Good evening!
Welcome again this evening
00:00:20.54\00:00:24.03
to The
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:00:24.06\00:00:26.92
We're very happy
that you're here.
00:00:27.02\00:00:28.90
And all of you that are
joining us by television
00:00:29.00\00:00:31.96
or radio or through the Internet
00:00:32.16\00:00:33.93
we welcome you tonight.
00:00:34.23\00:00:35.49
This is a seminar that deals
with the book of Revelation,
00:00:35.79\00:00:39.96
and we're going
through the book of Revelation
00:00:40.26\00:00:43.24
chapter by chapter.
And this particular section
00:00:43.44\00:00:47.19
we're studying the 7
churches of Asia Minor.
00:00:47.49\00:00:50.96
These are very
important because they set
00:00:51.26\00:00:54.48
the tone for the
whole book of Revelation.
00:00:54.68\00:00:57.79
As we move out of these 7
churches in our next section
00:00:58.09\00:01:01.83
we will find it will
take us right into that.
00:01:02.03\00:01:04.40
And so it will progress
through the book of Revelation
00:01:04.60\00:01:07.29
so it's a very important one.
00:01:07.59\00:01:09.26
Also, because these
are personal letters
00:01:09.47\00:01:12.89
that Jesus Christ
wrote. Letters that He wrote
00:01:13.10\00:01:17.33
to the seven
churches of Asia Minor.
00:01:17.53\00:01:20.11
And as we
mentioned the other night,
00:01:20.42\00:01:22.48
those seven letters
had meaning to them;
00:01:22.78\00:01:25.40
they have meaning to us today
00:01:25.60\00:01:27.80
and also to the
church down through the ages.
00:01:28.10\00:01:31.28
So you need to look at it as
we study it from night to night
00:01:31.59\00:01:35.06
in that aspect...
that you will understand
00:01:35.26\00:01:38.43
what He's talking about.
00:01:38.63\00:01:39.92
As I've encouraged you -
I'll encourage you again -
00:01:40.23\00:01:42.66
be sure and bring your
Bible and follow along.
00:01:42.96\00:01:48.00
Underline, folks, or highlight.
00:01:48.20\00:01:51.05
Write notes because we'll
be sharing different things
00:01:51.35\00:01:54.62
with you that
happened in these churches.
00:01:54.82\00:01:56.81
And we hope it will help
you because when we're through
00:01:57.01\00:02:00.35
with this seminar, you
should be able to pick up
00:02:00.55\00:02:03.89
the book of Revelation, read it,
00:02:04.09\00:02:05.73
and understand
what it's talking about.
00:02:05.93\00:02:07.87
And that's what we
want it to do for you.
00:02:08.17\00:02:10.07
So we're very happy to
welcome you; glad you're here.
00:02:10.27\00:02:13.40
And we hope it will
bless you in a special way.
00:02:13.70\00:02:16.32
Tonight we are dealing
with the second church:
00:02:17.68\00:02:21.74
the church of Smyrna.
00:02:21.94\00:02:23.30
Our next
presentation that we give
00:02:23.60\00:02:26.35
will be on the third one
which is the church of Pergamos.
00:02:26.55\00:02:31.01
And that is also a
very important time
00:02:32.86\00:02:36.53
in history.
00:02:36.83\00:02:39.51
In fact,
Pergamos... or Pergama...
00:02:39.81\00:02:43.10
was a period in Greek culture
00:02:43.31\00:02:46.46
that we'll say a little bit
about that you need to know.
00:02:46.76\00:02:49.39
But much of the statues
and all those Greek statues
00:02:49.59\00:02:55.48
you see came from the
time of the Pergama period.
00:02:55.68\00:02:59.46
And this is a church that
we're going to be looking at
00:02:59.76\00:03:02.16
tomorrow in our next session.
00:03:02.36\00:03:05.35
Tonight, as I mentioned,
we're looking at Smyrna.
00:03:05.65\00:03:08.65
A very, very important lesson
00:03:08.95\00:03:13.83
for you and I to
learn in this church.
00:03:14.13\00:03:16.40
And so we hope
you'll follow along.
00:03:16.70\00:03:19.28
Be sure and take your Bible
and write down the things that
00:03:19.58\00:03:23.85
it's talking about.
00:03:24.05\00:03:25.22
Tonight we're very
happy that Dona Klein,
00:03:27.50\00:03:31.67
who has worked with us
now for some 24 years now...
00:03:31.97\00:03:37.82
she's been playing
for us and singing.
00:03:38.84\00:03:40.97
And she's going to sing
for us tonight a beautiful song
00:03:41.17\00:03:44.84
entitled Have You Knelt
At the Foot of the Cross?
00:03:45.04\00:03:48.47
But before she sings,
Chuck Allgaier is going to come
00:03:48.77\00:03:52.42
and share with
us the Word of God
00:03:52.62\00:03:54.62
and what the scripture
says about the church of Smyrna.
00:03:54.83\00:03:58.26
Smyrna... the church of Smyrna.
00:04:05.11\00:04:09.68
What is the message
to the church of Smyrna
00:04:09.99\00:04:13.48
and how does it
apply to you and I tonight?
00:04:13.78\00:04:16.64
If you have your Bibles, turn
them to the book of Revelation.
00:04:16.94\00:04:19.26
Revelation the second
chapter verses 8 through 11.
00:04:19.56\00:04:24.52
Revelation chapter
2 verses 8 through 11:
00:04:24.82\00:04:28.42
May God bless the
Word tonight. Thank you.
00:05:20.27\00:05:24.31
You have stood with the rich
00:05:38.79\00:05:42.37
and the famous.
00:05:42.68\00:05:45.85
In the paths of the great
00:05:47.04\00:05:50.71
you have walked.
00:05:51.22\00:05:54.15
You have reached for the stars
00:05:55.44\00:05:59.64
and succeeded.
00:05:59.74\00:06:03.52
But have you knelt at the foot
00:06:03.82\00:06:07.47
of the cross?
00:06:07.67\00:06:11.44
Tho' your deeds here on earth
00:06:12.49\00:06:16.28
have been mighty,
00:06:16.59\00:06:20.24
they will all be counted
00:06:21.26\00:06:25.46
as loss
00:06:25.66\00:06:28.44
when you stand to answer
00:06:29.51\00:06:34.21
this question:
00:06:34.51\00:06:37.52
Have you knelt
00:06:38.49\00:06:40.63
at the foot of the cross?
00:06:40.66\00:06:45.71
Have you knelt at the foot
00:06:46.75\00:06:51.19
of the cross
00:06:51.40\00:06:54.59
and accepted the pardon
00:06:55.31\00:06:59.74
He bought?
00:07:00.04\00:07:02.91
You can stand with the saints
00:07:03.88\00:07:07.84
up in glory
00:07:08.14\00:07:12.05
if you've knelt
00:07:12.35\00:07:14.73
at the foot of the cross.
00:07:15.03\00:07:19.48
All the kings of this world
00:07:29.62\00:07:33.50
and the princes...
00:07:33.80\00:07:37.41
they rule for a while
00:07:37.71\00:07:41.95
then they're weak.
00:07:42.25\00:07:45.52
For now they're so high
00:07:46.78\00:07:50.89
and so mighty...
00:07:51.06\00:07:54.63
but one day they too
00:07:54.93\00:07:59.14
will be meek.
00:07:59.44\00:08:02.69
For there's a
great day of judgment
00:08:03.65\00:08:07.68
that's coming
00:08:07.98\00:08:11.20
when all of life's battles
00:08:12.49\00:08:16.36
have been fought.
