1. Read Revelation 2:8-11. Does this description of Jesus parallel anything you see of Him in Revelation 1? Where? How?
2. Revelation 1:5 described Jesus as “first-born of the dead”.
“FIRST-BORN–protokos–first begotten, speaking about His relationship to the Father, expressing His priority to, and pre-eminence over creation, not in the sense of being the first to be born (used in Rev. 1 in reference to His resurrection).” Vine’s Expository Dictionary
To try to get an understanding of this phrase, look up the following cross-references.
a. Colossians 1:15-18 What does it mean that Christ was the “first-born”?
b. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 What does Christ being the firstfruits encompass?
c. Acts 2:22-32 How does this passage help explain “first-born”?
d. Compare Revelation 1:17-18 to Revelation 2:8. How do these passages explain Jesus as being “first-born of the dead”?
3. Following are the Greek meanings to the words Hades and hell.
“HADES–hades–the region of the departed spirits of the lost (but including the blessed dead in periods proceeding the Ascension of Christ)…. It corresponds to “Sheol” in the O.T….intermediate between decease and the doom of Gehenna…Christ declares that He has the keys of it, Rev. 1:18, in Rev. 6:8 it is personified, with the signification of the temporary destiny of the doomed; it is to give up those who are therein, 20:13, and is to be cast in the lake of fire, ver. 14.
HELL–Geenna–Matt. 18:8,9 “eternal fire” is mentioned in ver. 8, “the hell of fire” in ver. 9. To the passage in Matt. 18, that in Mark 9:43-47 is parallel; to the word “hell” are applied the extended descriptions “the unquenchable fire” and “where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.”…For terms descriptive of hell, see e.g., Matt. 13:42; 25:46; Phil. 3:19; 2 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 10:39; 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 13; Rev. 2:11; 19:20; 20:6, 10, 14; 21:8.
The verb tartaroo, translated “cast down to hell” in 2 Peter 2:4, signifies to consign to Tartarus, which is neither Sheol nor Hades nor Hell, but the place where those angels whose special sin is referred to in that passage are confined “to be reserved unto judgment;” the region is described as “pits of darkness.”” Vine’s Expository Dictionary
“Tartarus Is used in Homer as a place as far below hell as hell is below the earth.” Halloween: Invitation to the Occult from Koinonia House
What do you learn about hell in the following Scripture references?
a. Luke 16:19-31 Who is in Hades? When did the rich man go there? What is it like?
b. Revelation 20:13-14 What happens to death and Hades?
4. Re-read Revelation 1:17-18.
a. What does Jesus have the keys to?
b. Look up Isaiah 22:20-23 and Revelation 3:7? What do keys do? What do they symbolize?
c. Why do you think Jesus has the keys of death and Hades? How would all this correlate with Jesus being the first fruits, the first-born of the dead?
5. How do you think the knowledge of this description of Jesus in Revelation 1 and how He describes Himself to the church in Smyrna would have helped the church in Smyrna?
6. Do you see any parallel between what you learned about the apostle John in Revelation 1 and the church in Smyrna?
“AFFLICTIONS–thlipsis–affliction, pressure, anything that burdens the spirit (Revelation 2:9, 10)
“POVERTY–ptocheia–destitution (Revelation 2:9)
7. How did Jesus instruct the church of Smyrna? Can you see any reason why?
8. In the following verses what you learn about the Christian’s relationship to suffering.
a. John 15:18-21 Should we expect suffering? Why?
b. 2 Timothy 3:12 Who will be persecuted?
c. Hebrews 2:10; 5:8 What should be the result of suffering?
“Though he was the eternal Son of God, it was necessary for him as the incarnate Son to learn obedience—not that he was ever disobedient, but he was called on to obey to an extent he had never before experienced.” NIV Study Bible
d. 1 Peter 1:6-7 Why does God allow suffering?
e. 1 Peter 2:20-21 What are the reasons we suffer, and how should we respond in each case?
f. 1 Peter 4:12-14 What are we doing when we suffer for Christ’s sake? What “rests on you.” NIV? How should we respond? What does this passage tell us that would help us respond in this way?
9. So often suffering, tribulation and poverty are thought to be signs that God has withdrawn His blessing. How would you answer that in the light of what you have learned today?
10. How does what you read about the church in Smyrna compare with the teaching you hear today about a Christian’s position in respect to poverty, tribulation, and the devil?
11. Read Hebrews 10:32-36 and note any parallels between what was going on with the Hebrew Christians and the church in Smyrna.
12. The Word of God has the answer to the fear of suffering. Look up these verses.
a. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-5 Why do we suffer in some instances? How does it encourage us to know this?
b. 2 Timothy 1:7-8 What does God give us in the face of suffering for the Gospel?
c. Philippians 4:13 How are we supposed to endure suffering?
d. 2 Corinthians 1:5 What do we receive in proportion to our sufferings for Christ?
e. Luke 12:11-12 When we suffer for Christ, what are we promised?
f. Psalm 56:3-4 What should our attitude be when we are afraid?
g. James 1:2-4 What does suffering that comes from outside persecution produce?
h. Romans 5:3-5 “The believer’s hope is not to be equated with unfounded optimism. On the contrary, it is the blessed assurance if our future destiny and is based on God’s love which is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit…”NIV Study Bible
i. 1 Corinthians 10:111-3 This passage talks about temptation, not persecutions. However, what promise does God give us to help us in the midst of temptation and the suffering that comes from temptation? How can we resist temptation?
j. Romans 8:28-31 There is so much in this passage it should be memorized.
13. What blessing did you receive from studying Jesus’ message to the church in Smyrna?