And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;
These things saith the first and the last,
which was dead, and is alive; I know
thy works, and tribulation, and poverty,
(but thou are rich) and I know the
blasphemy of them which say they are Jews,
and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Fear none of those things which thou
shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast
some of you into prison, that ye may be tried;
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee
a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:8-11
Revisiting what we have studied and learned is important for us so that we understand certain things: i.e., seven is the number for completeness; therefore those seven Churches represent all of Christendom, and that Jesus sees all our works, and that those who overcome will inherit the blessings of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we have come to know that we are soldiers, soldiers of Jesus Christ and that we are victorious soldiers. We as His soldiers are bound to fight the fight of Jesus Christ and that means to fight sin, the world, and the devil. If you are not fighting this fight you are tacitly renouncing your Christianity. God has given to us all the protection we need to fight this fight (Ephesians 6:13-17) so we do not have to fear for we are the conquerors and are overcomers. This is our distinguishing mark as Authentic Christians: we are numbered as a soldier in the ranks of Jesus' Christ' army.
Let this one thing be clear: If you have any right to any of the promises of Jesus Christ you must fight this good fight in the cause and for the cause of Jesus Christ, and in this fight you will be the conqueror. Victory is the evidence that you have Authentic Christianity Faith, a saving faith. This fight may include, and does, your time in reading the Bible, praying, and going to Church, which is all good: But, how goes the battle? Are you fighting the battle? Are overcoming the love of the world with all its delicate, euphoric and delicious invitation to be involved in what they offer and you overcoming the fear of man? What about your passions, tempers, and lusts of your own heart: are you fighting this fight and are you overcoming? Let us get this: you must either serve sin and the devil and the world, to rule over all that is offered to you or not. There is no middle ground, in fact, if you are walking the fence, in time, both sides will be throwing rotten eggs at you. You must either conquer or be lost.
The letter to the angel of the Church in Smyrna gives this warning and promise: "...He that ovecometh shall not be hurt or the second death" (Revelation 2:11b). The second death is Gehenna, not hell, Gehenna. Gehenna is the Greek word for the Valley of Hinnom where sulphur and brimstone, burned day and night and destroyed all that was thrown into it, even those vile people not deserving of a burial. As this letter reminds us; we have men and women who are blaspheming and are of the Devil. These vile men are drawing people away from the truth and causing them to not be Authentic Christians. Much trial and tribulations come to one who follow them due to those promises and speculations of these vile men and women not coming true. You must be faithful unto death. There are no shortcuts here as some seem to teach, those who rely on experiences rather than on the cross of Jesus Christ. It cost Jesus Christ His life on the horrible cross, a painful death: just for you. Jesus did not have to do this; He is God and is in need of nothing so His death was a vicarious death and what His death did was to destroy Satan's power and in time will destroy Satan. It is by way of the cross that you become an Authentic Christian, no other way. Sin, the world and the devil must be mortified in you, resisted by you and overcome by you. God will not do it for you: you must do it.
John wrote that those opposer will only last 10 days, and 10 is used for the world and that by stating a number then the world has a limit of time in which it will oppose and contradict and blaspheme God, and you. You must choose! Choose wisely! Either by an Authentic Christian or not! Either be an overcomer or not! Be one that will be thrown into Gehenna or not! He that hath an ear, let him/her hear!
And if it seem evil unto you
to serve the LORD, choose you
this day whom ye will serve; whether
the gods which your fathers served
that were on the other side of the flood,
or the gods of he Amorites, in whose
land ye dwell: but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15
Gear up: The battle needs you
Richard L. Crumb
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