Be Faithful until Death (Revelation 2:8-11)

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until 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. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’ (Revelation 2:8-11 NKJV)

Jesus who is the First and the Last, who was dead and come to life on the third day speaks to the church in Smyrna which represents the churches under the persecutions. Christ Jesus knows all from the beginning to the end and went through all the tribulations and sufferings in our place, even the death on the cross and the resurrection from the dead. He understood the church in Smyrna fully and completely because although He was the Son, the only sinless He became sin for all of us in an obedience to the will of the Father in heaven. In fact, He is the only One who can speak to the churches under the tribulations and sufferings for His name’s sake.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)

Jesus says that He knew the works, tribulation, poverty of the church in Smyrna. But they were not poor but rich, says Jesus. Of course, it means they were spiritually rich though physically poor. In the church of Smyrna, there were those who claimed to be Jews but are not, but are of a synagogue of Satan. They blasphemed the name of God. We live in the age of blasphemy where the name of God is insulted and disrespected intentionally. They are sons of the devil.  “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days,” says Jesus to the church in Smyrna.

The devil is not an independent agent but one of the servants of God. He rebelled against the authority of God and yet still in the jurisdiction of the One who created all things including the angelic beings. The devil seems to work at random and according to his willpower but that’s not true. Look what Jesus says, “Do not fear any of those things.” Why? It’s because He is the First and the Last. Some of them will be put into prison but the tribulation will last ten days. There is the boundary and limitation of the work of the devil in human life. The devil is absolutely within the premise of the sovereign jurisdiction of God the Lord of hosts. That’s the sure testimony of the scriptures beginning from Moses and the Prophets to the Son Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

There is nothing to fear for the children of God who were liberated and delivered from the hands of the devil because Christ is stronger the evil one at all. As Peter puts it plainly, we are surrounded by the evil ones. We are not only attacked by the devil but protected by the Lord Jesus Christ who sealed His possessions with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). So, we are confident and sure of the hope of salvation in Christ.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11 NKJV)

Therefore, be faithful till death and He will give the crown of life. It means that there is no retirement in the life of faith. Here death indicates the cessation of physical life. We have been delivered to be faithful now and forever, both in this life and beyond. The physical death has passed to the believers in Christ though we have to go through the gateway of death in order that we shall enter into eternity. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24 NKJV) He who overcomes tribulations and sufferings shall not hurt by the second death. That assurance we have now that nothing can separate us from the love of God, even the Hades.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39 NKJV)