The church of Smyrna

Revelation

'...These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive'(Rev2:8)In the light of this revelation the church would see its fault. they were given to fear, because they did not have the revelation that he is the first and the last,' the author and finisher of our faith(Heb12:2)

Fear comes when questions and doubts arise in one's mind such as, Did i make  a mistake in starting out? will God take me through? Can I go in to the end? is Holiness and a victorious life a  possibility? etc. God is ever present with us to take us through to the end. We need not be afraid of death because though he died, he is risen and is alive. Death is no defeat. When people go through sufferings, and their prayers for deliverance are not answered , they doubt whether the presence of God is with them, or not, or think that God is not concerned with their problems. so fear takes hold of them. the promise of the Lord is '...Lo , I am with you always, even unto the end of the World'(Matt28:20)

The church of Smyrna had lost its vision that the Lord was dead and is alive. The resurrection of Jesus proves that He has overcome death and that death is not  the end of all things. Nothing is difficult for the Lord and He is ever willing to solve our problems.

Jesus came, through the closed doors to meet His disciples after His resurrection. In spite of all the doors being closed by unavoidable circumstances and hindrances, the Lord is still with us and is able to say 'I know thy works, and tribulation ,and poverty..'(Rev2:9)

Reward

'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'(Rev2:10)

Our tribulation is only for ten days. In (numbers 14:22), God says of the Israelites, 'Those men.... have tempted me now these ten times' Ten is a figure of speech referring to the period of our trial. God had to take the children of Israel through certain difficulties to prove them who they were(Deut8:2)Difficulties do not weaken us, but they show  how weak we are. The brilliance of a stone depends on the facets it bears. the difficulties and suffering of a consecrated child of God draw him closer to Him and make him shine as a brilliant stone. God takes us into the wilderness to speak that our tribulation is only for a short while.

THE THREE CROWNS