Jesus too , because the stakes for staying faithful to Jesus or abandoning Him could not be higher . He is the great, dominating reality of our lives – or should be ! Hands: Focus: The focus of this section is the life of the will . We want to act accurately according to the truth of God’s Word we’ve phrased. Questions: How should I act differently because of what I’ve just phrased? What motivations does this passage give for acting differently? What sins do I need to repent of and put off? What good works do I need to put on? Verses 9-10: T his letter contains no warning or critique, like most of the others. This church was faithful – but they still needed encouragement to remain so . So even if we are living faithfully, that doesn't mean that we don't need church, or Bible reading, or prayer! What is the limit of our faithfulness? "Unto death ." Verse 11: This verse is a call for us to listen and obey Jesus’ command to remain faithful to death; it is also a call that separates between hypocrites who say they are Christians but turn away from Jesus and those who prove the reality of their new birth. Perhaps some in the church of Smyrna would cave in to pressure, would bow to the emperor, would get involved in idol worship to relieve the burden of poverty – they would thus prove themselves to be deaf , and therefore to be on the road to Hell . So this verse is a wake-up call to us: Do you have ears? Will you cling to Jesus? Will you ask Him to renew your determination to love Him and delight in Him and follow Him no matter what happens ? T he reward for staying faithful, for not compromising, would be far greater than the high five of a trainer and the satisfaction of finishing a set of push-ups! The reward for remaining “faithful unto death,” verse 10 says, is “a crown of life” given us by Jesus Christ Himself. That is, those who “remain faithful” to Jesus, refusing to bow to the idols of our culture – the idols of consent, of immorality, of sexual freedom, of the right to choose your own identity and gender – they , and they only , will receive everlasting life. Doesn't that motivate you to stay faithful to Jesus?

notes