This morning we’re going to be talking about fear.  To begin, I’d like share a short video clip with you.  As you’re watching - think about what kinds of things cause you to be afraid.

(VIDEO CLIP)

How many of you have seen that before?  Not too scary - especially as a cartoon.  There are more serious things that really do bring us to fear.  The reality is that - if we choose to admit it - even us Christians who are suppose to be trusting God - we have fears that we deal with - deep seated fears.

There’s a website dedicated to fear where people from all over the world have written down their greatest and deepest fears.

Someone wrote, “I’m afraid of facing the truth of all I know to be true of me.”

A mother wrote, “I fear that something will happen to my children.”

Another:  “I’m anticipating the fall where there’s no safety net to catch me.”

Others write about falling behind - rejection - isolation - mental illness - success - loneliness - the feeling that no one really loves them or cares - and the list goes on.  

How do we deal with our fears?

Last Sunday we began a series of messages from the Book of Revelation - that we’ve called Seven Messages To Seven Churches.  For the most part - the Book of Revelation focuses on the future - who God is - what He’s about to do - how He’s in control of what’s going to happen.  But these seven messages - here in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 - these seven messages written to seven different churches - focus on the present.  How we can live trusting God today - knowing that God is in control of the future.

Please turn with me to Revelation 2 - starting at verse 8.  Today we’re looking at the second message - the message given to the Church of Smyrna.  As you’re turning let me introduce this city and this church to you.

Smyrna was located on the west coast of Turkey where Izmir is today.  It was a city of about 200,000 people - beautiful - prosperous - sophisticated - wealthy.  It was a center of science and medicine.  There was a large protected harbor - so it was a major trade center.  It had been called “The Pride of Asia.”  After Ephesus it was the leading city in the area.

And yet - curiously - in this sophisticated city of tolerance and openness -  the Christians were being persecuted.  Sound familiar?  In this city of great wealth the Christians were impoverished.  In this city of enlightenment Christians were being openly slandered.

One significant reason for that persecution is that Smyrna - among many things - was also the center of Emperor worship.  Smyrna was the first city chosen by Rome to build a temple in honor of the Emperor Tiberius.  It was the first city to build a temple to the goddess Roma and the spirit of Rome.

Emperor worship became compulsory for every citizen.  Once a year every citizen had to burn incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar - and to openly declare “Caesar is Lord.”  If they didn’t burn the incense and make the declaration - they were executed.

A simple choice - declare “Caesar is Lord” and live - or declare “Jesus is Lord” and take your chances.

Polycarp - as an example of what this was like - Polycarp was a pastor of the Smyrna Church.  He was a stanch defender of our faith - a righteous and faithful brother in Christ - well respected and loved by Christians in the entire region. 

In 156 A.D. - during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius - Polycarp was arrested.  When he refused to sacrifice to the Emperor and declare “Caesar is Lord” - he was ordered burned at the stake.  While the wood around him was on fire - this brother prayed and sang praises to God.  When the flames didn’t kill him - the guards stuck spears into his body.  Finally, after many attempts they were able to kill Polycarp and burn his body.

Our brothers and sisters were dying in Smyrna.  They were harassed on every side - ostracized by the society they lived in - persecuted by their own government - slandered by Jews - oppressed by Satan - threatened daily with death.

In all of this they were still remaining faithful to Jesus.  But they were afraid.  If anyone had the circumstances and reasons to be afraid - it was the believers at Smyrna.  And, they were afraid.

In Revelation 2 - starting at verse 8 - Jesus shares with this church - to reassure them - to encourage them.  Words that can help us today - when were afraid - can help us to trust the God who’s in control of the future.

Revelation 2:8-11:  “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.’”

There are three reassuring statements that Jesus makes here that we need to focus on.

First, in verse 9 Jesus says, “I know your tribulation - your poverty - the slander against you - the attack of Satan.”

Jesus says that He has Compassion for His church.  Say that with me, “He has compassion.”

The word - translated here as “tribulation” or “affliction”- is the Greek word “thlipsis” that describes a man being slowly crushed to death under a boulder.  Imagine the building pressure as the weight of the boulder is slowly brought down on the victim.

