To the Church of Smyrna:
Read - Revelation 2:8-11
Smyrna was located about 40 miles north of Ephesus, and
today is the area of Turkey known as the Province of Izmir. With the hope and
promise of eternal life, this poverty-stricken congregation had spiritual
wealth beyond measure though they were financially broken. The believers of
Smyrna were undergoing persecution at the time this letter was written. This
church received no condemnation from Christ in this passage, but were told to
endure their persecutions and sufferings faithfully. Their faithful endurance
would be rewarded with the crown of life.
Even though these people had nothing of this world, they
possessed everything. They were rich spiritually; the blessings they enjoyed
were beyond the comprehension of the unbelievers. It reminds me of the parable
of the rich fool of Luke12:13-21 and makes me think of the prosperity preachers
of today. Jesus said He knew “…the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews,
and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.” Jesus calls for believers to
serve God and others not self. Jesus will not be a part of furthering people’s
selfish interests. Prosperity preachers of today say they are of God, but are not.
Their gospel is a blasphemy just as those spoken of in this scripture.
The rich fool of Luke 12 was not “rich” toward God, even
though his worldly riches were great. If you are not familiar with this
passage, I won’t spoil the passage for you by telling you what happened to the
rich fool. Go to Luke and read it.
Prosperity preachers further selfish interests and are false
preachers. This false gospel (an oxymoron)
teaches that you need prosperity in your material life vs prosperity in your
spiritual life. This is an idolatrous teaching, elevating wealth and possessions
above God. This places the created above the CREATOR. Paul tells us in
Galatians 1:6-10 that there is no other Gospel and even if an angel from Heaven
comes down to preach another gospel, the angel will be accursed and we are not
to believe. Same he says goes for a man, if a man preaches any other gospel
then that man will be accursed. When in the last part of John 10:10 Christ says
that He came that we could have life more abundantly, he in no way is talking
financially or materially.
As did the Church of Smyrna, Christians today will go
through persecution and tribulation (references-John 16:33, Acts 14:22, 1
Thess. 3-4, 1 Peter 4:12). And we as Christians are to use what we have to help
the poor. Christ is talking about in John 10:10 the abundance of His Spirit in
our lives now and the abundance we will receive in Heaven.
Simple warning: If a
preacher says something like this, “If you struggle financially, then you have
not got the victory.” Or something like, “God didn’t create you to be common or
poor.” Then flee from that man and his church. Satan can clothe his wolves
as an angel of light, a wolf is not always ugly and mean but sometimes presents
himself as humble, caring and gentle. But he is still a wolf. And his teaching
a lie.
If you read God’s Word, you know that we do not need money
to have victory, and money actually can make obtaining the victory in Jesus
harder. Jesus let the Church of Smyrna know that He knew they were going through
tough times and He cared. Jesus encouraged them, and promises for their
endurance He would award them the crown of life. God knows my tribulations and
yours, and He cares. And we can be comforted through this passage in Revelation
that we too will receive the crown of life for our faithful endurance.
Verily I say unto you
that a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of Heaven. And again, I say
unto you, It is easier for camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a
rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:23, 24
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