PREPARATION FOR THE THIRD SEASON FEASTS: THE CONGREGATION OF SMYRNA (Revelation 2:8-9)

Elul 6 (19 August 2026)

The KING is in the FIELD! AWAKEN the BELIEVERS!

CONGREGATION TWO: SMYRNA (Revelation 2:8-9)

The name SMYRNA means: “crushed myrrh”. Myrrh is the incense used in the preparation of bodies for burial. The wise men gave Yeshua Myrrh (Matthew 2:11) and He was offered wine mingled with myrrh on the cross (Mark 15:23). MESSIAH YESHUA therefore understood the SUFFERING of HIS BODY (the CONGREGATION of BELIEVERS in Him), their TRIBULATION and POVERTY.

The Congregation of Smyrna represents the SUFFERING and MARTYRED BODY of MESSIAH throughout the world and through the ages. BELIEVERS in MESSIAH YESHUA is promised ABUNDANCE and ETERNAL LIFE but also persecution (Mark 10:29-30). And in John 15:20 He said to His disciples if He was persecuted, they will be too, because they (the persecutors) don’t know the Father who sent Him. Paul confirmed this saying in 2^nd Timothy 3:12: “And, indeed, ALL who want to LIVE a godly life UNITED with MESSIAH YESHUA will be persecuted.””

When Peter was appointed by the GLORIFIED MESSIAH YESHUA to SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP, Peter was also promised PERSECUTION and SUFFERING (John 21:11-19). After Peter had been filled with the FIRE of the HOLY SPIRIT, he preached the GOOD NEWS fearlessly and 3000 people accepted MESSIAH YESHUA as their SAVIOR and were baptized (Acts 2:14-47).

And the same happened to the apostle Paul when he became a BELIEVER in MESSIAH YESHUA, He showed him what he was to SUFFER for HIS NAME’s SAKE (Acts 9:16). Paul SUFFERED stoning, beatings, shipwrecks, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness and many journeys being in danger from his own people (the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, known as the Jews), Gentiles and false brothers (fellow believers) and perils (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). But we also know Paul contributed much to the New Testament and the spread of the Good News.

We also see many pictures of MARTYRED BELIEVERS in the Book of Revelation foretelling the situation for believers at the end of the age as we read in:

• Revelation 1:9, with John himself being exiled to the island Patmos and indicating that he is a fellow-sharer in the SUFFERING, kingship and perseverance that come from being UNITED with YESHUA the MESSIAH. He had been exiled to the island Patmos for having PROCLAIMED the MESSAGE of GOD the FATHER and borne WITNESS to YESHUA.

• Revelation 6:9, when the LAMB (Messiah Yeshua) opened the FITH SEAL the SOULS of those who had been PUT TO DEATH for PROCLAIMING the WORD of GOD the FATHER, therefore for bearing WITNESS, were seen and told to wait a little longer for their fellow-servants who would be killed just like them, before their blood would be avenged by Messiah Yeshua.

• Revelation 11 explain the killing of the TWO WITNESSESS, spreading the WORD of YHVH like FIRE coming out of their mouths and with His authority to perform signs and wonders. And when their WITNESSING is finish, the beast (the anti-messiah/ antichrist) will fight against them, overcome them and KILL them. They will however be part of the FIRST RESURECTION after three and a half days.

• Revelation 12:9-11 tell us about the great dragon, the ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan (the Adversary), the DECEIVER of the WHOLE WORLD who was hurled down to the earth with his angels, accusing the BELIEVERS day and night before GOD the FATHER. The BELIEVERS DEFEATED the Accuser (Satan) because of the LAMB’s BLOOD (the full price for sin paid on our behalf by Messiah Yeshua) and because of the MESSAGE of their WITNESS. Even when facing DEATH, they did not cling to life.

• Revelation 12:17 tells us the dragon went off to fight the rest of the children/ people who OBEY GOD’s COMMANDMENTS and BEAR WITNESS TO MESSIAH YESHUA.

• Revelation 20:4-6 tell us about the SOULS who had been BEHEADED for TESTIFYING about MESSIAH YESHUA and PROCLAIMING the WORD of GOD the FATHER being part of the FIRST RESURRECTION and REIGNING with MESSIAH YESHUA for a THOUSAND YEARS. They are BLESSED and HOLY and the SECOND DEATH in the lake of fire has NO power over them (also read 1^st Thessalonians 4:16).

MESSIAH YESHUA REVEALS HIMSELF TO THE CONGREGATION OF SMYRNA AS:

• The FIRST (the Aleph in Hebrew with the pictograph of an ox meaning strength, leadership/ authority and the Alpha in Greek) and the LAST (the Tav in Hebrew with a pictograph of a cross, meaning covenant and the Omega in Greek).

• Who DIED and CAME ALIVE again.

• HE IS THE LIVING ONE. He was dead but had been RESURRECTED on the third day as the FIRSTFRUIT of those who have died and HE IS ALIVE FOREVER! And HE HOLD THE KEYS to DEATH and SHEOL/ HADES (the place of the dead), meaning HE HAS AUTHORITY over DEATH and the place of the dead and therefore ETERNAL LIFE is secured through HIM, death is no longer a threat for believers in Him, HE GOVERNS ALL ASPECT of LIFE and the AFTERLIFE with SOVEREIGN POWER.

THEY ARE COMMENDED FOR:

• Their SUFFERING, and

• How POOR they are (though they are spiritually rich).

