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Jesus’ letter to the second of the seven churches in Asia Minor begins, “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” (Revelation 2:8) While we might pass over the greeting to get to the meat of the letter, this greeting carries a powerful message for the Christians in Smyrna.
The name Smyrna means “bitter.” Smyrna was indeed a bitter place to live if you were a Christian in the first century. The Christians in Smyrna faced intense persecution and suffered from severe poverty because of their faith. Jesus wastes no time giving them three specific reasons to find hope and strength in Him:
1. “I am the First and the Last”
Jesus is eternal. He had the first word, and no matter how rampant evil is in the world, he will have the last word.
2. “I died”
He, himself, suffered physical death. He lets them know, upfront, that no matter what experiences they may have as believers, Jesus personally identifies with them.
3. “I came to life again”
Christ identifies himself, not just as the one who died, but also as the one who came back to life again. He literally defeated death. So, even if believers have to suffer to the point of death, Christ, the one who “came to life again,” will raise them to eternal life with him.
It was a powerful opening statement for the suffering Christians in Smyrna. It remains a powerful statement for those who are suffering, today.
Your Pastor,
David Hulme
Senior Pastor