One reason for suffering is to remove the things we depend on that aren’t really strong. Hard times help us stop leaning on weak support and start trusting fully in God’s grace and strength. They show us how much we’ve truly learned to rely on Him.
The Test Has a Time Limit
Second, Jesus says the testing will last for only “ten days.” We don’t know exactly how this happened in the church of Smyrna, but it did happen. What’s important is this: Jesus sets the limit. The trial would not last a single day longer than He allowed. No one—not even the devil—could make it go on for eleven days. This reminds us that God is in control Eternal Separation from God.
Stay Faithful—Even Until Death
Third, Jesus says, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
This is probably a contrast to the “Crown of Asia,” which was what the people of Smyrna called their beautiful pagan temples on the hill of Pagos. That crown stood for pride and status in the world. But Jesus promises something far greater: the Crown of Life—eternal life with Him. That reward will never fade Daily Ephesus Tours.
Suffering Now, Glory Later
The Apostle Paul gives us hope when he writes in the Bible that, “The sufferings of this present time are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). He also says that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
In other words, the pain we go through now is preparing something amazing for us in eternity.
A Time of Great Persecution
This church in Smyrna also represents a time in history—around 160 A.D. to 320 A.D.—called the Age of the Martyrs. This was when Emperor Constantine first claimed to be a Christian. But before his time, many Christians suffered terribly for their faith.
Surprisingly, more Christians were killed for their faith in the 20th century than in the 1st century. That’s a shocking truth.
But the early believers were persecuted in brutal ways. They were tortured, nailed, burned, or thrown to wild animals. Some were even used as human torches in gardens to light parties. If you want to read more, you can check out Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, which describes in detail the suffering of early Christians.
