I’ve had the privilege of running several marathons now (including one that I joined by mistake – you can read about it here). Running a marathon is not just something you wake up one day and decide to do. It takes months of consistent training, diet adjustments, change in sleep patterns and many other things. All of the training is to make sure that on the race day, you are properly equipped to not only start but to finish the marathon. 

Despite the months of rigorous training, race days have a different twist to them. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline rush of getting to the day where all your efforts will pay off, or it’s the community of runners that you will be running with, or the fact that you have thousands of people cheering you on. If you ask me, the fact that there is a medal at the end is a huge contributing factor to why many people push through the intensity of the marathon, persevere even when they want to quit and finally get to the finish line.

In Revelation 2, the church in Smyrna is running their own kind of marathon. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that we are called to run our races with endurance. For the church in Smyrna, their race did not come easy. It was plagued with tribulation and poverty.

Revelation 2:9 NKJV

“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.

Other versions of the Bible say that this church had suffering, constant pain and poverty. Very hard circumstances that this church is under. Yet Jesus says they are rich. Huh? How can they be going through tribulation and poverty and be rich? The words of Jesus often seem like oxymorons. For example, the last shall be the first? (Matthew 20:16) The greatest among you will be your servant? (Matthew 23:11)

To put things in context, Smyrna was a city that was known for trade and was a city of great wealth. However, the Christians in Smyrna lived in poverty. As part of the persecution on them, they were robbed and fired from their jobs (David Guzik – Enduring Word Commentary). Economic persecution was a reality for the Christians in Smyrna. What Jesus is telling them is that He knows their situation. That their poverty is not a sign that He has abandoned them. In fact, Jesus considered them opposite of what their circumstances were. They might have been materially poor but they were spiritually rich. They were required to worship Caesar as Lord in addition to their worship of Jesus Christ.

Despite the intense persecution, they refused to call anyone else Lord, other than Jesus Christ – the First and the Last, the one who died and resurrected – Revelation 2:8. In Matthew 19:16-22, Jesus has an encounter with a rich young ruler and asks him to sell all he had, give it to the poor and follow Him, something that the rich young ruler couldn’t find it in himself to do. Not that having material possessions is wrong (look at Solomon), it is when these material possessions become a hinderance to our full surrender to Jesus Christ. That’s when you cease having possessions and the possessions start having you. The church in Smyrna chose to forsake any treasures they would have on earth for the abundant treasures they would have in heaven.

Not only were they experiencing economic persecution but also slander and blasphemy from those who claimed to be Jews but were not, who were in fact a synagogue of satan. The Amplified versions refers to these slandering Jews as Jews only by blood but who did not believe and truly honor the God whom they claimed to worship.

In the church today, we see such kind of people – those who claim to worship the one true God but don’t. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul warns the church against those who preach a different gospel from the true gospel of Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV

For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

The false apostles in Corinth masqueraded themselves as apostles of Christ but they were really servants of the devil. In the age of social media, we have many people, both will small and large followings, claiming to be servants of Jesus Christ but are really agents of the devil. They take the word of God and twist it ever so slightly that they easily deceive many. Moreover, they start slandering the true servants of God in an attempt to distract people from listening to the message of Jesus Christ and to tune their ear to deceitful teachings. Now more than ever, the 21st century church ought to emulate the Berean Church who received the message of Jesus Christ with great eagerness and also examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul was saying was true – Acts 17:11.

Revelation 2:10 NKJV

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.

Wait, more suffering Jesus? Persecution is a word that many of us in the modern church don’t fully understand or relate to. Yes, suffering on account of our faith can look like mean comments on social media or being teased and bullied by co-workers for your faith but for the early churches it looked completely different. As John is hearing these words from Jesus, he has been exiled to the island of Patmos on account of his faith. Additionally, these words to the church in Smyrna would have carried their full weight in light of the persecution they were already facing. And now on top of that, they were going to go through more suffering and be tested further. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that their are many Christians who are currently going through intense persecution in this modern day. For example, in Nigeria currently, there are many Christians who are being martyred because of their allegiance to Jesus Christ (you can read about it here) As Christians who are not facing this level of persecution, it is our duty to intercede for our brothers and sisters, to raise awareness for what they are going through and to support them in whatever way we can. Not only so, but to take these words from Jesus very seriously because in a rapidly changing world, this level of persecution could be our reality too. 

To a church that is already going through so much, Jesus tells them that they are about to endure even more testing. He urges them not to be afraid but to go through these tests being faithful, because there is a crown of life at the end.

The word ‘crown’ is the greek word ‘stephanos’ which in Ancient Greece was ‘the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games’. I can imagine that it would be somewhat comforting to the church in Smyrna that even though their faithfulness may result to death, that they will receive a crown of life at the end. Their faithfulness to Jesus is not in vain.

I have a few medals from the marathons I have completed. Those medals are a symbol that my efforts, my perseverance, the months of training were all worth it. A symbol that my faithfulness and consistency, even when I wanted to give up, did not go unrecognised. The crown of life that we get from Jesus, after persevering through the trials and tribulations is a billion times better (if not more) than any medal we would ever get here on earth. It is a reminder that our surrender to Jesus Christ is never in vain. Just like the church in Smyrna, Jesus reminds us that he has always known our works and the tribulations we face and has and will always help us to persevere and remain faithful until the end.

This is a similar sentiment to that echoed by James:

James 1:2-4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

These are comforting words for the church today. Those who are thinking that the next form of persecution is going to be the one that wipes them out. Those who are constantly faced with the temptation to compromise, or even fully abandon their faith. 

We live in a world where many are diluting the gospel of Jesus Christ. Where syncretism has become rampant. Where many go to church on a Sunday but light up sage or use their crystals on a Wednesday. Where people consult the Holy Spirit and when they can’t hear Him or don’t like His answer, they consult mediums and psychics. Where many seek counsel from the Bible while also seeking counsel from their horoscopes.

To the church today, Jesus is saying Be Faithful until death. To hold on to Jesus as the one and only way, the truth and the life – John 14:6. Not to compromise, water down, cheapen or ignore the great sacrifice paid by Jesus on the cross for our salvation. Even in the face of persecution, Be Faithful!!!

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says!

Blessings,

Victor