Revelation 2

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

The Persecuted Church

The Crushed Church 

Death does not have the last word. 

I know…

Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

— C.S. Lewis 

I thought my pain and suffering had taken me to a place where God could never be found; instead, it was a place where He became more real to me than I had ever known Him to be.

— Annette 

Don’t be so quick to get out of hard times that you don’t get anything out of them. 

— Mark Batterson 

John 16:33 — I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!

_________________________ Trouble 

Keep The Faith

Am I faithful? 

Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?

— Polycarp 

Mark 15:39 — And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Will people watch my final breath and be moved by my faith all the way to the finish?

 2 Timothy 4:7 — I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Mark 13:13 — All people will hate you because you follow me. But those who remain faithful to the end will be saved.