The name Smyrna is also the name for Myrrh - s-MYRRH-nuh.  Remember the wise men?  The three gifts?  Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  When Jesus was on the cross - the Roman soldiers tried to give him a sedative - wine mixed with myrrh.  When the women came to the tomb - they intended to anoint Jesus’ body with myrrh.

When myrrh is crushed it gives off its fragrance.  The more its crushed the better it smells.  Crushed Christians of Smyrna - afflicted - tortured - daily offering themselves as a fragrant aroma - serving and honoring Jesus.

Jesus’ words are of compassion - co-passionate understanding:  “I know.  I’ve been where you are and they’ve done to me what they’re doing to you.”

Jesus knows our poverty.  He set aside the riches of Heaven to live here with humankind.  Jesus said of Himself, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58)

Jesus knows the slander that can be directed at us. Throughout His ministry He was constantly slandered - wrongly accused.  Even today - He’s vilified and maligned - ignored - mocked.

Jesus knows what it’s like to be under Satan’s attack.  When He was incarnate - for 40 days Jesus was in the wilderness being attacked by Satan.  Satan dogged Him every day of His incarnate ministry.  Satan continues to fight against Jesus today.

Jesus knew imprisonment.  Before His crucifixion He was thrown in jail.

Jesus knows our tribulation - our afflictions.  On the cross Jesus took the weight the world’s sin on Himself.  The prophet Isaiah writes of Jesus, “Surely our griefs He Himself bore and our sorrows He carried....He was crushed for our iniquities....the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him....by oppression and judgment He was taken away....the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief if He would render Himself as a guilt offering.” (Isaiah 53:4-10)

We need to hold onto that - when we feel the weight of what’s going on in us and around us crushing down on us.  Jesus isn’t some God way out there who has no clue what its like to be way down here.  He’s been here. He is here.  He knows from first hand experience what our needs are.  What we need to help us go through what’s against us - to bear up and persevere - to calm our minds - put peace in our hearts. 

First, Jesus has compassion.  “I know what it is like to go through what you’re going through.  You’re not alone in your fears and doubts and concerns.” 

Second reassuring statement - in verse 10 - Jesus says “Do not fear what you are about to suffer.”  Put another way - “You don’t need to be afraid of what is going to happen.” - “Satan is going to throw some of you into prison.  You’re faith is going to be tested.  For ten days you’re going to be crushed.  But don’t be afraid of what’s coming.”

Looking at the list - why wouldn’t any of us not be afraid?  Very afraid.

But, notice this - Jesus says, “For 10 days you will have tribulation.”  Those 10 days are symbolic of a short - limited - definite period of time.  In other words - you’re going to be put in prison - but you will not remain in prison.  I - Jesus - have established a limit - a boundary - for your tribulation - and Satan cannot go beyond that boundary.

Remember when we looked at Job?  What we saw there?  Its God who points out Job to Satan as a subject to be tested.  Its God who sets the conditions of the test - the boundaries - the limitations.  As rebellious and as malicious as Satan is - no matter how greatly he desires our destruction - he never even attempts to go beyond what God allows.  He can’t.  He has no power to do it.  Behind the scenes of what’s going on - with Job - in Smyrna - in our lives - God is in unquestioned control over what happens.

Jesus’ second reassuring statement?  “Regardless of what happens I’m still in control.”  He’s in Control.  Say that with me, “He’s in control.”

Look back up at verse 8 and how Jesus describes Himself.  These are “the words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.”  A powerful - reassuring - statement of who Jesus is.

He’s “The first and the last.”  He’s the Lord of creation - the Lord of history - the Lord of the present and the future.  All of creation finds its source in Jesus and its goal and completion in Him.  Jesus says in Revelation 21, “I am the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 21:6)  He is supreme over all creation.  He’s God and He’s in control.

Then Jesus says, I am the one “who died and came to life.”

Remember the movie Poltergeist?  I thought about showing a scene from Poltergeist.  But I thought maybe we’d get sued or something.  Way too scary.  Not a cute cartoon.

