Revelation 2:8-11

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.  “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. 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.  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.’

Following Christ is a great privilege but it comes with a high price.  The church in Smyrna was a church that face extreme persecution.  Perhaps, this is why there are no condemnations leveled at this church.  Suffering frequently has a purging effect on a church.  When things are comfortable, it is easy for people to be in the church for all the wrong reasons.  In the face of persecution, the only benefit to being in the church is Christ.

TRUST JESUS IN TRIBULATION: Jesus is worthy of our worship and our complete trust because He is eternal and He sacrificed Himself in our place and was resurrected from the dead.  Jesus is first and last, died and rose again.  No matter what we face in life those truths about Jesus should cause us to have great confidence before Him.  He knows everything.  He knows all about the tribulation the church is facing.  He knows about the physical poverty and spiritual wealth.  He knows about those who are persecuting the church and how they are doing it.  The source of their persecution seems to come from Jews who are slandering the church before the Romans who inflicted them with pain and persecution.  Jesus calls them false Jews because they have, like Satan, rejected Christ and are simply looking to enrich themselves.  In times of tribulation, it is easy for us to think that nobody knows what we are facing and that nobody cares.  It is a blessing to know that we can trust Jesus who knows everything and loves us perfectly.

DON’T FEAR IN TESTINGS: Jesus’s message to them is not to fear what they are about to suffer.  He informs them that the devil is about to imprison some of the members of this church.  The duration of this imprisonment and tribulation is said to be ten days.  The purpose of the imprisonment is a trial of their faith.  These warnings teach us many important truths.  There is no need for believers in the Lord Jesus to fear even in the face of tribulation or imprisonment.  Even if the trials we face are inflicted by the devil, Jesus is in complete control.  Only Jesus is the Sovereign of the universe.  Satan does have extraordinary power and is able to inflict pain, but he is under the control of Jesus.  The amount of time that persecution will last is under the Lord’s control.  The expression “ten days” could mean any number of things from ten days, to ten years, to ten periods of persecution, to completed persecution.  It is not vital to understand exactly how long the persecution will last; rather, to emphasize that the persecution is under God’s control, so we do not need to live in fear of it.  In God’s perfect wisdom and timing, He will bring relief and, in the end, He will bless us with an eternity completely free of all persecution.

BE FAITHFUL IN TRAILS: Our focus as long as we live on this fallen earth must be faithfulness.  God calls us to trust Him and be faithful to obey Him while we suffer.  We can trust Him and are called to be faithful to Him even to the point of death.  All people have a fear of death because of the pain and separation it causes from our loved ones on earth.  However, for a believer, death signifies the end of our sin and suffering.  It also signifies that we will receive rewards from our Lord.  Suffering unto death result is being rewarded with the crown of life.  This eschatological truth should be a great source of hope that leads to faithfulness in this world of persecution.  We need to pay close attention and carefully remember these blessed truths.  Believers need not fear death and will not face the final condemnation of what is called the second death.  Rather, as faithful believers, death is a welcome end to suffering and an introduction into the presence of our Lord.

APPLICATION: Rest in the Lords gracious care of us, especially in times of persecution.  He knows all we face and is in complete control.  Be assured of His love so we have no need to fear persecution or even death.  Serve Christ faithfully and live with great expectancy and hope because of the glorious rewards we will receive in the presence of our Lord.