00:08:16.66\00:08:19.25
And you stand to answer
00:08:20.50\00:08:25.28
this question:
00:08:25.58\00:08:28.34
Have you knelt at the foot of
00:08:29.22\00:08:33.70
the cross?
00:08:34.00\00:08:37.26
Have you knelt
00:08:38.01\00:08:40.19
at the foot of the cross?
00:08:40.40\00:08:45.53
Have you accepted
00:08:45.83\00:08:48.85
the pardon He bought?
00:08:48.95\00:08:53.58
You can stand with the saints
00:08:55.18\00:08:58.92
up in glory
00:08:59.23\00:09:03.17
if you've knelt
00:09:03.47\00:09:05.61
at the foot of the cross.
00:09:05.91\00:09:10.67
You can stand with the saints
00:09:12.04\00:09:16.30
up in glory
00:09:16.60\00:09:20.21
if you've knelt
00:09:20.51\00:09:22.68
at the foot of the cross.
00:09:23.08\00:09:29.08
Our gracious Father in Heaven,
00:09:45.30\00:09:47.24
tonight as we look at
this letter that You wrote
00:09:49.31\00:09:53.20
to the church of Smyrna
00:09:53.40\00:09:54.80
we ask, Lord,
that in these last days
00:09:55.10\00:09:59.83
in which we're living -
which the book of Revelation
00:10:00.13\00:10:03.79
speaks so much about -
00:10:04.09\00:10:05.87
may we understand
and may we take courage.
00:10:06.18\00:10:10.12
May we realize
that indeed You are God.
00:10:10.42\00:10:16.13
There is none other like You,
00:10:16.43\00:10:19.31
and that You are
more than capable
00:10:19.61\00:10:23.63
of taking care
of each one of us.
00:10:23.93\00:10:26.29
For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:10:26.69\00:10:31.34
Well the second
church... Smyrna.
00:10:37.42\00:10:41.43
The scripture speaks
of it as a very, very
00:10:41.74\00:10:46.89
special group of people.
00:10:47.19\00:10:50.48
There is no reproof
to the church of Smyrna.
00:10:50.78\00:10:56.06
The others - except for
one other... and that was
00:10:56.36\00:10:59.50
Philadelphia - all the
others there's reproof.
00:10:59.70\00:11:02.65
But in this one and Philadelphia
there's no reproof from Christ.
00:11:02.95\00:11:07.86
And so this is a very,
very special group of people.
00:11:08.16\00:11:12.38
A very special time,
00:11:12.68\00:11:14.28
and we need to follow
it very carefully because
00:11:14.58\00:11:17.39
I believe
there's great parallelism
00:11:17.59\00:11:19.76
between this church
and the end of time.
00:11:19.96\00:11:22.44
And you and I need to
be prepared in our hearts
00:11:22.74\00:11:26.16
for what God has to say
about this church of Smyrna.
00:11:26.26\00:11:30.06
So it starts out and says:
00:11:30.36\00:11:32.59
"These are the things
I'm going to tell you.
00:11:35.74\00:11:38.96
Put them down, write them
so the people can read them. "
00:11:39.26\00:11:41.85
And these letters
were read in these churches
00:11:42.05\00:11:43.84
and probably without
doubt copies were made
00:11:44.04\00:11:47.42
of that particular
letter for that group of people
00:11:47.72\00:11:50.39
that was kept with them
00:11:50.69\00:11:52.31
because it was taken on
and read to the other churches.
00:11:52.61\00:11:55.31
But I'm sure they treasured
the words that Christ had
00:11:55.61\00:11:59.24
to say to them as
a group of people.
00:11:59.54\00:12:01.92
It actually comes from a plant,
00:12:09.64\00:12:14.06
myrrh, a plant
that grew about 6' high
00:12:14.36\00:12:19.29
and it had a
very, very nice smell.
00:12:19.59\00:12:24.19
And the
interesting thing about it is
00:12:24.50\00:12:28.40
if it was crushed or beaten
00:12:28.71\00:12:34.14
it put out more.
The more they beat it
00:12:34.44\00:12:37.86
the more it smelled and all.
00:12:38.16\00:12:40.80
So... and very important in
relationship to this church,
00:12:41.00\00:12:45.16
what it had to say about it.
00:12:45.30\00:12:47.22
Also you might
remember it comes from
00:12:47.52\00:12:51.56
the word myrrh. And
you remember the wise men
00:12:51.86\00:12:55.91
brought to Christ what?
00:12:56.21\00:12:59.57
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
00:12:59.87\00:13:03.56
Myrrh... do you know
why they brought Christ
00:13:03.86\00:13:06.26
gold, frankincense, and myrrh?
00:13:06.47\00:13:08.00
Huh? Do you know that?
00:13:08.30\00:13:09.55
Well they brought Him
gold because He was a king.
00:13:09.85\00:13:14.62
That's why they
brought Him gold.
00:13:14.92\00:13:17.20
They brought Him frankincense
because He was a priest.
00:13:17.50\00:13:22.00
That's what they
brought the frankincense for.
00:13:22.30\00:13:25.39
They brought the myrrh...
00:13:25.69\00:13:27.48
that was to
anoint Him for burial
00:13:27.78\00:13:30.49
because they knew He would
die. That's what they brought...
00:13:30.79\00:13:34.86
and myrrh was used
many times in the burial.
00:13:35.16\00:13:38.26
And so this church gets
its name from that aspect
00:13:38.36\00:13:42.99
because it was to be crushed.
00:13:43.29\00:13:46.01
Smyrna lies about 40
miles north of Ephesus.
00:13:47.00\00:13:52.03
You're looking at the Aegean Sea
00:13:52.33\00:13:54.14
and the land there, and
if you went north of Ephesus
00:13:54.44\00:13:59.52
you would come to Smyrna.
00:13:59.82\00:14:01.88
As you can see, it's
set more on the coastline
00:14:02.18\00:14:06.40
than Ephesus did even.
00:14:06.70\00:14:09.18
And as I mentioned to
you as we studied Ephesus,
00:14:09.49\00:14:12.49
that port that there was
so famous today is not there.
00:14:12.79\00:14:17.65
There's no port
there. But Smyrna
00:14:17.68\00:14:20.54
who had also a very good port
00:14:20.84\00:14:23.09
today has a marvelous port
00:14:23.39\00:14:25.51
and ships come in there
from all over the world.
00:14:25.71\00:14:28.65
It's a great, great port,
and that's where it's set:
00:14:28.85\00:14:31.96
very close to the Aegean Sea
00:14:32.26\00:14:34.63
and had a very,
very good access to land.
00:14:34.94\00:14:39.03
It was a good port.
00:14:39.33\00:14:42.03
Uh, interesting that
00:14:42.33\00:14:46.52
all these other places that
we're going to be talking about,
00:14:46.83\00:14:51.10
all these other churches...
not much left of them, folks.
00:14:51.40\00:14:56.19
They're... I mean,
the city that they were in
00:14:56.49\00:14:59.86
is pretty much in
ruins laying there.
00:15:00.16\00:15:02.20
This is not the
case with Smyrna.
00:15:02.50\00:15:04.08
This today is the
Turkish city called Izmir.
00:15:04.38\00:15:08.74
And Smyrna is ruins right
there in the city of Izmir.
00:15:09.24\00:15:15.23
And the city of Izmir
is about 300,000 people
00:15:15.54\00:15:19.56
is how big it is.
00:15:19.76\00:15:20.84
And if you fly into Turkey,
that's where you fly into.
00:15:21.04\00:15:25.24
And it's quite a place there.
