REVELATION 2:10-11
The Lord recognizes that Satan is behind all the persecution and tribulation of the church. Jesus said to His disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33).
The devil works through people even as God works through
people. We need to realize that Satan is behind the inspiration and works of many people.
"The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days."
The "ten days" could refer to the ten great periods of tribulation under the Roman government. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
Jesus has nothing bad to say about the church of Smyrna. No call to repentance. Smyrna is the church that will be purified by persecution,
They'll be martyred and experience great tribulation. Tribulation never hurt the church. It always had a purifying effect.
Jesus is encouraging them to be faithful unto death and He will
give them a crown of life. There is the crown of life.
There's also a crown of righteousness. Paul said, There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:8).
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (Revelation 2:11).
The second death is explained to us in Revelation 20, when all the world (excluding Christians) stands before the Great White Throne Judgment of God.
Death and hell will give up the dead. Whosoever's name is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be cast into Gehenna, the second death.
Those who overcome shall not be hurt of the second death. "Blessed and holy is he," the Scripture said, "who hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power" (Revelation 20:6).
When Jesus comes again to reign upon the earth and establishes His kingdom, Satan shall be bound for one thousand years and placed in the abyss.
During this period Jesus will reign upon the earth in righteousness. The church will be reigning with Him as kings and priests.
At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a short season and will go throughout the world again to deceive the nations. He'll gather a great army to try to destroy Christ and to drive Him out of Jerusalem.
At times Christians come to me and say, "At the end of the thousand years, what if I'm deceived by Satan?" I answer, "Impossible!" "Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power."
You'll be in your new body, and there's no way you'll come into conspiracy with Satan at that time.
This short season will be a trial for those who have never had a trial as far as their Christian walk is concerned. Those who have been forced to live righteously during the kingdom age will be given an opportunity to do otherwise.
The surprising thing is that so many will take it!
No comments:
Post a Comment