The First and Last
Advent 2024
December 8, 2024
Rev. Dr. Gabe Sylvia
Using Revelation 2:8 and the church of Smyrna, the sermon presents Christ as the sovereign Lord who controls all history, comforts and guarantees eternal life to suffering believers, and calls the church to trust, support one another, and participate faithfully in communion and prayer.
Summary
The preacher begins with a personal Christmas memory and a desire to keep beloved memories alive, then moves from last week's focus on Christ's glory and authority to examine the church of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8). He emphasizes the glory of the Son of Man as the One who precedes, governs, and will consummate all history—'the first and the last'—and offers this as a deep comfort to believers in suffering. Instead of trying to control uncontrollable circumstances, Christians are urged to trust God's sovereign rule, use their resources in faith, and remember that Christ guarantees life to the saints: though some may face death, those in Christ are spared the second death. Death is described as an intruder, not something to be feared, and the church is called to support suffering members, come to the Lord's table in faith, discern the body, and close in the Lord's Prayer.
Key Points
- Opening anecdote: fond family memory and desire to keep memories alive
- Context: follows last week's focus on Christ's glory and authority; today examines Smyrna (Revelation 2:8)
- Christ's sovereignty: He is 'the first and the last,' the beginning and the end, who controls and will consummate history
- Comfort for suffering: God's control of history reassures believers facing persecution—'do not fear what you are about to suffer'
- Practical exhortation: turn to the One who controls history rather than trying to control circumstances; act in faith
- Assurance of eternal life: Christ guarantees life to the saints and spares them the second death
- Perspective on death: suffering unto death is painful but not ultimately to be feared; death is an intruder
- Community responsibility: those not suffering should support the suffering; come to the Lord's table in faith, discern the body, and conclude with the Lord's Prayer
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