Letters from Jesus - 2nd letter shared by Aije Barnes, March 2, Issue 1, Vol 6

A fortnight ago, I shared with you on the first letter from Jesus.  If you have not read it, you will do well to do so. 

The second letter from Jesus was to the church at Smyrna. Here it is:

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:8-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This message of Jesus is to the persecuted Christians. The Lord is telling them that he is there with them and knows what they're going through now; their afflictions and poverty (which in the spirt realm has made them rich); and what they are going to go through later, which he describes as suffering even to the point of death. He is letting them know that he has passed through death and come back to life again.He encourages them not to be afraid but to be faithful to the end. His reward for those who are faithful, will be the victor's a crown of life. Even the second death shall not hurt them at all. 

Jesus is the First and the Last    ‬‬

Jesus the First 

The scriptures says: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:20‬ ‭KJV

So we know that Jesus is the First fruits of the people of God who had died 'slept' because through his death and resurrection he brought us who believe in him and receive him, eternal life. Because of Jesus, we who believe and receive him as Saviour and Lord and have passed through the waters of baptism, have become alive in him having shared in his death through baptism. See what the bible says:

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Romans‬ ‭6:3-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬. And;

“Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:8-9, 11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Remember Jesus said in his letter that we shall not be hurt at all by the second death. Jesus later revealed that the second death is when death and hell are cast into the lake of fire (Revelations 20:14) which is the same place where the list of people mentioned in Revelations 21:8 shall also be thrown. 

I have also known from the testimony of many that when Christians face death through persecution, they don't feel the pain and pass through peacefully into eternity where the victor's crown of life is waiting for them. 

There's therefore hope for the faithful in Christ as they will take part in the first resurrection:

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭20:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus the Last

There is no other sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin after him. He is the Last sacrifice. God's commandment to the Jews to offer up sacrifices of lambs for the forgiveness of their sins, which actually did not wash it away but rather covered it, was perfected in Jesus who is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world - the Last sacrifice , “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬. 

If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, this is your opportunity to do so. There is no other way by which you can be saved except through him. 

As Christians, we will go through different types of trials, afflictions, tests and tribulations. What Jesus is saying to everyone of us going through these things, in this letter is: I know your afflictions and poverty; I know the slander (a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name; don't be afraid; be faithful even to the point of death and  I will give you life as your victor's crown 

Shalom