Revelation 2:8-11

Editor’s Note: If you haven’t already read it, you will probably want to check out Part 1.

The Battle Plan

Step 1: We must not fear.

The facts that Jesus knew the frightful situation better than the Smyrnaeans, was looking at their hearts and minds, and was on their side, however, do not negate the fact that the saints in Smyrna were hurting. In fact, I would submit that this is exactly why Smyrna is one of only two churches that Jesus has nothing against: as crippling as fear may be, Jesus understood its reality and acknowledged its legitimacy. Indeed, this is exactly why, in verse 10, he offers some very specific encouragement: “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.”

To this church that was already afflicted and poor, Jesus warned that, as bad as things were, they could – and would – get worse. How much worse? Consider the rest of verse 10: “Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days.” Because there is no extant historical record of this affliction, scholars suggest a variety of interpretation for this warning. Some suggest that the Smyrnaean believers would suffer ten literal days of fierce persecution. Others submit that there would be ten distinct periods of extraordinary persecution, and still others insist that the days were figurative and the saints would actually suffer ten years of persistent persecution.

Sadly, history suggests that the warning may have referred to all of the above.

It is understandable, then, that the Smyrnaean believers may have had a sense of fear! Indeed, as much as we do not like to admit that we are afraid, it was probably smart, even essential! Fear floods the body with adrenalin and other chemicals which heighten senses, quicken reflexes, and increase strength and more. In this way, fear can be beneficial under the proper conditions, but runaway fear, the kind of fear that is both severe and ongoing, cripples and even paralyzes. Satan understood this in Smyrna, and he understands it now. This is exactly why he unleashed persecution in Smyrna, to instill this kind of fear and stop the church there in its tracks, and it is exactly why he often unleashes persecution, tension, and other challenges in our churches today.

In Smyrna, it seems clear from Jesus’ words that fear was not as entrenched as the complacency in Ephesus or some of the other strongholds we will encounter, but the enemy was clearly hard at work building a stronghold of fear. He was digging in, building up, and fortifying, and in too many of us today, he is doing exactly the same thing.

The problem is that, as Satan digs in and expands his stronghold of fear, it eventually cripples our pursuit of Jesus. When we are afraid, we do not step out on faith because we may be embarrassed. We do not curb our profanity because we may be ridiculed. We do not tell others about Jesus because we may be rejected. The list goes on and on.

What is truly alarming to me, though, is the fact that, while Jesus was clear that the Smyrnaeans had real reason to fear, Satan too often has no need to unleash real persecution in order for me to be afraid. The stronghold of fear is so well-established in me that he has only to whisper in my ear, “What if…?”

What if I fail?

What if they laugh at me?

What if I get fired?

What if I get sick?

What if I die?

What if…?

And I am stopped dead in my tracks. 

It is therefore significant that Jesus bid the church at Smyrna, where the worst of these were very real possibilities, and us, “Don’t be afraid.” Literally, the Greek reads, “Not fear,” with the emphasis on “not.” And suddenly, the way to overcome the stronghold of fear is clear: we must fear not.

Now, please note that this does not mean that we will never be scared. Remember, Jesus acknowledged the reality and legitimacy of the Smyrnaean saints’ fear. Even so, our fear should never reach the point where we do – or do not – do something because we are afraid. Fear must never become the driving force behind what we say, think, or do. That force must always be Jesus; when he calls us to move, or not move, to do something or be something, our response should never be, “Well, what if…?” Rather, it should always be, “Yes, Lord.”

Step 2: We must be faithful.

But how do we do that? How do we say, “Yes, Lord,” even when every fiber in our being is screaming, “Run away!”? How do we defeat this stronghold of fear that Satan is working so hard to establish in our lives? What is the antidote to fear?

Fortunately, in verse 10, Jesus succinctly answered that question for the church at Smyrna and for us. He said, “Be faithful until death.”

Wait a second. Be faithful until death?

Be faithful until death.

As much as I am certain the believers at Smyrna did not want to hear that, it was nevertheless exactly what they needed to hear. And it is exactly what we need to hear, but what exactly does it mean?

Merriam-Webster defines the word “faithful” to mean “full of faith, steadfast in affection or allegiance, firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.” When Jesus told the Smyrnaeans and us to be faithful, then, he was really saying that, when life is tough, we need to be full of faith that Jesus can. When God seems distant or hidden behind danger and pain, we need to be steadfast in affection toward and allegiance to him. When there are mountains in the way and bad guys waiting on every pass, we need to be firm in our adherence to the promises that we have made and in observing our duty to obey.

We do this because, when Jesus’ life grew difficult, this is exactly what he did. He knew his life on earth would end on a cross, with all the gruesome brutality that entailed, and yet he pressed on.

We do this because, even when God seems distant or hidden, he is yet there. Such was the case with Job, who observed in Job 23:8-10, “If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him. When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him. Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.” The idea was that, even though Job could not perceive God, God was still present and working.

We do this because mountains and bad guys do not negate the fact that we have been called, and when we asked Jesus to become Lord of our lives, we made a promise to obey.

Yes, this was exactly what the saints in Smyrna needed to hear, and it is exactly what we need to hear, too! We may be quaking in our boots, but buck up, buckle down, and press on. Be faithful until death because, as followers of Christ, our ultimate salvation and victory is held secure beyond death in heaven.

Further, if we are resolved to be faithful until death – the single scariest thing in all of life – in what situation will we not be faithful? Truly, this is the one and only thing that will take out the stronghold of faith in our lives. We must be faithful without qualification, reservation, or excuse. Until death. Faithful.