• They therefore do not find their value in earthly riches but in the WORD of GOD the FATHER and their FAITH in MESSIAH YESHUA.

• It is possible in the END TIMES, that BELIEVERS and FOLLOWERS of YEHSUA the MESSIAH may be forced out of the world economic system and could suffer poverty (Revelation 17).

• The INSULTS (verbal abuse, offences) of those who CALLS themselves JEWS (those who say they are part of the Southern Kingdom, the tribe of Judah and Benjamin), but aren’t – on the contrary, they are a synagogue of the Adversary (Satan). These people were RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES (frauds, pretenders) who did not know Yeshua the Messiah, nor God the Father and they were used by Satan to TEST the Congregation of Smyrna.

NO WARNING OR REBUKE WAS GIVEN BY MESSIAH YESHUA TO THE CONGREGATION of SMYRNA

The Golden Menorah of YHVH (the seven branched lampstand, representing the PRESENCE of the HOLY SPIRIT as the FIRE and LIGHT of YHVH) REMAINED in PLACE at the Congregation of Smyrna due to their FAITHFULNESS to Messiah Yeshua.

SOUL SEARCHING

1. Am I afraid of SUFFERING and possibly laying down my LIFE for the WORD of GOD the FATHER and being a WITNESS of MESSIAH YESHUA?

2. Do I value the fleeting earthly riches (treasures and possessions) more than I VALUE being SPIRITUALLY RICH now and forever?

3. Am I facing INSULTS from people who CALL themselves BELIEVERS but are in fact RELIGOUS HYPOCRITES (frauds, pretenders), and may it be that I am being TESTED by the Adversary (Satan) as part of his accusations against me?

RESTORATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT

• It is IMPORTANT to REMEMBER:

• Even though we might face PERSECUTION and POVERTY at some time close to the END of TIME due to being forced out of the world economic system, EVERYTHING BELONGS to the CREATOR, YHVH our God and Father and therefore HE WILL PROVIDE for His children (faithful believers). Our TREASURE is where our HEARTS are (Matthew 6:19-21). If our HEARTS are with MESSIAH YESHUA, we have ALL TREASURES of HEAVEN at our disposal, and He can supernaturally provide for us. He promises, if we SEEK HIS KINGDOM FIRST and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HE WILL PROVIDE for ALL our NEEDS (Matthew 6:31-34).

• Our TRUE RICHESS are in our RELATIONSHIP with GOD the FATHER and MESSIAH YEHSUA and what He accomplished for us in HIS DEATH on the cross. He has given us the RICHES of HIS DIVINE FAVOUR and the INHERITANCE of ABUNDANT LIFE and VICTORY IN HIM. 

• HE has GIVEN us HIS HOLY SPIRIT to seal us as BELONGING to HIM and to comfort, teach, lead and guide us in accordance with HIS WORD. 

• We are instructed by YHVH throughout THE WORD, not to be AFRAID, but to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS because the HE IS WITH US wherever we go, in fact HIS HOLY SPIRIT (the LIGHT, FIRE and POWER of YHVH, used to RESURECT YESHUA the MESSIAH from the DEAD) is IN us!

• WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR of GOD the FATHER as HIS FAITHFUL SERVANT and SOLDIER (Ephesians 6:10-18)

• Understanding that people are not our enemies; the Adversary (Satan) and his evil forces are our enemies. Therefore, our fight is against them, and we should not waste our time and energy to fight against people.

• Buckling up with the TRUTH of YHVH’s WORD around our waists, reading and thinking on the WORD of GOD DAILY and in so doing STORING IT UP IN OUR HEARTS (directing our emotions) and MINDS (directing our thoughts, developing the MIND of MESSIAH YEHSUA, 1 Corinthians 2:16 & 2 Corinthians 10:4-6).

• Putting on HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS as a BEASTPLATE to protect our hearts from destructive emotions. We take a DECISION to ACT in accordance with HIS WORD and HIS WILL and not according to our emotions (not according to how we feel, because feelings can be deceptive/ misleading/ false, Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 28:26, Matthew 15:19 and Mark 15:19)

• Putting on our feet the READINESS to share HIS GOOD NEWS OF PEACE (SHALOM) everywhere we go.

• ALWAYS carrying the SHIELD of FAITH right around us – protecting us from ALL SIDES against the enemy’s flaming arrow attacks on the body, soul and spirit, and WALKING in FAITH, not by SIGHT and KNOWING that Abba Father causes EVERYTHING to work together for the GOOD for those who LOVE HIM and are CALLED in accordance with HIS PURPOSE (2^nd Corinthians 5:7 & Romans 8:28).

• Putting on the HELMET OF SALVATION – knowing for sure that we are SAVED and DELIVERED from the slavery of sin by MESSIAH YESHUA and keeping our THOUGHTS focused on HIS TEACHINGS IN THE WORD and following Him in OBEDIENCE to ABBA FATHER.

• Taking up the SWORD of the SPIRIT – the WORD of YHVH in fighting ALL our battles against our evil enemy (who may sometimes use our friends and family’s words and deeds against us), like our Messiah illustrated to us in Luke chapter 4.

• And finally PRAYING at ALL times, in ALL circumstances and for ALL fellow believers in the world who are suffering and persecuted for the WORD of YHVH the FATHER and their WITNESSING of MESSIAH YESHUA.