The episode delves into the profound teachings on spiritual warfare and the personal encouragement from Jesus to the church in Smyrna. David Hawking unpacks key Biblical passages, leading to a powerful understanding of the promise of the crown of life and the enduring hope for believers. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that challenges us to see beyond present struggles into the eternal glory that awaits those who remain steadfast in their faith.
00:19:10 Concluding Thoughts on Faith and Persecution
00:24:25 Reflections on Revelation and Closing Remarks
SPEAKER 04 :
Paul wrote, we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, so why are we doing it? We wrestle against principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. You know, I wonder what would be the effect on all of us if God all of a sudden allowed all of the demons to be visible. But my dear friends, greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Understand that according to the Bible, these folks were the synagogue of Satan.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to Hope for Today with Bible teacher David Hawking. As we continue our journey through Jesus’ message to the church in Smyrna, found in Revelation chapter 2, verses 8 through 11. The church of Smyrna was under pressure, to say the least. They were under pressure not for what they did wrong, but for what they did right. They were poor, persecuted, and pushed to the margins. And yet Jesus had no correction for them, only encouragement, a command to stay faithful, and a promise that death would not be the end. Friend, if you’ve ever felt crushed, ignored, or alone for standing with Jesus, maybe you feel that right now. Listen, you’re not forgotten. Grab your Bible and get ready for day three of Satanic Opposition. Our study at Revelation chapter 2 verses 8 through 11 continues in mere moments. A quick reminder that not only are we at the end of the month when ministries are doing their best to settle all accounts and get the bills paid, but we’re also at the end of the month But summertime is here, and with the summer comes the summer slowdown. But we know our listeners aren’t typical. You care deeply about the truth of God’s Word going out clearly, boldly, and without compromise. If you’ve been strengthened through these studies in Revelation, would you prayerfully consider a one-time or monthly gift to help us keep going strong through the summer months? To give, visit davidhawking.org, davidhawking.org, or call us at 1-800-75-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. Bible is 24253. And thank you for standing with us in ministry. And here’s David with today’s study.
SPEAKER 04 :
Four things about Jesus Christ in this message of four verses. One, who he is. Two, what he knows. Three, what he commands. And four, what he promises. Real simple. Who he is, number two, what he knows. And he knows four things, according to verse 9. I know your works, I know your tribulation, I know your poverty, and I know the blasphemy that you’ve endured. Verse 9. I know the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Now turn over to 1 Peter chapter 2, please, and look at verse 19. This is a very interesting passage. We want to try to break it down so we understand what’s happening here. The blasphemy is slander of others. And they were enduring this blasphemy by those who say they were Jews but were not. 1 Peter 2, verse 19 to 23. Here’s what it says. For this is thankworthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it if when you’re buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? But if when you do well and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even here unto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. When he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. We’re going to be attacked. And Jesus said, I know that people are slandering you. I know people are doing this. But remember, Jesus, when he was reviled, he did not revile back. When he was threatened, he didn’t return it. So often we want to get our pound of flesh. We want to settle a matter. We want to get revenge. We want to straighten matters out. No. No, that’s not the way. It never has been. When he was reviled, he reviled not again. He said nothing. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and he didn’t open his mouth. And according to Peter, he suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps. That’s pretty powerful, isn’t it? Now, turn to Romans chapter 2. This blasphemy, we’re told, comes from those who say they’re Jews but are not. Now, is he talking about physical descent? No. He’s talking about those who are physical Jews, but they aren’t spiritually Jewish in their hearts. They had a false claim, in other words. And in Romans chapter 2, Paul dealt with this so many times, but this is a classic passage on who is really a Jew. Romans 2, verse 28. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, Neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart. Now he says circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. The number one problem some have said the Apostle Paul faced when he was trying to preach the gospel and start churches were people that are often called Judaizers. They were Jewish people who followed the law of Moses, and properly so, and they circumcised on the eighth day their boy children. And that was proper to do as well. But they believed that everyone who was circumcised had a guarantee that he would live forever with God and would be in the final resurrection. So circumcision becomes a kind of legalism. You’ve got to do it in order to be sure of eternal life and be in the resurrection. And Paul, of course, constantly combated that because when the gospel came to the Gentiles, you had multitudes of people, more then than now, where we see circumcision from a health point of view, but you had just literally thousands of people coming to Christ who were not circumcised. And these Judaizers were going around saying that Paul is perverting the law of Moses. They need to be circumcised. And he says, no, wait a minute. No, the circumcision God wants is in the heart. And just because you’re circumcised outwardly in the flesh does not mean that you’re a true Jew. Does not mean you really are believing in the Messiah. For remember that circumcision, my friends, was the sign that the parents believed the messianic hope and the promise to Abraham. The Abrahamic covenant in thee, Abraham, shall all families, even Gentiles of the earth, be blessed. What is the sign of that covenant? And it was the parents circumcising their child. Circumcision didn’t save the child. Circumcision even reflected the faith of the parents. And that’s so important. