S) "10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."
Revelation 2:10-11 (NASB)
O) This chapter has the first four of the seven letters that John was to send to churches in Asia. Mostly, each of these letters has some kind of rebuke, except the letter to Smyrna (which is where this passage comes) and Philadelphia (in chapter 4). This is a much shorter letter, with only a short introduction naming the church, a title introduction of the Lord, a commendation about their wealth despite poverty (which is likely a contrast of spiritual wealth and worldly poverty), and an encouragement that God sees their tribulation. Then, the two verses above come, to warn and encourage the church. They will indeed see more tribulation, and they are told specifically that it will involve imprisonment for their faith. However, it is a great encouragement that the affliction has an end, and even a short one. It is noteworthy, though, that they are immediately told to be faithful until death, though. It almost sounds as if their ten day imprisonment may actually end with death, as if they will be on death-row, as it were, but only for ten days. What else may happen to them in that ten days is left unwritten, but they are encouraged that whatever they suffer in that, it will be short, and they are reminded to be faithful until death. It's noteworthy here, the title used in this letter to describe our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is called in v.8, "The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life," Which is a pointed reminder of the resurrection we have in Christ, when He comes on the last day. God then promises a reward of the crown of life, but then the last verse also has a curiosity. Jesus promises that he who overcomes (that is, remains faithful until death) will not be hurt by the second death. That phrase, "second death" seems to be a reference, then, to a death that happens after earthly death. There is some amount of mystery, there, but there are also only a few possibilities that I can imagine. As Christians, we understand that we have a physical birth, but that we are also born again in the Spirit. A second death could refer to our first being physical, but then if we fall away from our faithfulness in Christ, then we will suffer a second, spiritual death. Alternatively, this could be a reference to when Jesus said we should, "fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28). Whatever the case, the point of the letter is certainly to warn of tribulation, to comfort the church that their plight is seen and God is with them, and to encourage and motivate them to remain faithful even unto death.
A) Many people see these letters as symbolically being for modern-day churches. While I'm not sure there is a modern, or future, "counterpart" to this church, it is obviously a great example (as all seven letters are) of how I am still to live as a believer. Whether or not I am ever imprisoned for my faith, and whether or not I am ever martyred, eventually I will die and I must remain faithful until that end. I will face persecution for my faith in some ways, to some degrees, and I must remember that God sees me and I am not alone. He knows the struggles I'll face for His sake, and remembering that those struggles won't be forever (even if they do last my lifetime), is an encouragement. My life on earth is just a vapor, in the vastness of eternity. My life on earth, in its entirety, might as well be ten days in view of eternity with the One who has already faced and conquered death.
P) Father, thank You for seeing me. Your grace in the way You care for me is so humbling. Who am I, that You would call me to Yourself? Who am I, that You would want relationship with me so much, that You would do so much, that grace would be so profound and so complete, that I would come to You when You called me? And yet, that is the power and scope of Your lovingkindness and compassion for me. Your grace was upon me before I knew You. And now, as Your servant, I want to live according to Your will completely, Lord. I am Yours to death. I don't know the details of the trials or tribulations I may face, but I am confident You know them. You knew them when You called me; they have never been a mystery to You. I trust that You have called me into Your service, into Your kingdom, knowing what I'd face. I am committed to remain faithful to You, until death, whether that is only through ten days of imprisonment or fifty more years of persecution. I know who has gone before me, that Jesus went first and conquered the death I will face. I have no fear left for anything or anyone, but You alone God. So, let Your will be done with Your servant, whatever You wish and for however long. Let it all be done to Your glory, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
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