00:15:25.55\00:15:29.56
And as we read
through the scripture,
00:15:29.86\00:15:32.22
you'll notice He makes
some statements about this
00:15:32.52\00:15:35.09
that you need to
apply. What you're looking at
00:15:35.19\00:15:38.17
is ruins of the marketplace.
00:15:38.47\00:15:40.84
That was the
marketplace there in Smyrna
00:15:41.14\00:15:43.88
and the different ruins
there. This city, folks,
00:15:44.18\00:15:47.41
was extremely
loyal to the Emperor.
00:15:47.71\00:15:52.48
I mean, Rome was everything
to the city of Smyrna.
00:15:52.78\00:15:58.09
They... they
worshiped the Emperor.
00:15:58.39\00:16:02.01
This is what went on here.
00:16:02.21\00:16:03.35
In fact, the Senate
- the Roman Senate -
00:16:03.55\00:16:06.19
built a temple to
the Emperor Tiberius
00:16:06.39\00:16:09.78
and it was here in Smyrna.
00:16:10.08\00:16:12.25
And so you have
some of these ruins
00:16:12.55\00:16:14.52
about the
different buildings there.
00:16:14.82\00:16:16.58
I mentioned to you that
in Ephesus they had a theatre
00:16:16.88\00:16:20.88
that would seat
25,000 people and all.
00:16:21.18\00:16:24.82
But there's one here in
Smyrna that almost rivaled it.
00:16:25.12\00:16:29.03
They had a theatre there
that seated 20,000 people.
00:16:29.33\00:16:32.59
And so what I'm
trying to tell you is that
00:16:32.90\00:16:37.24
these weren't just little towns.
00:16:37.54\00:16:41.75
They were large cities where
great populations of people
00:16:42.05\00:16:46.25
lived and went about
their activities there.
00:16:46.45\00:16:49.36
And in the city of Smyrna
00:16:49.66\00:16:53.44
right in the middle
of it was a mound...
00:16:53.74\00:16:58.30
a mountain. Not a big mountain
- but it was about 500 ft. high
00:16:58.60\00:17:03.98
and it was called Mount Pegasus.
00:17:04.18\00:17:06.72
And on the top
of it was a temple.
00:17:07.02\00:17:10.81
And they had roads
and all going around it.
00:17:11.11\00:17:15.10
They had a road
going all the way around
00:17:15.40\00:17:19.04
Mount Pegasus and the
houses all laid around it.
00:17:19.35\00:17:23.32
And it gave the appearance
because of the temple and all
00:17:23.63\00:17:26.73
of a crown.
00:17:27.04\00:17:28.85
OK... gave that
appearance of a crown.
00:17:29.15\00:17:31.59
And she was referred to as
the Crown of lona, the city was.
00:17:31.89\00:17:35.90
And the street that
ran around this mountain
00:17:36.00\00:17:39.84
was called the Golden Street.
00:17:40.14\00:17:41.71
So there was a lot of things
that went on here in this city
00:17:42.01\00:17:45.82
where these people
lived and worshiped.
00:17:46.12\00:17:48.11
What you need to understand
00:17:48.41\00:17:51.15
is Christianity, folks,
00:17:53.23\00:17:55.77
was not favored.
00:17:56.07\00:18:00.72
I mean in no way...
Christianity was a threat.
00:18:01.02\00:18:06.32
I told you last night
that in the city of Ephesus
00:18:06.62\00:18:10.78
by the end of the first century
there were 50,000 Christians
00:18:11.08\00:18:16.30
in that city... in Asia Minor.
00:18:16.50\00:18:21.48
In Asia Minor at the
end of the first century
00:18:21.78\00:18:23.53
there were 7 million Christians.
00:18:23.83\00:18:25.98
And so Christianity was invading
00:18:26.28\00:18:29.66
all of the Roman Empire.
00:18:29.96\00:18:31.71
And as it
invaded the Roman Empire
00:18:32.01\00:18:34.07
it threatened... it
threatened the Empire.
00:18:34.37\00:18:37.70
It threatened their religion.
You need to understand that.
00:18:38.00\00:18:41.41
So this city is not
friendly to Christians.
00:18:41.71\00:18:46.72
In fact, against them.
00:18:47.22\00:18:50.32
Doing all they
can to wipe them out.
00:18:50.55\00:18:52.68
This was what the
Roman Empire intended to do
00:18:52.71\00:18:56.18
is to wipe out Christianity.
00:18:56.48\00:18:59.00
And every Emperor
from the time of Christ
00:18:59.30\00:19:03.05
to 300 AD persecuted Christians.
00:19:03.35\00:19:07.18
Every Roman Emperor
did... trying to wipe them out,
00:19:08.27\00:19:12.02
get rid of them. And
this is why in this city
00:19:12.32\00:19:15.68
these people are going to
suffer for what they believe
00:19:15.98\00:19:20.16
because the Roman Empire
is trying to get rid of them.
00:19:20.46\00:19:23.54
Doesn't want them around.
00:19:23.84\00:19:25.17
The Christians that lived here,
00:19:27.99\00:19:31.21
uh, did so at the
peril of their life.
00:19:31.51\00:19:35.03
So as we go through
you'll see many statements
00:19:35.33\00:19:38.94
that talk about
this and about the city.
00:19:39.24\00:19:41.86
OK. This represented a
church age from about 100 AD
00:19:42.17\00:19:46.82
to 323 AD.
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.93
And I'll tell you a
little bit later why
00:19:49.23\00:19:51.84
we kind of put the
time of 323 AD in there...
00:19:52.14\00:19:56.13
because it fits a certain time.
00:19:56.43\00:19:58.49
As I told you the other
night, don't try to tie these
00:19:58.69\00:20:02.03
church ages down to exact dates.
00:20:02.23\00:20:05.52
It represents a period of time,
00:20:05.82\00:20:08.33
and this was a period
of time in which the church
00:20:08.63\00:20:11.48
was persecuted
very, very strongly.
00:20:11.78\00:20:17.33
All right, let's go on.
00:20:17.63\00:20:19.79
Identification.
00:20:20.09\00:20:21.95
This is where Christ identifies
Himself to that church.
00:20:22.25\00:20:27.95
And He says:
00:20:28.25\00:20:29.51
Very important. He's
telling those people there
00:20:37.78\00:20:40.60
who lived every day, folks,
00:20:40.90\00:20:43.28
at the threat of
their life being taken.
00:20:43.49\00:20:46.24
I mean it was not something that
00:20:46.54\00:20:49.78
they heard about
in the newspaper.
00:20:49.98\00:20:52.56
Wasn't something they heard
about on the television set
00:20:52.87\00:20:56.19
about somebody suffering
persecution on the other side
00:20:56.49\00:20:59.25
of the world. It
was every day with them.
00:20:59.45\00:21:03.56
And so He's
telling them: "Listen,
00:21:03.86\00:21:05.52
I'm the One who was
dead, and I came to life. "
00:21:05.82\00:21:10.39
In other words, He's
telling you: "Trust Me...
00:21:10.69\00:21:13.79
I can offer to you life.
00:21:14.09\00:21:16.60
What happens here on this world
00:21:16.90\00:21:18.95
and in this
life isn't the end. "
00:21:19.25\00:21:21.54
Unfortunately,
to many people today
00:21:22.90\00:21:27.39
who don't know the Lord,
00:21:27.69\00:21:30.70
this life is it.
00:21:31.00\00:21:33.28
But for the Christian... no.
00:21:34.68\00:21:38.18
This life isn't it.
00:21:38.48\00:21:40.06
There's a whole lot
more, and Jesus said:
00:21:40.16\00:21:42.30
"I am living proof that
there's something beyond this. "
00:21:42.50\00:21:47.73
He said: "I've been here;
I've lived here; I died here;
00:21:58.15\00:22:02.81
I arose. You can count
on it. I am the Almighty! "
00:22:03.11\00:22:08.29
And dear friend, you and I can
base our faith and our belief
00:22:08.59\00:22:13.14
in Jesus Christ on what He says.
00:22:13.24\00:22:16.19
So the church in
Smyrna is a group of people
00:22:16.49\00:22:21.49
who understood
and accepted Christ.
00:22:21.79\00:22:25.92
But in accepting Him,
they accepted Him knowing
00:22:26.22\00:22:30.88
that it put
their life in danger.
00:22:31.18\00:22:34.28
Now you could
compromise and live.
00:22:34.58\00:22:39.68
You hear me?
00:22:41.66\00:22:43.32
You can compromise...
these people could compromise
00:22:43.62\00:22:46.74
and live.
00:22:47.04\00:22:48.83
And I find a lot of people today
that are willing to compromise.
00:22:51.06\00:22:55.66
But that's not the
way these people were.
00:22:55.96\00:23:00.44
Condition. We're going to
take a look at the condition.
00:23:00.74\00:23:04.02
This is what was
going on at that day.
00:23:04.22\00:23:06.74
That's strange.
00:23:17.25\00:23:18.92
"I know your works; I
know your tribulation;
00:23:19.23\00:23:23.04
I know your
poverty... but you're rich. "
00:23:23.35\00:23:26.98
Said: "I know these
things; I know these people. "
00:23:35.63\00:23:38.32
Works. Now, we
studied last night about
00:23:38.62\00:23:42.95
in the church of
Ephesus that they had problems
00:23:43.15\00:23:46.49
with the Nicolatians.
00:23:46.69\00:23:48.14
And these were people
that taught that the spiritual
00:23:48.44\00:23:53.24
and the physical had
nothing to do with it.
00:23:53.45\00:23:55.62
And you find that teachings
came in from Gnosticism
00:23:55.82\00:23:58.94
and brought in the
idea of antinomianism.
00:23:59.14\00:24:02.20
And all that came in from here,
00:24:02.40\00:24:04.18
and that has
influenced this church, folks.
00:24:04.38\00:24:06.83
All these churches
are at the same time.
00:24:07.03\00:24:09.21
And so those things
have come into these churches
00:24:09.41\00:24:11.71
and influenced them,
and it influences us today.
00:24:11.91\00:24:15.34
Because I have people that say:
00:24:17.16\00:24:18.62
"Oh, works don't have
anything to do with it...
00:24:18.82\00:24:22.12
none whatsoever. "
Let me tell you something:
00:24:22.43\00:24:25.41
Every letter... every
letter that Christ wrote
00:24:25.71\00:24:30.16
said: "I know your works. "
00:24:30.47\00:24:33.75
Now I'll assure you that
your works don't save you.
00:24:34.05\00:24:38.30
That isn't the
way it comes about.
00:24:38.60\00:24:41.28
But I'll assure you also
that works has something to do
00:24:41.58\00:24:47.26
with your relationship.
00:24:47.46\00:24:48.86
Now that's strange.
00:25:04.08\00:25:06.08
Speaking against
you as evildoers?
00:25:06.38\00:25:09.22
Christians aren't evildoers.
00:25:10.96\00:25:12.92
Why were they speaking
against them as evildoers?
00:25:13.22\00:25:17.06
Well one... they didn't
support worshiping the Emperor.
00:25:17.36\00:25:21.76
They were against
what was happening there.
00:25:24.30\00:25:26.76
They weren't willing
to go along with that.
00:25:27.06\00:25:29.30
This is what made them evildoers
00:25:29.60\00:25:31.95
is because they
were going the other way.
00:25:32.25\00:25:35.64
They were saying: "No, I'm not
going to worship the Emperor.
00:25:35.84\00:25:38.32
I'm not going to be
part of your festivities.
00:25:38.62\00:25:41.81
I'm not going to
partake of your pagan temple. "
00:25:42.11\00:25:44.70
That was all evil to those
pagans. They were evildoers.
00:25:45.00\00:25:49.16
So He said, you
know, "Let your works
00:25:57.56\00:26:01.22
speak for the
life that you live. "
00:26:01.52\00:26:03.86
People ought to know
you as someone who is good.
00:26:05.25\00:26:10.88
Someone who does
good things. Your works...
00:26:11.38\00:26:15.95
your works ought to glorify God.
00:26:16.25\00:26:19.87
That's what they
should do for you and for me.
00:26:20.18\00:26:23.86
See, folks,
there is no such thing
00:26:39.67\00:26:45.04
as following Jesus
Christ and walking with Him
00:26:45.35\00:26:51.07
without their being good works.
00:26:51.37\00:26:54.18
And that is the fruit
that produces good works.
00:26:54.48\00:27:00.18
And if my life isn't
producing good works,
00:27:00.48\00:27:04.11
isn't producing fruit,
there's something wrong.
00:27:04.41\00:27:07.45
And a person needs
to stop and look at that
00:27:07.75\00:27:11.28
and make sure that it is.
00:27:11.58\00:27:13.18
Important that it
produces good fruit.
00:27:13.48\00:27:16.71
Good works
always, always, always
00:27:18.52\00:27:24.45
produces tribulation.
00:27:24.65\00:27:26.97
Put it down... it never fails.
00:27:28.47\00:27:31.93
It produces tribulation because
the devil doesn't like it.
00:27:32.23\00:27:36.63
And let me tell you
something: it's the devil that
00:27:37.13\00:27:40.29
does these things, not God.
00:27:40.59\00:27:43.05
It's the devil that does it.
00:27:43.35\00:27:45.78
It's the devil that
brings on the tribulation.
00:27:46.08\00:27:48.58
It's the devil
that does these things.
00:27:48.98\00:27:51.30
But he doesn't like the
witness of a Christian life
00:27:51.51\00:27:56.17
and therefore he
brings about tribulation.
00:27:56.47\00:27:59.49
That person
00:28:21.61\00:28:23.00
who has never been afflicted
00:28:24.95\00:28:28.79
in their lives
00:28:30.13\00:28:32.00
has suffered the
worst affliction there is.
00:28:33.46\00:28:36.43
That person who has
never suffered affliction
00:28:39.48\00:28:44.28
has had the
greatest affliction there is.
00:28:44.88\00:28:50.86
For it is tribulation
00:28:51.16\00:28:54.46
even though we don't like it,
00:28:55.78\00:28:58.15
even though it's hard,
00:28:58.45\00:29:00.57
even though it's disagreeable,
00:29:00.87\00:29:02.78
even though it makes
me live in circumstances
00:29:03.08\00:29:06.32
I don't want to live in...
00:29:06.52\00:29:07.93
it is that that is
necessary to change me
00:29:08.23\00:29:13.46
and to change my character.
00:29:13.76\00:29:16.27
You see... men are like
00:29:17.90\00:29:22.33
rivers.
00:29:22.63\00:29:24.80
If they follow the
course of least resistance,
00:29:25.11\00:29:29.86
they wind up crooked.
00:29:30.16\00:29:32.50
Therefore I must
learn... I must learn
00:29:35.13\00:29:40.08
to suffer as Christ suffered.
00:29:40.28\00:29:44.07
Count it what? How
many of you do that?
00:29:52.49\00:29:56.33
Count it all joys
when you have trials.
00:29:56.63\00:30:00.41
But he says we are
to count it joy. Why?
