The Promise -Revelation 2:11

The Promise -Revelation 2:11

THE PROMISE

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” ’ (2:11).

What the Spirit says to the churches – This stresses the vital significance of what God says in scripture, and it is our responsibility to heed to it.

He who overcomes – They were not to recant when called upon to face a Martyr’s death.  By continued faith and faithfulness, a believer can overcome specific temptations and tests and receive an eternal reward.

The second death – Conscious, eternal damnation in hell (Revelation 20:14; 21:8). No believer will experience the second death; the overcomer will suffer no loss whatsoever.

The persecuted, suffering, yet faithful church at Smyrna stands for all time as an example of those who “having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Matthew 10:32).

“The purifying fires of affliction cause the church’s testimony to burn all the more brilliantly” – John Waalvoord.

"Those who die without Christ, however, will die again" – Henry M. Morris.