A. This world is filled with sin, hardships, suffering, and death, but Christians have a great confidence that transcends the problems of this world, which is our faith in Christ.
1. Consider 1John 5:4 -- For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith.
2. This victory over the world is truly a victory over death, for 1Corinthians 15:55-57 says:
55"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Truly, our faith in Christ gives us victory over sin and death, but only if we persevere in faith until the end of life.
1. For this reason, the conclusion of the above passage says in 1Corinthians 15:58:
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
2. Victory in Christ is assured, but only "if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard..." (Col. 1:23).
C. Presently, let us consider the promise of our Lord gave in the latter part of Revelation 2:10, which is the keynote verse for our lesson -- "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
II. LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA -- REVELATION 2:8-11
A. Our keynote verse was addressed to the ancient church in Smyrna and to all who can hear.
1. The church at Smyrna was one of the seven churches of Asia addressed by John. These churches were enduring tremendous hardships and persecutions because of their faith, so the words of John's revelation were given to help them overcome these struggles.
2. These words are for us as well, which is evident in Revelation 2:11:
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death."
B. The Lord recognized the Smyrna church for their perseverance in suffering in Revelation 2:9.
1. Smyrna is one of only two of the seven churches of Asia that was not rebuked by Jesus. His words to this church were purely sympathetic, supportive, instructive, and encouraging.
2. Notice the great hardship of these Christians acknowledged by the Lord.
a. They suffered tribulation because of their faith.
b. They were in poverty, which in the original Greek (πτωχεία, ptōcheia) indicates complete, abject destitution. Despite this, Jesus called them rich as He referred to their spiritual treasure in Him (Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:13-21; 2Cor. 8:9).
c. They were subjected to blasphemy by "those who say they are Jews and are not." These were likely unbelieving Jews who rejected Jesus, persecuted Christians themselves, and facilitated persecution against Christians by the Roman government.
C. The Lord's commandment to this church was to have no fear and to remain faithful.
1. Even though they had persevered, greater testing of their faith was yet to come. Notice the Lord's instructions in Revelation 2:10:
"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
2. Ten was the symbolic number for full power, and the ten days of suffering likely symbolized the full dose of persecution that the Smyrna church was soon to suffer at the hands of men through Satan.
3. Rather than promising relief for their tremendous suffering as we might expect, Jesus warned them of even greater suffering. Nevertheless, they were to have no fear and be faithful until death.
D. The Lord stated two promises in the letter to the church at Smyrna that we should take to heart.
1. If they would be faithful until death, then He would give them a crown of life.
a. This is alternately translated as "unto death," which indicates that their faith might lead to their deaths. Even so, they were to remain faithful.
b. The "crown of life" does not indicate rule or authority as a king, but rather it represents victory over death. Notice 2Timothy 4:7-8:
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2. Those who overcome "shall not be hurt by the second death."
a. The second death is symbolized by the "lake of fire" in Revelation 20:14. It is the eternal destruction that will be inflicted on the enemies of God. Notice Revelation 21:8:
"But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
b. Those who overcome by being faithful in Christ until death will escape the second death (Rev. 20:6).
III. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH
A. Being faithful until death means being faithful for the rest of your life.
1. Conversion to Christ is a lifetime commitment. Christ is your life (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21; Col. 3:4), and He must remain so until your life ends.
2. There is no "once saved always saved." One who becomes unfaithful to Christ surely forfeits his salvation in the Lord, for he has not remained faithful until death.
a. The New Testament gives many warnings against the dangers of apostasy (Gal. 5:4; 1Tim. 1:18-20; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31; 2Pet. 2:20-22). Those who are faithful for a time but later fall away from Christ are lost.
b. The Lord did not say, "Be faithful for awhile, and I will give you the crown of life."
3. Be careful not to mistake "be faithful until death" for "be faithful at death."
a. The Lord intends for our practice of faith to be steadfast and continual (1Cor. 15:58; Col. 1:23). It is not to be an intermittent, part-time way of life.
b. Do not assume that you can forsake Christ for a time and then come back to Him before the end of your life. "You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow" (Jas. 4:14).
B. Being faithful until death means being faithful even if your faith costs you your physical life.
1. For many Christians in the world today, the threat of being killed because of their faith in Christ is very real, just as it was for the church at Smyrna. Let us pray for their strength.
2. For us in the United States, we do not face this threat now, but we must be prepared just the same.
a. The Lord said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). Yet American Christians often give up their faith for far less than the threat of death.
b. Consider the encouragement of Romans 8:35-39. The scenarios presented may seem hypothetical to us, but for many Christians, they are real. Are we ready for these?
35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36Just as it is written, "For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. The time to prepare for challenges to your faith is now. Consider how you will overcome adversity that you will suffer for your faith so that you will be ready.
a. Study the example of Jesus, and be prepared to imitate it. Notice Hebrews 12:3 -- For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
b. Consider the promise of God and the faithful response shown in Hebrews 13:5-6:
5Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," 6so that we confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?"
c. Determine to remain faithful in all things great or small. Be faithful until death!