00:30:00.71\00:30:03.98
Have you been in
situations where, you know,
00:30:10.55\00:30:14.56
you didn't like
it. You couldn't...
00:30:14.86\00:30:17.45
just didn't like it at all
00:30:17.85\00:30:19.76
but you couldn't
do anything about it
00:30:19.96\00:30:21.98
and you had to develop patience?
00:30:23.54\00:30:27.04
This is what God
expects us to do.
00:30:27.34\00:30:29.42
It produces
patience in our life.
00:30:29.62\00:30:32.36
It has me to look to Him
00:30:32.66\00:30:36.43
for guidance and for
direction and for help.
00:30:36.74\00:30:38.83
So tribulation
does that for you.
00:30:54.17\00:30:59.29
And since it brings
about patience in my life
00:30:59.59\00:31:02.83
it produces the
fruits that needs to be there
00:31:03.14\00:31:06.49
then I should
accept it with joy.
00:31:06.79\00:31:09.36
You remember, don't
you? You remember Paul
00:31:09.86\00:31:12.37
and Silas there at Philippi.
They had been thrown in jail,
00:31:12.57\00:31:16.04
had been beaten...
and they were what?
00:31:16.24\00:31:18.66
Remember what they were doing?
00:31:18.86\00:31:19.88
Singing, see? Yes!
00:31:20.18\00:31:22.58
You and I need to learn
to have that same experience.
00:31:22.88\00:31:26.56
And any time you
have tribulation,
00:31:26.86\00:31:30.56
tribulation always
produces poverty...
00:31:30.86\00:31:34.18
because the things you
have are taken from you.
00:31:36.14\00:31:38.87
You've lost it;
it's tribulation.
00:31:39.17\00:31:40.63
They've stripped you of
the things that you have.
00:31:40.83\00:31:43.15
And I have people
say: "Oh Brother Cox,
00:31:43.35\00:31:44.86
they came in and
took my home away. "
00:31:45.16\00:31:47.22
Yeah... that's part of it.
00:31:47.52\00:31:52.55
See? Tribulation.
00:31:52.85\00:31:55.89
Hard times. But
that produces poverty.
00:31:56.20\00:31:59.91
What does the
scripture say about poverty?
00:32:00.21\00:32:03.76
Let me tell you something.
00:32:04.06\00:32:05.68
Poverty's not a bad thing.
00:32:05.98\00:32:07.80
Just not a bad thing, folks.
00:32:09.56\00:32:11.50
You can look at it any
way you want to, but it's not.
00:32:11.80\00:32:14.52
How are you rich?
00:32:23.79\00:32:25.65
Hmmm?
00:32:27.32\00:32:29.46
Oh, there's a song
that says my Father is rich
00:32:29.76\00:32:33.57
in houses and lands.
00:32:33.77\00:32:36.16
He holds the wealth of
the world in His hands.
00:32:36.47\00:32:39.25
Of rubies and
diamonds, of silver and gold
00:32:39.55\00:32:42.40
His coffers are
full... He has riches untold.
00:32:42.70\00:32:46.60
You see, He's rich!
00:32:46.91\00:32:48.31
If my Father's rich, what...?
00:32:48.61\00:32:53.38
I'm rich. Yeah.
00:32:53.68\00:32:56.23
So you see, poverty in
this old world isn't bad...
00:32:56.43\00:33:01.30
isn't bad at all.
00:33:02.38\00:33:04.25
If you don't have all the things
that people think you need
00:33:04.55\00:33:07.89
to have today, praise the Lord!
00:33:08.09\00:33:10.91
You know?
00:33:11.21\00:33:12.46
Yes! He left heaven -
00:33:30.05\00:33:34.65
riches beyond anything
that you and I can comprehend -
00:33:34.95\00:33:40.39
gave it all up to come here
00:33:41.83\00:33:46.64
and became poor so
that you might become rich.
00:33:47.14\00:33:53.14
So consider
poverty not a bad thing
00:33:54.13\00:33:57.61
because I'll assure you...
00:33:57.81\00:34:01.04
Well, let me just
illustrate it for you.
00:34:02.27\00:34:04.48
I come here... I've
lived here in the United States
00:34:05.72\00:34:08.68
I've held meetings
all over this country
00:34:08.88\00:34:10.75
and people come...
00:34:11.71\00:34:16.14
but nothing like they do in
countries where there's poverty.
00:34:16.34\00:34:20.69
When I go to
countries where they are poor
00:34:21.91\00:34:25.23
and they don't have anything,
00:34:25.53\00:34:27.41
they come carrying their
Bibles by the thousands to hear.
00:34:27.71\00:34:33.17
Where people have an abundance
00:34:35.43\00:34:38.51
and all the things that
they think they need in life
00:34:38.81\00:34:42.15
and all the entertainment,
they don't have time
00:34:42.45\00:34:47.99
for the Word of God.
00:34:48.29\00:34:49.80
See, poverty is not a bad thing.
00:34:50.88\00:34:54.10
I have to be willing...
00:34:54.40\00:34:56.91
I have to be willing
just to give it all up.
00:34:57.31\00:35:00.41
Just to give it up.
00:35:01.55\00:35:04.76
See, there's
something much better.
00:35:05.06\00:35:08.35
Here we go... here's poverty.
00:35:17.04\00:35:18.58
I have to be willing to
give it all up for the Lord.
00:35:32.92\00:35:38.98
I cannot have... I'm sorry...
00:35:39.38\00:35:44.31
but I cannot have
this world and Jesus too.
00:35:45.62\00:35:51.01
You have to make a decision.
00:35:51.31\00:35:53.29
Do you want Christ or
do you want the world?
00:35:53.59\00:35:56.99
They're not...
they're not the same, folks.
00:35:57.39\00:36:00.38
You can't hang
onto both of them.
00:36:00.68\00:36:02.49
You've got to
turn one of them loose.
00:36:02.79\00:36:05.45
You've either got
to turn the Lord loose
00:36:05.75\00:36:07.51
and go with the world
00:36:07.81\00:36:09.40
or you've got to
turn the world loose
00:36:09.70\00:36:10.88
and go with Christ.
00:36:11.18\00:36:12.72
You can't have both.
00:36:13.02\00:36:15.00
Just doesn't work that way.
00:36:15.30\00:36:17.24
And true, in this life
00:36:17.54\00:36:20.51
you may suffer persecution
00:36:20.81\00:36:22.98
and you may experience poverty.
00:36:23.28\00:36:26.08
But how much better
it is in Christ Jesus.
00:36:26.38\00:36:31.81
Much, much better.
00:36:32.11\00:36:34.27
See there's such a thing
00:36:53.30\00:36:55.13
as being a rich poor man
00:36:55.43\00:37:00.47
or being a poor rich man.
00:37:00.77\00:37:05.48
See? That's what it says.
00:37:05.78\00:37:08.73
When He says that you're
rich, what are you rich in?
00:37:09.03\00:37:12.49
Do you know?
00:37:13.66\00:37:15.45
When He says "you're
rich, " what are you rich in?
00:37:15.75\00:37:18.19
Well, you're rich in grace.
00:37:19.58\00:37:23.91
You're rich in faith.
00:37:24.21\00:37:27.03
You're rich in patience;
rich in meekness and humility.
00:37:27.13\00:37:31.72
Rich in courage...
Christian fortitude.
00:37:32.02\00:37:34.69
Those are all fruits of
the Spirit that are given
00:37:34.99\00:37:40.11
to you that you're rich in.
00:37:40.31\00:37:42.25
God gives all
that to you and to me.
00:37:42.55\00:37:46.79
Now folks, this has to do
00:37:55.49\00:37:58.59
with the covenant.
