Do Not Fear Suffering Revelation 2:10

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus” and then addressed the “church of Smyrna” where He told them, “I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” In chapter two and verse ten of Revelation, John shared how Jesus told them, “fear none of those things which you shall suffer” where we read:

Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.

The verse begins, “Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried;” John began with the words, “fear none” which means “do not put to flight by terrifying, scare, be afraid and struck with fear and seized with alarm” “of those things which” or “anything or way that” “you shall suffer” which means “the church of Smyrna will undergo or be put in bad plight or sickness”: “behold” or “look and see”, “the devil” which refers to “the one prone to slander, accusation, calumniation, traducer and false accuser” “shall cast some of you” or “will scatter, throw and pour out some of the church of Smyrna” “into prison” which means “into a guard, watch, sentinel and place where a guard is on duty”, “that you may be tried” or “so the church of Smyrna might be proved and examined”. Jesus instructed the “church in Smyrna” not to be “afraid” of “suffering” even though “the devil” himself was going to “imprison” some of them because this would “try and prove” them.

The verse goes on to say, “and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.” John continued with the words, “and you shall have tribulation” or “and the church of Smyrna will have oppression, affliction, distress and straights” “ten days” which means “ten time intervals”: “be faithful” or “be in a trustful state, worthy to be relied upon, believing and confiding” “unto death” which means “till the time of separation whether natural or violent of the soul and body by which the life on earth is ended”, “and I will give you” or “and Jesus would provide, bestow, supply, furnish and extend” “a crown” which means “a wreath or mark of royal and exalted rank” “of life” which means “the absolute fullness of life both essential and ethical which belongs to God”. There were to be “ten time intervals” where the “church in Smyrna” would endure “oppression and affliction”, and Jesus' charge to them was to “continue believing” all the way unto “death itself” and there would be a “mark of royal and exalted rank” waiting for them.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we notice that Jesus does not promise to “remove” or “take away” the troubles and “sufferings” of the “church of Smyrna”. He rather instructed them not to be “afraid” of “things” they would “suffer”, and He identified the source behind their “troubles” - “the devil”. The “church of Smyrna” “suffered” during “ten Roman Emperors”, and many within the church were stoned, beaten, fed to lions, burned and tortured because of their “faith in Jesus Christ”. They were to “be faithful” even till “death” came upon them, and Jesus promised they would receive a “crown” like a “wreath in the Olympics” as a reward for their “faithfulness”. Perhaps there are those who are reading these words who identify with the “church of Smyrna”. If so, “Fear Not” and “be faithful”, and the promise given to the “church of Smyrna” shall be given unto you as well.

Next time John begins to write, “he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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