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been baptized. If you have never come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are not saved. You need to be baptized only as an act of obedience to your faith in Jesus Christ. So important. These Jews were therefore troubling the Christians. They didn’t want the Christian message. And they said they were Jews, but they are not, and they were slandering the Christians. Go back, please, to Revelation chapter 2. We not only have their false claim, these who are blaspheming the Christians, but we have their true connection. Interesting that Jesus would say they are the synagogue of Satan. Who is really behind the accusations, the slander? Who’s behind it? Revelation 12.2 says that the devil, Satan himself, is the accuser of the brethren. So sometimes we get upset and ticked off at people that may be slandering or criticizing. Understand the one behind it is the one you should be angry at. It’s Satan. And he stirs up the brothers and sisters against one another. And he often causes strife and envy and problems. And James speaks about it. And we lose the wisdom of God, and all of a sudden we’re in this war with each other. And yet Paul wrote, we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, so why are we doing it? Understand. And according to the Bible, these folks were the synagogue of Satan. Turn over to 1 Peter chapter 5 and look at verse 8. 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8 to 11. The synagogue of Satan. 1 Peter 5, 8 says, Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, slanderer. That’s his nature. That’s what it means. The devil is a slanderer. He accuses. He walketh about, he’s a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. You’re not the only one going through it. But the God of all grace, isn’t that great? grace giving us what we don’t deserve, who called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, make you perfect or mature, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Back to Revelation 2. Who he is, what he knows, what he commands. Verse 10. There are two things, two issues that form his commands. One deals with fear and one deals with faithfulness. Revelation chapter 2, one deals with fear and one deals with faithfulness. Verse 10, fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried, and you shall have tribulation ten days. Second command, be thou faithful unto death. Now, let’s take fear for a moment. We first of all have a prediction of suffering. Did you catch that? Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. You will suffer. We’re all going to suffer. It’s just a question of time. Number two, the person behind the persecution of believers. The devil shall cast some of you into prison. The devil is behind it. That’s what the Bible says. Turn to 2 Thessalonians 3. The Bible is very clear that we suffer because of our own faults. The Bible is also very clear that we suffer because of the curse. The curse results in our body falling apart. For instance, as we get older, we experience the decay of the body, and we’ve got problems in the body. We’ve got illnesses and sicknesses, and it’s not always a result of specific sinning in our life. That was clear from the man born blind in John 9. The disciples said, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus said, neither, but that the works of God might be manifest in him. So sometimes physical malady is simply the result of the curse, the fall of man and the curse in the world. And it’s not the result of specific sinning in anybody’s life. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. So we’re buffeted for our own faults. We are also experiencing the results of the curse. And I’d like to also add that God is very clear in the Word that He sometimes directly causes suffering in the life of our believers in the Bible. And you say, wait a minute, I don’t understand. You mean God imposes suffering? Yes, absolutely, and says so many times. But we also have in the Bible a volume of Scripture that tells us that Satan is involved. He can inflict physical harm and pain. We learn all the way through the Gospels. He is even the one who has the power of death that was destroyed in that power of death by Christ’s death on the cross. But he is an enemy, and he is able to inflict enormous trouble. The demons of hell can cause terrible, terrible persecution problems, physical problems, emotional problems, and spiritual problems. And the Bible says so. And it’s easy to be fearful. Yet Jesus says, fear none of this. Even though the person behind it is Satan, the accuser of the brethren, as Revelation chapter 12 verse 10 says. A missionary leader friend who was home on furlough speaking at a missionary conference from South America told me about a raid of the police in his given city in South America. They had raided a group of Satanists. In the raid, they found numerous copies of a hit list of Satanists were praying for the destruction and fall of these people. And he handed it to me. This was several years ago. He handed it to me, and my name was on the list. And many other of your radio friends. They were on this list. This was all the way down in South America. The devil is not more powerful than God, but I wonder if we are taking seriously the matter of prayer. I read in 2 Thessalonians 3, Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all