ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (03/08/91)
In a series of articles I am going to present the entire Church history as phrophezied in Revelation 2:1-3:22. These verses phrophezy concerning the first Church to the last Church before the Lord returns. If you would like a list of references on Church history please send me a note. Note: This posting is very long. It will be divided into seven parts (there are epistles to seven Churches.) Each part will consist of one or more subparts. Part II of VII - Subpart 2 of 2 of Part II CHAPTER 2 III. "THE THINGS WHICH ARE" -- THE SEVEN LOCAL CHURCHES 2:1-3:22 B. Church in Symrna -- the Church under Persecution 10 Do not (a)fear what you are about to (b)suffer. Behold, the (1c)Devil is about to cast some of you into (d)prison that you may be (e)tried, and you will have (f)tribulation (2g)ten days. Be (h)faithful (i)unto death, and I will give you the (3j)crown of life. (1) Gk. diabolos, meaning accuser, slanderer (Rev. 12:9-10). The Devil, who is Satan, the adversary of God, accuses us before God and slanders us before men. (2) Ten is the number of fulness, such as the ten commandments, which express God's demand in full, and the tithes of the offerings, which show that ten parts constitute the full offering. Ten days in the Bible signify a period of time which is full, yet short (Gen. 24:55; Jer. 42:7; Dan. 1:12-14). here it signifies the affliction of the suffering church was full, yet short. As a sign, these ten days indicate prophetically the ten periods of persecution which the church suffered under the Roman emperors, beginning with Caesar Nero in the second half of the first century and ending with Constatine the Great in the first part of the fourth century. However the persecutions instigated by the Devil, Satan, through the Roman Caesars, who did their utmost to destroy and eliminate the church, they were unable to subdue and terminate her. History demonstrates that the church of the living Christ "Who became dead and lived again" withstood the persecutions victoriously and multiplied flourishingly by the indestructable resurrection life. (3) A "crown" in New Testament usage usually denotes a prize in addition to salvation. See references. The "crown of life" as a prize to those who are faithful unto death inovercoming persecution denotes the overcoming strength, which is the power of the resurrection life (Phil. 3:10); it also signifies these overcomers have attained to "the our-resurrection from among the dead," i.e., the outstanding resurrection (Phil. 3:11). (a) Matt. 10:28 (b) John 16:33; Acts 14:22 (c) rev. 12:9, 12; 20:2, 10 (d) Luke 21:12; Acts 5:25; 8:3; 12:4-5; 16; 23-24; 22.4; 26:10; 2 Cor. 11.23; Heb. 13:3 (e) heb. 2:18 (f) Rev. 1:9 (g) Gen. 24:55; Jer. 42:7; Dan 1:12-14 (h) Rev. 2:13; 17:14 (i) Rev. 12:11; Phil. 2:8 (j) Rev. 3:11; James 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:8, 1 Pet. 5:4, 1 Cor. 9:25; 11 He who has an (a)ear, let him hear what the (b)Spirit says to the churches. He who (1)overcomes shall by no means be (2)hurt (3)of the (d)second death. (1) To "overcome" in this epistle means to overcome persecution by being "faithful unto death." (2) Due to the fall and the entering in of sin, every man must die once (Heb. 9:27). This first death, however, is not the final settlement. All the dead will be resurrected and pass through the judgment of the great white throne at the close of the millenium, i.e., at the conclusion of the old heaven and earth, except those who through faith in the Lord Jesus have been recorded in the book of life. As a result of this judgment, they will all be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death as the final settlement (Rev. 20:11-15). hence, the second death is God's dealing with man after man's death and resurrection. Since the overcomers have overcome death through their faithfulness unto death under persecution and have left nothing requiring furthe dealing by God after their resurrection, they will be rewarded with the crown of life and willnot be touched, or "hurt," any more by the death after resurrection, which is the second death. (3) Gk. out of. (a) Rev. 2:7; (b) Rev. 2:7; (c) Rev. 2:7; (d) Rev. 20:6, 14; 21:8 ----- Robert W. Johnson Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland robert@kontu.utu.fi (InterNet) robert@firien.bitnet (BITNET) The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.