Now let me explain.
00:37:59.91\00:38:03.40
At the time of this church
00:38:03.70\00:38:07.82
there are
basically three religions.
00:38:08.12\00:38:12.52
Paganism. Emperor worship, all
that went along with paganism.
00:38:13.67\00:38:18.61
The Jewish
belief... and Christianity.
00:38:19.11\00:38:22.86
That's what's there.
00:38:23.16\00:38:24.69
The Jewish belief
and the Jewish people
00:38:24.99\00:38:28.64
joined the pagans in
persecuting the Christians.
00:38:28.94\00:38:33.18
And so there
were people among them
00:38:34.55\00:38:38.75
there in the church at Smyrna
00:38:39.05\00:38:41.25
that said they were Jews
00:38:41.55\00:38:45.27
but they really weren't.
00:38:46.40\00:38:48.29
Now that doesn't mean
they weren't Jews physically.
00:38:48.60\00:38:53.41
They were...
00:38:53.71\00:38:55.23
as far as flesh
and blood is concerned.
00:38:55.53\00:38:58.49
But they were not what
the scripture counted as Jews.
00:38:58.79\00:39:04.05
You see the Jewish people
00:39:04.35\00:39:07.45
had made a covenant with God.
00:39:07.95\00:39:11.12
And that covenant was that
if they would obey the Lord
00:39:12.25\00:39:17.03
and keep His
commandments and follow Him
00:39:17.33\00:39:19.03
that He would be their God
00:39:19.33\00:39:21.36
and that they
should be His people.
00:39:21.76\00:39:23.55
They had entered that
covenant with the Lord.
00:39:23.75\00:39:26.00
These people here... they
weren't willing to do that.
00:39:26.10\00:39:31.05
They wanted to
persecute the Christians and yet
00:39:31.35\00:39:33.30
they said they were Jews.
00:39:33.50\00:39:34.78
He said: "They're not Jews;
00:39:34.98\00:39:36.42
they're of the
synagogue of Satan. "
00:39:36.72\00:39:38.68
You see, to the
Christian it says:
00:39:39.85\00:39:43.19
"If you be of Christ,
then you are... " What?
00:39:43.39\00:39:48.69
"Abraham's seed and heirs
according to the promise. "
00:39:49.39\00:39:55.34
What promise?
00:39:55.64\00:39:56.94
That "if you obey My
voice and keep My commandments
00:39:59.59\00:40:01.91
I will be your God. " That's
the promise God made to them.
00:40:02.11\00:40:05.02
And so you and I as
followers of the Lord
00:40:05.32\00:40:09.63
come under that covenant...
the covenant that was made.
00:40:09.94\00:40:14.37
And that's what
He's talking about here
00:40:14.67\00:40:16.71
when He talks
about these people.
00:40:17.01\00:40:18.89
All right, let's take
a look at the problem.
00:40:19.19\00:40:22.70
"Don't fear any of
those things you're about... "
00:40:31.98\00:40:34.84
Now He didn't say, folks,
"you're not going to suffer. "
00:40:35.14\00:40:37.80
He said: "Don't
fear any of those things
00:40:38.10\00:40:40.86
you're about to suffer. "
00:40:40.96\00:40:42.28
Uh, this always worries me.
00:40:57.16\00:41:01.03
Worries me very, very much.
00:41:01.33\00:41:04.03
And why it does is simply this:
00:41:04.63\00:41:06.95
do you remember the time
when Jesus had fed the 5,000
00:41:07.15\00:41:11.13
and it says that He had
crossed the sea and gone over to
00:41:11.43\00:41:15.25
Capernaum? And
these Jewish people
00:41:15.45\00:41:18.58
had followed Him across
the lake over to Capernaum.
00:41:18.79\00:41:22.71
And when they got
there they asked Him -
00:41:23.01\00:41:25.05
because they didn't
know how He got there -
00:41:25.15\00:41:27.01
they said: "How
did You get here? "
00:41:27.21\00:41:28.48
And Jesus, in the course of
conversation with them, said:
00:41:28.78\00:41:33.61
"Well I know why
you're looking for Me...
00:41:33.71\00:41:35.48
because you want
bread for your stomachs. "
00:41:35.78\00:41:38.10
And they said: "Well,
tell us what we've got to do
00:41:38.40\00:41:42.07
to believe in You. "
00:41:42.27\00:41:43.80
And He said to them... He said:
"You want to believe in Me? "
00:41:44.10\00:41:47.17
Then He said:
"You must eat My flesh
00:41:47.47\00:41:50.99
and drink My blood. "
00:41:51.09\00:41:53.88
And they said: "What? "
00:41:55.08\00:41:57.10
"Eat Your flesh
and drink Your blood? "
00:41:57.41\00:42:00.35
And He went on to say to them:
00:42:02.03\00:42:03.57
"The words that
I speak unto you:
00:42:03.77\00:42:05.63
they are Spirit
and they are life. "
00:42:05.93\00:42:08.74
And they said: "Oh, that's
a very, very hard saying. "
00:42:09.24\00:42:13.24
And it says
many of His disciples
00:42:13.54\00:42:16.56
walked with Him no more.
00:42:16.86\00:42:19.79
In fact, so
many of them left Him
00:42:20.10\00:42:23.11
that he turned to the twelve
00:42:23.41\00:42:25.11
and He said to them:
"Will you leave Me also? "
00:42:25.31\00:42:27.70
And Simon Peter said:
00:42:29.06\00:42:30.68
"Thou hast the words of life...
00:42:30.98\00:42:32.85
to whom shall we go? "
00:42:34.47\00:42:36.34
Now what worries
me about this, folks,
00:42:37.45\00:42:39.74
is we live in an age when
there are so many Christians
00:42:40.04\00:42:45.71
that are strictly
fair-weather Christians.
00:42:46.01\00:42:49.42
They want to accept Christ
but they don't want anything
00:42:50.74\00:42:54.08
of hard times or
suffering or tribulation.
00:42:54.28\00:42:57.61
They don't want that
to happen. In fact, they
00:42:57.91\00:42:59.69
build beliefs that
are contrary to scripture
00:42:59.89\00:43:03.16
telling them that
they won't have any of that
00:43:03.46\00:43:05.55
because they are strictly
nothing but fair-weather
00:43:06.90\00:43:09.94
Christians. That's all they are.
00:43:10.14\00:43:11.65
This worries me because
this applies to us today
00:43:11.95\00:43:14.97
and particularly to you
and I who are living down here
00:43:15.27\00:43:18.58
at the end of time.
00:43:18.78\00:43:19.79
That we need to understand
that we ARE going to suffer
00:43:21.13\00:43:25.35
persecution. There's no
question that's going to happen
00:43:25.65\00:43:28.60
to the Christian
in the last days.
00:43:28.80\00:43:30.71
Question is: is your
faith in Christ strong enough
00:43:31.73\00:43:36.09
to stand there?
00:43:36.29\00:43:37.43
I can remember I
was holding a meeting
00:43:37.73\00:43:39.65
and this woman
came to the meeting and
00:43:39.95\00:43:43.53
we got into
Biblical truths of God's Word
00:43:43.83\00:43:48.39
and we got into the
question of the Sabbath.
00:43:48.42\00:43:50.55
And she had checked on a
card that she understood it
00:43:51.05\00:43:56.47
and believed it and everything.
00:43:56.77\00:43:57.90
And some of the folks
that were helping in visitation
00:43:58.20\00:44:00.91
went out to visit her.
00:44:01.11\00:44:02.40
And they talked to her
about the... the Sabbath
00:44:02.70\00:44:05.46
and if she was willing to
keep it and if she believed it.
