Faithful Unto Death

Revelation 2:8-11

Verse 8:

Again another church, the context must be first applied to them.

The First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive.

Again this Revelation, this letter, to this church is both Revealing Christ and From Christ himself.

Last week the church was flawed and in need of repentance.

Here this week, is a suffering faithful church, proving Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.”

This again stresses Christ’s deity, his omniscience and his authority as God Almighty.

Verse 9:

Again I know thy works, nothing indeed is hidden from his gaze (Heb. 4:13).

Tribulation - they were a suffering church.

Though Smyrna her self was a wealthy city, it seems that these believers have suffer the loss of material possession, homes, jobs and status because of their faith.

They now possess spiritual wealth and treasure in heaven.

These were the Jews in Smyrna who were exempt from Emperor Worship unlike the Christians.

These Jews denied Christ and rejected the Gospel.

They used this exemption to denounce Christians.

They would slander the Christians and persecute them, even report them to the Roman authorities.

They are still of their father the devil - John 8:44.

Verse 10:

Fear Not - They were not to fear the things that they were to suffer?

Will you suffer for Christ?

Would you face such persecution without fear?

Let us understand he has called all of us to this, in whatever measure he gives to us. 2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

The Devil is the author of such persecution, not matter the human agents involved.

Prison - being imprisoned for the name of Christ, the Gospel of Christ and the work of Christ.

Tried - falsely accused, slandered and condemned wrongly. 1 Peter 4:15-16. Suffering as a Christian.

Tribulation is promised for 10 days.

Could be a literal 10 day period of persecutions, arrests and trials.

Could symbolize a short span of time of suffer, with a definite end.

Could represent 10 historical waves of persecution throughout the church age.

For us we can be sure that it represents the fact that our persecutions will be limited to this life and are but momentary sufferings. Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Here is the admonition for them and for us.

Be faithful unto death - the imperative.

unwavering loyalty even if it costs everything.

Receive a crown of life - the promise.

the reward outweighs the earthly suffering

Yet, Salvation is not conditional in this way. We are saved by grace, through faith and not of works. We cannot earn salvation or merit it.

What is seen here is the perseverance of genuine faith.

Those who are truly saved will endure to the end.

Those who are truly born again will overcome in the end.

Those who are genuine believers will give all and go all the way.

Yet, the admonition stands, Be Faithful Unto Death, and I will give thee a crown of Life!

Verse 11:

He who’s spiritual ears are opened and tuned to the truth, let him hear. 2 Corinthians 2:14.

Note that this messages is still for the churches. Therefore it is still for our church, in this time and this era.

How do they overcome - Revelation 12:11.

Salvation by Grace, Through Faith, in the Atoning work of Christ. Our Cry is Nothing But the Blood of Jesus!

We hold this faithful witness, confessing Christ even under threat of death.

Loving Christ more than life itself, willing to give all for this profession, this witness, this testimony.

The promise is again, Eternal Life, we shall not be hurt by the second death - Revelation 20:14-15.

Application

Live with an eternal perspective in a temporal world. Suffering is promised—but it is passing. Eternal reward far outweighs every earthly loss.

Stand firm in your faith, as Christ stood firm for you—even when the world presses hard.

Tune your ears to truth. Be spiritually discerning. Persevere with confidence. Recognize the devil’s schemes and fight the good fight of faith.