Revelation 2:11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
The Holy Spirit offers encouragement to the Smyrnans that there is hope beyond their suffering. The forces of evil try to stamp out Christianity. I even saw a news article on this today (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/04/26/photo-praying-students-should-be-celebrated-so-why-is-it-sparking-anti-christian-hatred-instead.html). More and more stories are appearing in the news about anti-Christianity and persecution of believers in the USA and other countries. This will likely increase as the darkness is given more freedom and support from politicians and culture.
Those who stay true, even to the point of death, will over come the “second death.” This death is described in Revelation 20:14 and 21:8. This is the eternal death without hope. This should cause any sincere and thinking person to re-evaluate life and one’s choices about Jesus. People can mock him now and face this eternal life. They will likely experience praise from culture. Or they can accept and praise him now, but possibly experience suffering in life, with the result of eternal life. How short sighted will we be?
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