The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:8-11, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The first and
the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy
by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”

The Church at Ephesus (our previous study) could easily be called “A Cooling Church,” inasmuch as over time she allowed herself to be influenced by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. The LORD challenged the Church at Ephesus to “…remember from where you have fallen, and repent…” (2:5).

The Church at Smyrna could well be designated “the Crushed Church,” for the LORD said, “I know your tribulation and your poverty…” The pressures of extreme poverty had been brought upon this church through external circumstances; yet, the LORD encouraged the church saying, “but you are rich…Do not fear what you are about to suffer…”

Although different, it may well be that the LORD’s Church has never suffered what it is suffering today! So much of the world has invaded the Church that some believers have simply surrendered to those invading powers. Assuming that to be so, we must remain faithful. We must hear and believe the encouragement He gives to us through the Smynan Church. Faithfulness produces a Crown of Life! And that Crown of Life supersedes all others!

As born-again believers in our LORD Jesus Christ, we must never surrender to the Adversary Satan! Every church is comprised of people that we hope and trust are born-again. Unfortunately, some (perhaps most) may be spiritually weak or even spiritually lost. It’s the spiritually born-again people that perceive the church’s weakening condition and often elect to abandon her altogether. This particular message cries out for the spiritually observant NOT to abandon the Church. Remember the parting words of the Savior:

“…the first and the last, who was dead…has come to life…” (v. 8).

We must encourage the weak by being stronger ourselves. Attend the Church! Be
faithful to the LORD! Pastors and teachers may be weaker than you would like.
Pray for them! Encourage them! Don’t allow them to suffer weakness! Stand with
them, as the LORD stands with you. There is guaranteed Victory at the end of the
road.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom