The Revelation of Jesus Christ

John to the seven churches

Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.

“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, … to Smyrna…

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Christ, our risen Lord and Savior holds in His right hand the angels of the churches. Christ, our returning Lord and Savior stands in the presence of His golden churches – the believers to be taken-up along with those who have gone before us.

Yet each letter to the churches is specific to a group of believers: praise for faithfulness and call to continued faith. For not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will be taken-up. Not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will stand as a light of witness as a lampstand on His right. For some will be separated to the King’s left and He will say of those who did not glimmer with the light of Jesus, “I never knew you.”

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. – Matthew 25:46 KJV

Therefore: The warnings for the seven churches are addressed to the saints of every generation until the last.

You with ears to hear, let the scripture of Revelation speak to your eternal soul.

To the Church in Smyrna

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

 “DO NOT FEAR what you are about to suffer…”

Does the Revelation of Jesus Christ through the Apostle John encourage you?

The encouragement for the Church at Smyrna was for upcoming, soon-to-be fulfilled prophesy in the first century. However if any 21st c. Christian dare believe such persecution of Christians for our faith in Christ Jesus has ceased, think again.

A glance at the map of Turkey above, the headline of Urumiah from the 20th c. and the burning church in Egypt just weeks ago ought to convince Christians that persecution and suffering of Christians in contested areas of the world is actually on the increase.

The encouragement of Revelation is actually for a FINAL BATTLE between Christ and the enemies of the Cross, led by the Devil, that great deceiver of the world (including the world news that filters to our non-consideration).

Jesus Christ reveals:

You may be tested. You will have tribulation.

Be faithful unto death.

Suppose you are a Christian in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia or one of many other countries that persecute Christians where old men and young thugs stand boldly against the love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus.

Would you be encouraged?

The Saints of the Church of Smyrna were encouraged not in life; but in death!

The Church is encouraged to withstand every persecution for the Name and Cross of Jesus Christ.  In fact, Jesus’ promise is for the crown of Life – that is, eternal life.

Our encouragement is that regardless of analysis of the Battle now, the outcome is assured. In the Last Battle, JESUS WINS. (See end of story.)

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The facts of Islam and Jihad go well beyond tolerance.  9/11/2001 was just an opening salvo of just one more battle in a patient war by the enemy Satan.

Our memory of history is both short and tainted.

Discern for yourself some of what you will not hear from the world:

Timeline 

Historical facts say that Islam, including Muhammad, launched their own Crusades against Christianity long before the European Crusades.

The word “crusade” (derived from the Latin word for “cross“) in an Islamic context means a holy war or jihad. (Same war; different leader.)

• 630 Two years before Muhammad’s death of a fever, he launches the Tabuk Crusades, in which he led 30,000 jihadists against the Byzantine Christians.
• 635 Muslim Crusaders besiege and conquer of Damascus. (3 years before capturing Jerusalem)
• 673-678 Arabs besiege Constantinople, capital of Byzantine Empire
• 680 Massacre of Hussein (Muhammad’s grandson), his family, and his supporters in Karbala, Iraq.
• 691 Dome of the Rock is completed in Jerusalem, only six decades after Muhammad’s death.
• Much more on link above.

Persecution of the 19th & 20th c. (partial)

Voice of the Martyrs – a current look at Turkey & other “restricted” nations (Click on any country for detail. Here is current detail for Turkey.)

Turkey has experienced an ongoing political struggle between secular proponents, urban moderates and rural Islamist forces vying for government control. The country has been officially secular since 1924, but 97 percent of the population is Muslim. Questions about the role of religion in society dominate public discourse. The current president is a proponent of political Islam, and there are few signs that Turkey will soon embrace true religious freedom.

Category: Hostile Nation
Religion: Muslim 96.6%, Christian 0.2%
Ideology: Islam
Head of State: President Abdullah Gul

Despite government claims and a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, Christians do not enjoy freedom of religion in many areas. Politicians, police, Islamic secularists and the growing Islamist movement are hostile to Christianity, and foreign missionaries are seen as a threat. Local officials often refuse to issue licenses to new churches. Turkish culture has a deep prejudice against Christians, and many adhere to the maxim that to be Turkish is to be Muslim. Conversion is not technically illegal, but converts have been charged with “insulting Turkishness.” Recently, persecution has increased. Christians frequently experience discrimination, slander, personal attacks and attacks against churches. VOM supports the growing persecuted church and Christian radio programming.

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God will judge.  Christ IS victorious.

Christians throughout the world must remain awake on the wall.

What begins with subtlety is masked as tolerance and covered with ignorance.

The result is false security, false government, false faith, and fallen nations. 

We are fallen sinners redeemed in the Blood of Christ Jesus, Who was and IS, and will return in victory.

While we remain on watch, let us pray for these many persecuted Christians throughout the world.

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

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NEXT: Pergamum