00:44:05.76\00:44:09.79
She said: "Yes,
she believed it. "
00:44:10.09\00:44:11.34
But when they asked her
if she was willing to keep it
00:44:11.64\00:44:13.91
she said: "No! "
00:44:14.11\00:44:15.27
And they couldn't get
anywhere with her 'cause she
00:44:15.58\00:44:18.97
just refused.
00:44:19.17\00:44:20.76
And so I went out to visit her.
00:44:21.07\00:44:22.78
Got out there and we
visited and I asked her
00:44:23.09\00:44:26.39
questions about the Sabbath.
00:44:26.49\00:44:27.68
I said: "Do you understand
what the scripture teaches? "
00:44:27.89\00:44:29.98
She said: "Yes. "
00:44:30.18\00:44:31.18
I said: "Do you
believe it and all? "
00:44:31.39\00:44:34.27
She said: "Yes. "
00:44:34.41\00:44:35.57
I said: "Can you... can
you keep it? Is it that? "
00:44:35.87\00:44:39.69
She said: "No. "
00:44:39.99\00:44:41.24
And I said: "I
don't understand. "
00:44:41.54\00:44:44.57
I said: "You're
telling me you understand it.
00:44:44.87\00:44:47.24
You're telling me you believe it
00:44:47.44\00:44:48.55
but you're not
willing to keep it. "
00:44:48.85\00:44:50.46
And she said to me...
she said: "Brother Cox,
00:44:50.76\00:44:53.50
what you don't
understand is I have cancer
00:44:53.80\00:44:57.02
and the only insurance I
have is with my employer.
00:44:57.72\00:45:03.68
And if I go and ask
to have the Sabbaths off,
00:45:04.28\00:45:10.25
he'll probably let me go
00:45:10.45\00:45:13.45
and I'll lose my insurance. "
00:45:13.75\00:45:16.99
And I said to her:
00:45:20.31\00:45:23.96
"You know, when
you accept Jesus Christ
00:45:24.26\00:45:29.04
you accept Him for life
00:45:30.31\00:45:34.31
AND for death.
00:45:34.61\00:45:36.96
You don't accept
Him just for life.
00:45:38.73\00:45:42.77
You have to be willing
to accept Him for both. "
00:45:44.40\00:45:47.98
And she said: "You're right. "
00:45:49.48\00:45:52.00
She said: "I'll
go talk to him. "
00:45:52.30\00:45:54.88
And she went and
talked to her employer
00:45:55.18\00:45:57.05
and he gave her
the Sabbaths off.
00:45:57.25\00:45:58.61
She had no
problem getting it off.
00:45:58.71\00:46:01.01
But what I'm trying
to say is that you and I
00:46:01.31\00:46:04.16
must be willing to
step out there and say:
00:46:04.46\00:46:08.89
"I'm willing to
stand for the Lord. "
00:46:09.09\00:46:10.78
These people did!
00:46:10.98\00:46:12.15
Back then Rome didn't
care who you worshiped.
00:46:12.45\00:46:18.03
They didn't care
who you worshiped at all
00:46:18.33\00:46:20.26
because they were polytheistic.
00:46:20.46\00:46:22.09
They had many, many gods.
00:46:22.39\00:46:24.09
What Rome was concerned
about was the fact that they
00:46:24.40\00:46:27.70
wanted your allegiance.
00:46:27.90\00:46:29.94
That's what they wanted.
00:46:30.24\00:46:31.32
And so they had
their god - Roma Dia -
00:46:31.62\00:46:35.06
which you once a year you had
to come and pick up some incense
00:46:35.36\00:46:40.44
and drop it in the
fire before this goddess
00:46:40.64\00:46:43.86
and say "Roma Dia.
" And if you did that,
00:46:44.16\00:46:46.78
they gave you a certificate
of allegiance to Rome.
00:46:46.98\00:46:51.13
The Christians
weren't willing to do that.
00:46:51.36\00:46:54.03
These folks in Smyrna
weren't willing to do that.
00:46:55.56\00:46:58.11
And because of that
they took them to arenas
00:46:58.51\00:47:04.04
and they made human
torches out of them.
00:47:04.34\00:47:08.24
And they fed them to the lions.
00:47:08.55\00:47:11.40
What bothers me
is... that's your heritage.
00:47:11.80\00:47:17.17
That's what the
word Christian meant.
00:47:18.95\00:47:21.84
And you and I must understand
that, and we must be willing
00:47:22.14\00:47:27.72
to stand for our
faith and what we believe.
00:47:28.02\00:47:31.08
Tradition tells us that Polycarp
00:47:32.81\00:47:37.61
that John - the apostle John -
00:47:38.21\00:47:42.76
ordained him as the
bishop of the church of Smyrna.
00:47:43.06\00:47:46.17
Polycarp gave his life.
00:47:47.83\00:47:50.64
Standing before the judge,
and the judge asked him if
00:47:50.94\00:47:54.36
he would renounce his belief
and renounce it in Jesus Christ.
00:47:54.56\00:47:58.75
And Polycarp said these words:
00:47:59.05\00:48:01.84
They burned him at the stake.
00:48:13.14\00:48:15.94
It said "you will have
tribulation ten days. "
00:48:16.24\00:48:20.73
These are just some
of the martyrs, folks,
00:48:21.03\00:48:23.36
during that period of time.
00:48:23.66\00:48:25.24
These are a few. Christians
during this period of time -
00:48:38.82\00:48:43.80
died by the thousands
- that gave their life
00:48:44.10\00:48:49.72
for what they believed.
00:48:49.92\00:48:51.25
Ten days of persecution.
00:48:51.55\00:48:53.84
That ten days... as I told you,
all the Emperors persecuted...
00:48:54.14\00:48:58.85
but the last one -
Diocletian - was the worst.
00:48:59.15\00:49:03.34
And for ten years -
from 303 AD to 313 AD -
00:49:03.64\00:49:09.14
he persecuted the
church unmercifully.
00:49:09.44\00:49:12.17
That's why it
says "for ten days. "
00:49:12.47\00:49:15.10
As the scripture
tells you, a day represented
00:49:15.30\00:49:17.53
a year in Bible prophecy.
00:49:17.73\00:49:20.25
And then we come to the counsel.
00:49:20.55\00:49:24.08
Interesting that He
would use that terminology
00:49:31.07\00:49:34.05
since that Mount
Pegasus sat right there
00:49:34.25\00:49:36.01
and was known as "The Crown. "
00:49:36.21\00:49:38.58
And He said: "Trust
Me. Be faithful unto death.
00:49:38.68\00:49:42.52
I'll give you a crown of life. "
00:49:42.72\00:49:46.06
Promise to you and to me.
00:49:46.36\00:49:48.16
Do you know you're...
you're given three things?
00:49:48.46\00:49:51.36
Hmmm? Do you know
what those three things are
00:49:51.66\00:49:54.39
that you're given?
00:49:54.59\00:49:55.93
The three things that you
receive: you receive a gift.
00:50:07.77\00:50:11.92
You receive an inheritance
00:50:12.23\00:50:15.67
and you receive a crown.
00:50:15.97\00:50:18.67
Those are the
three things you receive.
00:50:18.97\00:50:21.44
What's the gift
that you receive?
00:50:21.74\00:50:23.45
What?
00:50:24.36\00:50:26.25
Eternal life. That's right.
00:50:26.55\00:50:28.14
You are given eternal life free.
00:50:28.44\00:50:30.70
You do not deserve it.
00:50:30.90\00:50:33.14
You have nothing to earn it.
