No Fear!
“I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.” – Rev 2:9. NLT
It appears from the text that the church’s relationship with the Jews of Smyrna was at risk. This was a perilous matter for the church. By the Second Century everyone was expected to venerate the emperor except the Jews. Jews were exempted out of respect for the antiquity of their religion. Since early Christians were usually identified as Jewish, they were often protected from unnecessary persecution.
The Jews themselves, on the other hand, had reason to be cautious about this arrangement. 25 years earlier Jewish apocalyptic excitement had provoked the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and its temple, leaving behind thousands of dead. It was loud and clear that Jewish status in the empire could be revoked at a moment’s notice if Christian talk of the Messiah created Roman suspicion against the Jews.
At the time Revelation was written, the Jewish community was in some difficulty with the local leaders of Smyrna. When Christian Jews talked about Jesus the Messiah and the end of the world, it could only make things even more difficult. So the word “blasphemy” in our text should be understood in terms of “slander.” Historical records suggest that the Jews regularly reported Christians to authorities for being followers of Jesus and therefore anti-emperor and an enemy of the state. Jews did not like the Christian influence. It is no wonder that Christians would see Jews like this as tools of satan. Especially when being reported to the authorities could result in execution.
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. – REV 2:10. NLT
Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” Why? Because “ … because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. (1 John 4:18-19 NLT)
Those who fear (respect) God have placed themselves in God’s control and are not impressed with anybody else. They have learned to trust God in all circumstances because He knows all circumstances. He permits nothing that wouldn’t be for our good in the long run. He permits nothing that we can’t handle if we are in relationship with Him. That’s a hard saying (based in Romans 8:28), but the words in our text are addressed to the 200-year period when the church suffered a lot!
Every so often we get into situations that we can’t handle. We still don’t need to be afraid. Sometimes the river of our life rushes down the ravine and into the gorge, where the shadows are overpowering, and the darkness surrounds us. Sometimes it flows in places that bewilder us and we ask, “how did I get here?” The river of life flows and our memories line the banks. Eventually it will flow into the fathomless immensity of eternity.
Through all of life’s circumstances, no matter how bewildering, we must trust God with the outcome.
Now I don’t intend to be stupid and go places where I don’t belong, but if God is in control of my life, I don’t have to be afraid. If God is with me and its time, then it’s time. I don’t have to worry about when. Fear is no longer in control. May the Lord help us to live instinctively by faith, trusting the outcome of our various situations to Him.