Continue with:Striving To Be Conquerors

Jesus notes particularly that the Christians in Smyrna have put up with much opposition at the hands of fleshly Jews. In earlier days, many of this religion determinedly opposed the spread of Christianity. (Acts 13:44, 45; 14:19) Now, just a few decades after the fall of Jerusalem, those Jews in Smyrna are showing the same satanic spirit. No wonder Jesus views them as "a synagogue of Satan"!

Faced with such hatred, the Christians in Smyrna are comforted by Jesus: "Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison that You may be fully put to the test, and that You may have tribulation ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10) Here Jesus three times uses the Greek plural form of "you," showing that his words embrace the congregation as a whole. Jesus cannot promise that the trials of the Christians in Smyrna will soon end. Some of them will continue to be persecuted and cast into prison. They will have tribulation for "ten days." Ten is a number that symbolizes earthly completeness or entirety. Even those spiritually rich integrity keepers will receive a thorough testing while in the flesh.

Nevertheless, the Christians in Smyrna should not be afraid or compromise. If they remain faithful to the end, there is laid up for them as a reward "the crown of life," in their case immortal life in the heavens. (1Corinthians 9:25; 2Timothy 4:6-8) The apostle Paul viewed this precious prize as worth the sacrifice of everything else, even those faithful ones in Smyrna feel the same way. Jesus concludes his message by saying "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: He that conquers will by no means by harmed by the second death." (Revelation 2:11) The conquerors are assured of immortal heavenly life that cannot be touched by death. - 1Corinthians 15:53, 54.

Next time: "Tribulation Ten Days"