Over the years, I have had many conversations with people who were fascinated by the Book of Revelation. People are both intrigued and intimidated by its many symbols and mysteries. They are obsessed with the descriptions of plagues and judgments, the defeat of Satan, or the New Jerusalem. I probably couldn’t count the number of times I have heard people speculate about the Mark of the Beast. And no wonder! Revelation is an exciting book that God wants us to read, and it concerns the future.
However, rarely do I find people all that excited about chapters two and three, which are written as letters to seven churches in Asia Minor. I have a theory as to why. First, Hollywood and other major sources of media often portray the judgments and symbols of Revelation in very entertaining yet fictional ways. This brings attention to the “exciting” part of the book. Secondly, the great wealth of symbols, numbers, and apocalyptic events is a playground in which theologians, skeptics, and self-proclaimed prophets all seem to enjoy building theologies and uncovering “hidden spiritual truths.”
Now, I am all for people reading the so-called exciting portions of Revelation—we should because it’s the Word of God, it is truth, and we should strive to come to a biblical understanding of future events. But let us not forget about the wealth of practical instruction given to the Church in chapters two and three. Of what value is prophecy to those who neglect the basics of Christianity? It is like a man trying to understand complex fields of mathematics with no working knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication, or division.
The messages to the churches of Revelation are overflowing with practical truth, warnings, encouragements, and promises. Let me share just one thought from the letter to the church at Smyrna—perhaps it will cultivate in you a desire to pour over the wealth of these two chapters!
This letter is found in Revelation 2:8-11. It is written to a church in extreme poverty and whose future portends devastating persecution. The letter leaves no doubt that these believers would face false imprisonment, torture, and even death! Yet the Savior is revealed as “The first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”
The messenger comes to them in their poverty and declares them rich. In Christ, our every need is met. As 2 Peter 1:3 tells us, God’s divine power has given us “All things pertaining to life and godliness.”
The charge of the letter is to “fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer” and to “be faithful unto death.” Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
The glorious promises are “a crown of life” and that “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” In John 11:25-26 Jesus was speaking to Martha on the way to Lazarus’s grave. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
The letter to Smyrna teaches us that whether in life or in death the believer need not fear. It teaches us that no matter our physical circumstances, we have all we need. It teaches us that when the times of persecution arise and there is no place on earth we are accepted, our place in the eternal presence of the risen Savior is secure.
What amazing truths! Why not read the rest of the book!
Crossroads Bible Fellowship is located at 1002 Road B, Henderson, NE.
