Faithful Unto Death; Revelation 2:10
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Our Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples to allay their fears concerning the persecution for the faith that will come upon them to trust God’s providence, protection and preservation in Luke 12:5-12 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
He encouraged to be calm and courageous in the face of persecution. Here in our text, some in the church in Smyrna may face severe persecution of imprisonment and even death. He exhorted to endure the period of their persecution. They will suffer no real loss even if the enemy puts them to death because they have been promised eternal life.
May the Lord help us to trust in His grace, come what may as we commit our lives to His care. Amen.