According to Revelation 2:8-11, the church in Smyrna did not receive any condemnation, only commendation. This encouraged the Christians there because they had encountered much tribulation and persecution. This passage also reveals three reasons we should not fear when under persecution:

1.  Christ’s Resurrection (Rev 2:8)

The Lord introduced Himself as “the first and the last” (Rev 2:8). This means that Jesus was there from the beginning till the end. No matter what difficulties or sufferings we experience, we know for sure that God is with us. Christ has conquered death and has risen from the dead, so will we believers. As believers, we must have the right perspective of life. If we value life and people more than Christ, we will fear the loss of them, and this can result in sin and disobedience. If we remember that physical death results in us being in heaven with God, then we need not fear death.

2.  Christ’s Promise of Victory (Rev 2:9-10)

If we consider material possessions as precious, and if we consider possession of these means an abundant life, we will not want to lose these material possessions, but will do our utmost to hold on to them, eg: our jobs, etc. The fear of losing our jobs can cause us to fear man and we may stop standing up for Christ. This may lead us to compromise our Christian principles and witness. As believers, our abundant life is no longer measured in terms of our material possessions. We are rich in all things eternal. As believers, we are going to heaven, not to hell. We have overcome the bondage of sin in our life, and the penalty of sin has been forever removed from us because of what Jesus has done for us. We also have the strength from the Lord not to succumb to the dominion of sin in our life. God allows trials and tribulation into our life so that we will have the experiential knowledge (and not just head knowledge) of Christ’s promise of victory.

3.  Christ’s Promise of a Crown of Life (Rev 2:11)

If we endure, the victory is ours and the reward is “a crown of life” (Rev 2:10). In our Christian walk, we must not take “backsliding” lightly. The word “backsliding” is used in the Old Testament to refer to an apostate, i.e. an unbeliever. We must not treat carnality and love of this world as minor transgressions and think it is alright to leave God in pursuit of the world, expecting that one day we will turn back to Him. We must endure to the end, even unto death, so that we can claim this promise of a crown of life.

The promise of victory and reward is ours if we are born-again. Will you fear nothing for Jesus’ sake?