men have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and keep you from evil. The Greek has the evil one. And some of the English translations indicate that. The Lord is faithful to establish you and keep you from what? From the evil one. Is that necessary? You bet. Because he’s on the prowl as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Now go back to Revelation 2. The prediction of suffering, you will suffer this. The person behind it, the devil himself. The purpose of this is that you may be tried. That you may be tested. Why? So you’ll be wiped out again? No. The Bible speaks of us being tried like gold in the fire. We become more beautiful as we go through that testing. How about sandpaper? Isn’t a lot of things that we go through like sandpaper? It does cause friction, but it also rounds off the rough edges. Amen? God uses us in our lives to make us what he wants us to be. And what’s the period of suffering? Look at verse 10 again. It says, you will have tribulation 10 days. What does that mean? Well, there are three major views. One, that it’s the 10 general persecutions under Rome. The problem with this is that Nero, which was the first one, precedes the date of this message. And the text indicates that the 10 days are still future. So much for that view. A second view is that it refers to the 10 years of persecution that came under Emperor Diocletian. Because out of all the 10 persecutions in Rome of the Christians, one of them lasted for 10 years, 303 to 313 AD. But that’s so far removed from this message. And since it says you will suffer soon, you’re going to suffer, it seems to me that it’s stretching it a little bit to try to prove that point. What does it mean? I believe it means a short time. It’s used that way in Genesis and Job and Daniel. It’s used that way many times. Ten days is an idiomatic expression to the Jewish mind of a short period of time. You can check out Genesis 24, 55, Job 19, 3, Daniel 1, 12. They use this idiom. And the thing that really blessed me is a lot of us, we go through this suffering. We say, when will it ever end? And God in his comfort to them says, it’s going to only last just a short time. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4, our light affliction. Boy, we go through it sometimes. 2 Corinthians 4, 17. Our light affliction is but for a moment and works for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory. While we don’t look at the things that are seen, they’re temporal. We look at the things that are not seen, they’re eternal. It’s only going to be a short time. What does he command? Don’t be afraid. As to fear, fear none of this. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And number two, faithfulness. Be thou faithful unto death. Can you imagine being in that church and hearing this message? You feel like saying, why us? Why not send it over to Laodicea? Be thou faithful unto death. Job said, though he slay me, yet will I trust him. You cannot read that message without seeing Polycarp in his 90s being burned at the stake. Be thou faithful unto death. You cannot read it without thinking of hundreds of people just the result of that one man’s testimony who died for their faith and refused to burn the incense to say Caesar is Lord. Be thou faithful unto death. What does he promise? Let’s wrap it up. He promises two things. He promises, one, a crown that makes it all worthwhile. A crown of life. Verse 10, I will give thee a crown of life. Is that a martyr’s crown like somebody has often said and some of the commentators refer to? I don’t think so, and I’ll tell you why. Because in James 1, 12, it says, Blessed is the man that endures temptation or trial, for when he’s tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. so all that love him are getting the crown of life. What it’s talking about is eternal life. Don’t worry what happens to you in this life. What’s coming is far better. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has entered in the heart of man the things the Lord has prepared for those that love him. Amen? Don’t be discouraged, pilgrims. It’s going to be worth it all, a crown of life. And the second promise is a consequence that will never be faced, which is the worst consequence any man could face in his life, the second death. We will learn about it in Revelation 20. We mention it now. Whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Here we go through life. We suffer. We’re poor. We’re being slandered and beat up and tortured and persecuted and being martyred. And God says, don’t worry about it. I’ll give you the crown of life and you will not be in hell. You will be in heaven and that will make it worth it all. There is no greater issue to any of us No greater issue than to escape hell and to be with God forever. There’s no greater issue. There’s nothing on your agenda. There’s nothing in your plans. Nothing this week you’ve got that you’re thinking about that’s any more important than that. It’s escaping hell and being in heaven. And the only way is through Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no other way. Father, we often get so discouraged when we go through trial and suffering and we just get so wiped out and we feel like we can’t take another step. Thank you for the encouragement of your word. Even your commands encourage us as you tell us to not be afraid of any of these things. Lord, we confess we’re often intimidated, filled with anxiety, and deeply afraid. God, I pray that we’ll be loyal to Jesus Christ. even if it means losing our job or worse. Help us, Lord, to understand that everything that’s happening in this life is a short time. You tell us sorrow endures for the night, but joy is coming in the morning. And there will be no morning as wonderful as that day we wake up in glory. Oh God, help us to rejoice, to understand that suffering is coming from your gracious hand, not to wipe us out and make us discouraged, but to make us stronger, more committed to you. And we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen. Amen.