Remember the scene where its night and the little boy is in bed and he hears something.  He looks over and the clown is missing from the toy shelf.  Then he hears something under the bed - and we know it’s the clown.  He slowly looks over one side of the bed and the clown isn’t there.  Then he slowly looks over the other side of the bed and… well you get the picture.

All those movies and TV programs and video games - with the gore and demons and things - that focus on our fear of death - playing on our fear of the unknown - the unseen world

But Jesus has been there.  Done that.  Death is not a mystery to Jesus.  He was crucified.  He died.  He’s resurrected and He lives.  He is the Lord over life and death.  Even if we fear death - Jesus is in control of what will happen. 

Then in verse 11 Jesus goes even beyond physical death.  He says, “He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.”

There are worse things than physical death.  The second death is spiritual death.

Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.”  First physical death - then judgment.

In Revelation 20 there’s a description of all of mankind standing before the throne of God for judgment.  Revelation 20:14-15 says that death and Hades will be thrown into “the Lake of Fire” - the second eternal death - eternal separation from God - eternal punishment and torment.  Revelation 20:15:  “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

The Book of Life is the record book - the ledger - of all those who have trusted in Jesus as their Savior.  If our name is written in the Book of Life - we will be saved from this second - eternal death.  If our name is written in the Book of Life we’ll enter into eternity with God.

There’s no mystery here.  Jesus is in control of what happens to us - even after death.  When we trust Jesus in this life - in the midst of fear producing crushing circumstances - we have nothing to fear in this life or in the eternity to come.

Compassion - control - then the third reassuring statement.  In verse 10:  Jesus says, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  Say this with me, “We get crowned.”  Tell this to the person next to you, “You’re gonna get crowned.”

In Smyrna - a good citizen was given a crown as a reward.  They would wear these crowns around town as an act of worship - dedication - to their pagan gods.  Crowns made out of laurel leaves that dried out and turned to mulch.

In contrast - Jesus says, “I will give you the Crown of Eternal Life.”

In the Bible - there are different crowns given to believers:

- The crown of righteousness for a godly life (2 Timothy 4:8).
- The crown of glory for faithful church leaders (1 Peter 5:4)
- The incorruptible crown worn by believers in heaven (1 Corinthians 9:25)

The Crown of Life is greater than all the other crowns.  Its mentioned only two places in Scripture - here in Revelation 2 and in James 1.  Its unique.  The Crown of Life is given to those who go through persecution and martyrdom.  Jesus points to this crown to remind this church - and us - that the fears of this life will all pass away - even the extreme of physical death will pass away - and that God has promised never ending rewards for each one who trusts Him. (James 1:12)

Compassion - control - crowns.

One thought of application. 

Chuck Swindoll - in his book Hope Again, shares this:  I remember one night when I was taking care of a couple of our grandchildren.  It was late in the evening, but since grandfathers usually let their grandchildren stay up longer than they should, they were still awake.  We were laughing, messing around, and having a great time together when we suddenly heard a knock on the door.  Not the doorbell, but a mysterious knocking.  Immediately one of my grandsons grabbed hold of my arm.  “It’s OK,” I said.  The knock came again, and I started to the door.  My grandson followed me, but hung on my left leg and hid behind me as I opened the door.  It was one of my son’s friends who had dropped by unexpectedly.  After the person had left and I’d closed the door, my grandson, still holding on to my leg, said in a strong voice, “Bubba, we don’t have anything to worry about, do we?”  And I said, “No, we don’t have anything to worry about.  Everything’s fine.”  You know why he was strong?  Because he was hanging on to protection.  As long as he was clinging to grandfathers’ leg, he didn’t have to worry about a thing.

Thought of application:  Cling To Jesus.  Say that with me, “Cling to Jesus.”

In verse 11 Jesus concludes with these words:  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Jesus is saying, “You’re not listening to the words of men - but the words of the Holy Spirit - not just to the believers in Smyrna but to all the churches.  Don’t take them lightly.”

We have a choice - to hear or not to hear.  To fear or not to fear.  To grab on and not let go or to go it on our own.  Jesus says, “I understand why you’re afraid.  I know your affliction.  Know that I’m in control.  Cling to Me.  Trust me - even if it means death -  and I will give you the Crown of Life.”

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