 | Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. |
 | 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. |
 | 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. |
| Revelation 2:10 |
Commentary
In Revelation 2:10 Christ warned the church at Smyrna, a righteous church suffering horrible persecution, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Why didn't the Lord simply rebuke the devil and save the believers in Smyrna from persecution? Because contrary to what many teach today, the Lord does not promise health, wealth, and prosperity. Though He assures us of ultimate victory, He does not guarantee that Satan will never attack. We do not always know why He allows Satan to test or persecute us, but we can rest in the assurance that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). You can mark this: Satan and his demons never, never act against God's people without the permission of God. And when God gives them permission, He always uses their work to accomplish some divine purpose. Often, to exalt the power of God and prove the devotion of His followers, God permits Satan to work the hardest on the noblest servants of God.
MacArthur, J., F., Jr. (1997, c1991). Our sufficiency in Christ (Electronic ed.) (229). Dallas, TX: Word Publishing.
"Crown"
The "crown" in this verse is not a royal crown (a diadema) but the crown made of leaves (stephanos) awarded to the victor in an athletic contest. Such crowns are also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:25, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10. While the victor's crown of leaves had no monetary value, it was greatly prized. It represented an achievement that brought honor to the athlete and to the city he represented.
Richards, L. (1998). Every promise in the Bible. Includes indexes. (243). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
In Revelation 2:10 Christ warned the church at Smyrna, a righteous church suffering horrible persecution, "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
Why didn't the Lord simply rebuke the devil and save the believers in Smyrna from persecution? Because contrary to what many teach today, the Lord does not promise health, wealth, and prosperity. Though He assures us of ultimate victory, He does not guarantee that Satan will never attack. We do not always know why He allows Satan to test or persecute us, but we can rest in the assurance that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). You can mark this: Satan and his demons never, never act against God's people without the permission of God. And when God gives them permission, He always uses their work to accomplish some divine purpose. Often, to exalt the power of God and prove the devotion of His followers, God permits Satan to work the hardest on the noblest servants of God.
MacArthur, J., F., Jr. (1997, c1991). Our sufficiency in Christ (Electronic ed.) (229). Dallas, TX: Word Publishing.
"Crown"
The "crown" in this verse is not a royal crown (a diadema) but the crown made of leaves (stephanos) awarded to the victor in an athletic contest. Such crowns are also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:25, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10. While the victor's crown of leaves had no monetary value, it was greatly prized. It represented an achievement that brought honor to the athlete and to the city he represented.
Richards, L. (1998). Every promise in the Bible. Includes indexes. (243). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
