The Church of Smyrna - Withstand Trials

Firstly, who was the first and the last? Who was dead and now is alive? this is the message to the church of Smyrna.

Letter From

Revelation 2:8

8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

From the Old Testament, for example Isaiah 44:6, we see that this is The God of Israel, the creator of all things. Moving on to Revelation, we find that he is also the last, the ending, the Alpha and Omega.

Revelation 1:8

8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

So in dealing with the problem later on it is key to understand that the one writing is the Lord of Israel, the creator of all, and the one who will judge the world at the end. It also says that the letter is from the one who was dead and is now alive. This is of course none other than Christ himself. The risen Lord, in who we have salvation, and the assurance of resurection on the last day.

The Problem

Revelation 2:8-9

9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

This was the church he was writing to, and for us, a challenge to be sure of who is around us. There is always a problem. Some say that this church had no problem, except persecution which is not a problem but a blessing! However it is a problem. How do you persevere in the face of persecution? Only by being secure in the knowledge that there is a God, he created all we see, and will judge it at the end. More importantly, we will rise again on that last day. For all who believe that Christ is risen from the dead there is no fear in death.

1 Corinthians 15:12-14, 20

12. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

If Christ is risen, we also will rise and therefore we can stand against any persecution.