Shalom Brethren,
This weeks message continues in our 7 part study series on the “Seven Assemblies of Asia Minor”, this week the second assembly “Smyrna”.
This assembly is one of the two which receive no criticism from Y’HoWShUA. They are a persecuted group who are told they will suffer tribulation for 10 days, possibly indicating 10 physical years of persecution and tribulation. We are not told of any great work that this group of Saints actually achieved. All they are required to do is patiently endure tribulation and they are promised the “Crown of Life”.
This is a lesson for us today. As we see and hear of growing persecution of Christians around the world becoming common place, with mass beheadings and murders by Islamic groups in the Middle East and Africa, we need to prepare ourselves for this level of persecution here at home.
In Revelation 6 we read that the souls of those who were executed for their witness to YHWH are preserved under the altar and in chapter 7 that a great multitude which no man could number come out of the tribulation. In chapter 20, we find he most direct correlation to the current explosion of Islamic barbarism “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Y’HoWShUA and for the word of The Might One, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands”.
But, as always YHWH gives hope to His people as this verse concludes, “And they lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years”. Brethren, we need to meditate on this now, when persecution comes upon us will we go the way of the world? Or will we heed the admonition of Scripture, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (Rev 13:9-10).
And as James, the brother of Y’HoWShUA, tells us “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of The Mighty One”. (Jas 1:19-20).
The full message is available on our YouTube channel and you can watch it here.
Also, I’ve had a couple of requests to provide the service notes for people to follow along when they’re watching the message. I can’t automatically provide them with my current web site but this will be available when I complete the website update. In the interim, I will now produce the speaking notes and slides as a pdf handout. So if you want a copy please email me because this is the best way for me to send them to you.
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Shalom!
Your brother and servant of YHWH the one True Mighty One,
David