00:50:33.39\00:50:34.77
It's given to you out of
the graciousness of our Lord
00:50:34.97\00:50:37.52
Jesus Christ. It's
handed to you and I free.
00:50:37.72\00:50:40.16
OK. You're given an
inheritance. What's that?
00:50:40.47\00:50:43.58
You're given an
inheritance... "blessed are the?
00:50:46.22\00:50:50.19
meek, for they
shall inherit the earth. "
00:50:50.40\00:50:55.51
Yes. Given that as an
inheritance because you and I
00:50:55.81\00:51:00.42
are children of the
King... and He's rich
00:51:00.73\00:51:02.84
in houses and lands.
00:51:03.14\00:51:04.73
And you're given a crown.
00:51:04.93\00:51:06.63
And the crown is
given to you based on?
00:51:06.83\00:51:10.38
Works.
00:51:10.72\00:51:13.40
That's what the crown has
to do with... based on works.
00:51:13.70\00:51:17.11
So you have those three
things that are given to you.
00:51:17.41\00:51:19.98
Closing:
00:51:20.28\00:51:21.73
Listen carefully
to these messages
00:51:27.71\00:51:29.92
because they have great lessons
in them for you and for me.
00:51:30.12\00:51:34.72
Then He gives the promise
00:51:35.02\00:51:37.10
to the church here in Smyrna.
00:51:37.20\00:51:39.15
And the promise says:
00:51:39.45\00:51:40.93
You and I... we all
face the first death.
00:51:46.97\00:51:51.99
You face it quicker
than you want to, you know.
00:51:53.86\00:51:57.46
But we do... we face
it. We know it's coming.
00:51:57.70\00:51:59.97
Unless the Lord
comes and redeems us
00:52:00.27\00:52:02.36
and gets us out of here, we're
going to face the first death.
00:52:02.56\00:52:06.15
That's not the worry.
00:52:06.45\00:52:08.13
It's the second death that
you have to be concerned about.
00:52:08.43\00:52:10.85
So it says the
first resurrection...
00:52:24.26\00:52:27.39
if you come forth in that,
then you're not going to have to
00:52:27.69\00:52:31.35
be faced with the second death.
00:52:31.55\00:52:34.36
That's the one that
you and I do not want to be
00:52:51.27\00:52:55.92
involved with is
that second death.
00:52:56.12\00:52:59.26
Dear friend, the Lord Jesus
Christ redeemed you from that.
00:53:07.86\00:53:12.70
That's what He died
for is that there would be
00:53:14.18\00:53:18.00
redemption from death.
00:53:18.20\00:53:20.33
"O death, where is your sting?
00:53:20.63\00:53:23.83
O grave, where
is your victory? "
00:53:24.13\00:53:25.56
There isn't any to the righteous
00:53:25.86\00:53:28.22
because Christ redeemed
us from the sting of death.
00:53:28.42\00:53:32.87
We're not faced with that.
00:53:32.97\00:53:34.33
In Jesus Christ
there's life not death.
00:53:34.53\00:53:39.30
If you want life... and I don't
care who you are watching...
00:53:48.12\00:53:52.71
oh person, young
person... if you want life
00:53:52.92\00:53:56.42
it's found in Jesus Christ.
00:53:56.73\00:53:59.92
Not found in this world.
00:54:00.22\00:54:03.35
All there is in
this old world is death,
00:54:03.65\00:54:07.70
but in Christ
there's life... life eternal.
00:54:08.00\00:54:11.68
Tonight do you know
that you have eternal life?
00:54:20.23\00:54:25.23
You can have it in Christ Jesus.
00:54:27.38\00:54:30.48
Oh, yes, you may
suffer persecution.
00:54:30.68\00:54:35.27
You may suffer hard times.
00:54:36.47\00:54:38.73
You may suffer poverty.
00:54:39.03\00:54:41.55
But dear friend, let
me tell you something:
00:54:41.85\00:54:43.84
there's life,
00:54:44.14\00:54:45.98
marvelous life, in Jesus Christ.
00:54:46.08\00:54:49.06
Heavenly Father,
00:54:49.36\00:54:50.95
Thank you. Thank
you for redeeming us.
00:54:51.25\00:54:55.01
Thank you for the hope
00:54:55.51\00:54:58.09
that we have in
Jesus Christ our Lord.
00:54:58.39\00:55:00.78
Bless each one
that's listening, Lord.
00:55:01.08\00:55:04.02
May they be drawn unto You.
00:55:04.33\00:55:06.50
May our hearts be open to You
00:55:06.80\00:55:09.66
in all that we do. We
pray in Christ's name, Amen.
00:55:09.97\00:55:13.62
Good night; God bless you.
00:55:13.92\00:55:15.68
Hello, folks.
00:55:17.32\00:55:18.59
One of my favorite
things to do in the springtime
00:55:18.89\00:55:21.23
is to take a walk and
look at all the new growth.
00:55:21.43\00:55:24.79
The earth seems so fresh,
00:55:25.09\00:55:26.62
and each tree bursts
forth with buds and flowers.
00:55:26.75\00:55:29.79
That reminds me of a parable
that Jesus told His followers
00:55:29.92\00:55:34.00
in Luke 21.
00:55:34.20\00:55:35.64
You see, He had just described
the events which will happen
00:55:35.88\00:55:39.45
immediately
before His second coming.
00:55:39.68\00:55:41.74
But in verse 29
Jesus turns their attention
00:55:56.01\00:55:59.62
to the fig tree.
00:55:59.75\00:56:00.92
And ever since then, budding
trees have served as a permanent
00:56:01.16\00:56:04.85
reminder that our
time here is very short
00:56:05.05\00:56:07.96
and the second
coming is very near.
00:56:08.16\00:56:11.01
Folks, many of these
signs are already upon us.
00:56:26.10\00:56:29.85
The earth groans from
the greed of those who have
00:56:30.15\00:56:32.65
exploited her
resources, ravaged her land
00:56:32.85\00:56:36.46
and destroyed plants and
animals and atmosphere alike
00:56:36.66\00:56:39.68
in a selfish pursuit of wealth.
00:56:39.88\00:56:42.35
Have you seen the signs?
00:56:42.65\00:56:44.26
Have you seen men's
hearts failing with fear?
00:56:44.56\00:56:47.08
If you haven't, then I'm
afraid you're not watching
00:56:47.48\00:56:50.13
very closely. However, the
Holy Spirit is hard at work
00:56:50.33\00:56:54.11
and so are many Christians
who long for an end to sin
00:56:54.41\00:56:57.99
and look forward to
their soon-coming Savior.
00:56:58.23\00:57:01.20
And that's why we
continue to preach the gospel
00:57:01.50\00:57:04.03
to as many as we can
through any means that we can
00:57:04.26\00:57:08.20
as often as we can.
00:57:08.50\00:57:10.29
Our ministry team
is supported solely
00:57:10.53\00:57:13.03
by your contributions...
and we thank you for your
00:57:13.26\00:57:16.42
faithful prayers
and financial support.
00:57:16.62\00:57:19.83
May God richly bless you.
00:57:20.03\00:57:22.42
Please consider what you can do
for those who still don't know
00:57:22.62\00:57:25.85
about Jesus. As the
Holy Spirit impresses,
00:57:25.95\00:57:28.62
please send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
00:57:28.82\00:57:30.92
Thank you for helping us
spread the light of God's Word
00:57:43.07\00:57:45.46
through television and radio.
00:57:45.60\00:57:47.21
Your gifts help bring
the blessed hope of salvation
00:57:47.41\00:57:49.73
to millions around the world.
00:57:49.86\00:57:52.18