Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 3 Revelation 2:8 Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 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. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; He who overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. How do you hold up under pressure, especially peer pressure? Some people give in and compromise their values, while others stand their ground and hold to what they believe. In John’s letter to Smyrna, Jesus told them who He was, the first and last, He died and is alive. Then Jesus told them He knew how they held steadfast to their faith despite the adversity they faced. He also told them their tribulation would be short-lived and for their faithfulness, they would receive a crown of life. As Christians, you have a lot to look forward to when you stand steadfast in your faith. You know the hardships you face will not last, they will end. You only need to remain faithful as Smyrna did. They faced imprisonment and the Roman arenas for their faith. You also know Jesus mentioned the Tribulation as ten days. Another picture of time is to depict a year as a day. The Tribulation will last ten years, and everyone who endures to the end will receive a crown of life, and nothing will hurt you. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (KJV) We have already seen all but the last week of Daniel’s prophecy. The last week is the Tribulation when Antichrist will reign for seven years. One week is seven days. Jesus told the church at Smyrna they would receive the crown of life at the end of the Tribulation. You too will receive the crown of life if you remain faithful to the end. Let’s pray: Father, Your promises are sure. Help me remain faithful to the end, no matter what pressure I face from the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 1 July 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay