The Church in Smyrna: Suffering Like a Believer

The believers in Smyrna were suffering material loss, slander, imprisonment, and even martyrdom. Christ's assurance and comfort does not include a promise that they will not suffer in this life. His comfort is found in His sovereignty over all events, the promise of His inheritance, His resurrection from the dead, and His promise of rescue from wrath. There are far worse things to suffer than the miseries of this life. The believers in Smyrna are called to have a spiritual and long-term perspective on their suffering, and to remain faithful and steadfast by looking beyond the first death and rejoicing that in Christ they will not taste the bitterness of the second death.