Jesus Addresses Smyrna -2
Okay, now imagine yourself within the congregation as the pastor reads this actual letter addressed to Smyrna. It speaks nothing of deliverance, only of an impending persecution even more terrible than before. Would your heart sink? I’m going to suggest that many hearts in Smyrna sunk. They were about to be severely tested, and they would have to trust God through all of it. (Compare—Jas.1:2-3).
“…and you will have tribulation ten days.” This is taken by some commentators to mean that Smyrna’s trial would be “frequent” as in “day after day”. Others take it as “short lived” as in a literal period of just ten days. Yes, trials can be frequent. James and Peter both speak of having endured “various trials” (Jas.1:2; I Peter 1:6). It’s also true that trials are really just short lived. As Paul notes, when compared to the eternal benefits we derive from them, trials are “but for a moment” (2 Cor.4:17). In either case, trials are inevitable. The Bible says, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim.3:17).
It should be mentioned, however, that the Bible does record one other incident where the servants of God were tested for ten days. According to the prophet Daniel, he, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego endured a fast for a period of ten days (Dan.1:12) that caused them to be exalted in the eyes and the court of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan.1:14-21). Though the testing of Daniel was measurably less severe then what was about to befall Smyrna, perhaps its underlying truth spoke to and comforted the congregation. That God can be trusted. He will see us through the trial, and we will become better because of the trial.
v.11 “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.”
Smyrna is one of just two churches that are not admonished (the other is Philadelphia), so Jesus concludes on the high note of two promises.
To the faithful, Jesus says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” This speaks of the reward that will be given to those who, out of deep love for Christ, endure temptation (Jas.1:12).
And to the redeemed, Jesus says, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” This speaks of eternal life. For the “second death” speaks of being cast into the lake of fire, which is the eternal abode of the unsaved (Rev.20:14). The redeemed will not be hurt by this death.