BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing Feb 2020 English E-magazine | Page 12

who are descended from Israel are Israel” (Rom 9:6).
Christ declares that those who say they are of
God, but attack Christians, are really of Satan. To
blasphemy a Christian is to blasphemy Christ, just
as persecuting a Christian is equivalent to
persecuting Christ (Acts 9:4,5). Jesus said, “He who
is not with Me is against Me” (Mt 12:30). That even
explains why Christ told Peter, “Get behind Me,
Satan!” (Mt 16:23).
Throughout the Roman Empire, six slanders
were commonly levelled against the early church:
1.Because they partook of Christ's body and
blood, Christians were cannibals.
2.Because they called their common meal a
love feast, Christians gathered for orgies of lust.
3.Because Christianity at times split families,
Christians were anti-family.
4.Because Christians worshipped without
images, they were atheists.
5.Because Christians would not say, “Caesar
is Lord,” they were politically disloyal.
6.Because they taught that the world would
end with fire, Christians were incendiaries.
The Christian community was out of step with
the city of Smyrna. Because Christians chose to
walk with God, it seemed as if life was caving in.
Undoubtedly, they were asking, “How should we
react?” Christ therefore gives instructions for
enduring.
Challenge (2:9, 10)
Christ gave them a threefold survival plan. It
promised the bright hope of eternal life.
Fear not. Step one is to trust God and not fear
man. Yet there were some fearful experiences for
the church, such as prison and persecution.
For the second, Jesusalerts them that their
battle is against the forces of Satan. This time he
does not use the name Satan (adversary), but rather
the devil (slanderer). Undoubtedly, they would be
imprisoned on false charges, whether political or
religious, by so-called Jews who were unwittingly in
league with Satan.
Their imprisonment was to “test” them. It was
the same kind of testing that Satan has imposed on
Christ (Mt 4:1-11). If, like Christ, the believers of
Smyrna would be faithful to take the test with the
sword of God's word, they would emerge victorious
even in death.
A 10-day prison sentence doesn't sound too
rough. This has caused some to suggest it refers to
10 specific periods of Roman persecution. Others
suggest it symbolizes a much longer period. I
believe we should take it at face value; it probably
refers to a short imprisonment of 10 days that ends
in death (see Acts 12:1-11). Whether it is 10 days or
longer, Christ needed to exhort the Christians not
to fear.
The words of Psalm 56:4 must have comforted
them: “In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can
mortal man do to me?”
They also would
remember Jesus' words from the Sermon on the
Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven, for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you” (Mt 5:10-12).
Be faithful. This is not a temporary
assignment. For those who asked, “How long?”
Jesus answers, “Until death.”
As Christ was faithful unto death, so are
Christians to be also. But the fight does lead to a
reward. It promises the crown of eternal life that
celebrates victory over death (Js 1:12).
In all likelihood, the crowns of the New
Testament all refer to the reward of salvation that is
received on the other side of death. Paul talks about
an imperishable crown that celebrates victory over
corruption (1 Cor 9:25) and the righteous crown
that celebrates victory over unrighteousness (2 Tim
4:8). Peter writes of the unfading crown of glory that
celebrates victory over that which is defiled and
temporary (1 Pet 5:4).
Faithfulness will be rewarded, for God is a
rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him (Heb
February 2020 | www.bymonline.org | Page 12