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 Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Tribulation and salvation for believers in the church of Smyrna. 

REFLECTION 

A phoenix people is the theme for our reflection today. A phoenix is an imaginary bird which according to ancient mythology burns itself after several years of existence and is then born again. Similarly, when a person or a people are described as phoenix it means they return after seeming to disappear or are destroyed. Reference is made to the church of Smyrna which will come under attack and believers will be persecuted in the church by human agents of Satan. “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews but are not, they are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear what you are about to suffer.” (Revelation 2:9-10). In other words, there are fake Christians and enemies of God who on the last day will persecute the faithful believers. My dear friend, the enemies of the church are within the four walls of the church.  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

All faithful Christians are being reminded through the experience of the Church of Smyrna of that experienced persecution.  “Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10) Jesus had already said that a time will come when those who are His disciples and followers will experience such tribulation. Jesus said “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14). How will the tribulation happen, my dear friend, do not be supprised when it happens and I believe it has already started because there is already division in some churches and homes, laity against clergy “father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:53) The most important question is which side will you belong to during the tribulation? Will you be a faithful disciple, who will do the will of God no matter the pain, and suffer on the account of Jesus or you will be part of the rebellion and be an agent of Satan persecuting the church of Christ? 

The key lesson of today’s reflection is that all faithful believers who will go through persecution and the great tribulation are described as phoenix people. Isaiah 40:31 assures us that  “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”. My dear friend and believer in our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, do not give up when you are tortured and persecuted because of your faithfulness and commitment to God for “Weeping may tarry for the night,but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalms 30:5). Your wife may divorce you because of your faithfulness to God, your friends may turn their back at you and become your enemies because of your love and devotion to God, Your colleagues at work may betray and seek your downfall because of your uprightness and allegiance to God, you may be denied promotions, opportunities and scholarships because of your fear of God and intolerance for corruption but always remember this precious words which were spoken to the church of Smyrna to give the faithful believers great encouragement and solace, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10-11) Shalom.

PRAYER

 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”(2 Timothy 4:6-8) This is our humble prayer Lord. Amen

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)