Revelation Revealed Pt 4

Text: Revelation 2
Smyrna - Smyrna, was about 35 miles (56 km) north of Ephesus. Founded as a Greek colony more than 1,000 years before Christ, it compared to Ephesus in wealth, beauty and commerce. It was filled with the pagan temples of Apollo, Asclepia, Aphrodite, Cybele, Emperor Tiberius, and Zeus. Although it was a free city, it gave full allegiance to the Roman Empire which ordered Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, to be burned at the stake in Rome. The temple of Athena, dating back to the seventh century, was the most important building of that period. It was famous for its school of medicine. Although the origin of the city is not mentioned in the Bible, the church in Smyrna was probably founded by believers from Ephesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 
Acts 7:54-8:5
Josh Sullivan - pastor show as kidnapped in Africa 
Do you know that the prophet Isaiah was cut in half for the GOSPEL we are enjoying today?
Do you know that Apostles John was thrown into a pot of boiling oil, for the same GOSPEL. Apostle Peter was crucified upside down and that is how the early Christian had died?
Many leaders in the church today make themselves apostles, prophet, bishop, pastor but do not know the value of that name.
Kingdom calling is not a way to make money. 
HOW THE APOSTLES DIED.
1. Matthew - suffered as a martyr in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.
2. Mark - died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.
3. Luke - was hanged in as a result of his preaching to the lost.
4. John - faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote the Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as bishop in Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
5. Peter - He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he tolD his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James - he leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.
7. James the Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.
8. Bartholomew - also known as Nathaniel was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew ‘’was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
9. Andrew - was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.
10. Thomas - was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in that region. 
11. Jude  Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
12. Matthias - the apostle chosen to replace Judas, was stoned and then beheaded.
13. Paul - was tortured and then beheaded by the Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament. 
This is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times for the sake of the Faith. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
ie: men in orange jumps suits murdered