SPEAKER 02 :
this Bible teacher and author, David Hawking, and this is Hope for Today. And just before David returns to close out our time today, Matt’s here, and we’re excited about a special resource we have this month. Matt?
SPEAKER 01 :
In our last radio series, we witnessed Daniel’s exile to Babylon and the trials and the tribulation he and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced from living in its idolatrous pagan and evil culture.
SPEAKER 02 :
Matt, in our current series through Revelation, we’re going to see Babylon’s continued influence in a vivid picture of the world’s condition today and in the prophetic future.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, and Jim, we’re talking about Babylonianism. That’s it. I mean, what is Babylonianism and how did it grow out of ancient Babylon into what’s been an incredibly destructive and deceptive impact on civilizations in history?
SPEAKER 02 :
Over a 4,000-year time span. Yeah. How has Babylonianism saturated our culture today?
SPEAKER 01 :
And how will it unleash unparalleled evil in the end time? Well, our featured resource is a biblical guide for all you need to know about Babylonianism. How to stand guard against its compromising and misleading dogma. and how to understand its role in end times deception. This month, we’re featuring a special price on my dad’s book, Babylon, Its History and Prophecies. Normally $15, just $10 this month.
SPEAKER 02 :
And Matt, what a wonderful, powerful study guide commentary this is. I would call it a roadmap through scripture on the topic of Babylonianism.
SPEAKER 01 :
Yeah, it not only helps believers to be aware and prepared, but it also reemphasizes the wonder of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. That’s the beauty of scripture and the joy of heaven that awaits believers. Amen. Amen. Get Babylon, its history and prophecies, normally $15. Just $10 this month when you call 1-800-75-BIBLE, 242-53. In Canada, call 1-888-75-BIBLE or purchase at davidhocking.org.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, by the way, if you’re following along in our current series through Revelation, we have David’s complete sermon notes in Revelation. All 48 messages are available right now. The sermon notes are loaded with scripture references, cross-references, historical context, and insightful outline structures to help you study deeper and follow along more closely as David teaches or even teach others. Imagine as David teaches, you hear something special and you didn’t quite catch it. If you go to the sermon notes, you got it right there. The whole set, the sermon notes for all 48 messages, just $10. And you can download them right now. Purchase and download at davidhawking.org. If you’d like the print version, call us at 800-75-BIBLE. That’s in the U.S. Or 888-75-BIBLE. In Canada, Bible is 24253. Now, if the Lord’s been using these studies to encourage or help you grow, well, we invite you to help us keep this teaching going strong. A one-time gift right now or monthly support, whatever God puts on your heart makes a real difference. Again, you can give by phone or online or write to Hope for Today, Box 3927, Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, B.C., V2S, 8, P1. And here’s David with some closing thoughts.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hope for Today, Teaching the Book of Revelation. It’s a great study, and we have a huge commentary of 576 pages, a hardback, on Revelation called Understanding the Future. And you’ll want to get your copy and follow along with us. There’s different kinds of things in that book than what we’re doing on the radio. Well, Revelation 2, 8 to 11 is about satanic opposition. Wow. A church which suffered greatly. And the Lord identifies Himself as the first and the last terms from the Jewish Bible. And He tells them, don’t worry about the things which you suffer. Wow. It was Polycarp who was burned at the stake. an early leader of the churches in Asia Minor and especially of Smyrna. Well, I hope that you’re going to be here with us for every broadcast. God bless.
SPEAKER 02 :
Well, thank you, David. In fact, if you’d like that 576-page hardback commentary on Revelation that David just mentioned, it’s titled, Revelation, Understanding the Future, just go to davidhawking.org, and you can order it there. The cost is just $20. You can also order by calling us at 875-BIBLE in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada, and Bible by the numbers 24253. And on our next program, it’s time for our monthly question and answer program. So do join us then right here on Hope for Today.
The episode delves into the profound teachings on spiritual warfare and the personal encouragement from Jesus to the church in Smyrna. David Hawking unpacks key Biblical passages, leading to a powerful understanding of the promise of the crown of life and the enduring hope for believers. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that challenges us to see beyond present struggles into the eternal glory that awaits those who remain steadfast in their faith.
