Revelation 2
October 25, 2022
“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 life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.” (v10-11)
Jesus tells His followers not to be afraid (v10). And then He warns them of what is coming, which would cause most of us to be afraid: suffering, prison, persecution, and even death. Not exactly what we typically think of as reasons for not being afraid. But the key to the reason we don’t need to fear these things is His promise: that we “will not be hurt at all by the second death” (v11). If the worst the world can do is kill us - and Jesus promises us life after death - then the more we keep our eyes on that life, the less afraid we’ll be to suffer or die, and the more we’ll live with peace and courage - even amidst suffering.
Lord Jesus, I praise You for being worth the enduring of suffering. You are great and glorious. And Your eternal Kingdom is so magnificent that it will make the temporary suffering I’m enduring now seem like one bad night in a cheap hotel. But I confess, that in the midst of my pain, I’m prone to forget this long view. Help me to keep Your promise of this glorious life before me so that I might persevere through pain today.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
