Faithful Unto Death (Revelation 2:8–11) - Christ among the Lampstands: How God Evaluates Churches

Scripture says that all who desire to live godly in and for Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus did not hide this from his would-be disciples (Matthew 10:34–39; etc.), nor did he hide it from the faithful saints of the church in Smyrna. She was a suffering, yet faithful, church whom the Lord exhorted to continual fidelity. We see three things in the letter:   1. The Lord is Honest with His Church (vv. 8–10) 2. The Lord is Hopeful for His Church (v. 10) 3. The Lord will Honour His Church (v. 11)