[soc.religion.christian] Rev. 2:10-11

ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) (03/08/91)

In a series of articles I am going to present the entire Church history as
phrophezied in Revelation 2:1-3:22.  These verses phrophezy concerning the
first Church to the last Church before the Lord returns.

If you would like a list of references on Church history please send me a
note.

Note: This posting is very long.  It will be divided into seven parts (there
are epistles to seven Churches.)  Each part will consist of one or more
subparts.

            Part II of VII - Subpart 2 of 2 of Part II

                           CHAPTER 2
                III. "THE THINGS WHICH ARE" --
                   THE SEVEN LOCAL CHURCHES
                           2:1-3:22

                  B.  Church in Symrna --
                the Church under Persecution
            

   10  Do not (a)fear what you are about to (b)suffer.  Behold, the 
(1c)Devil is about to cast some of you into (d)prison that you may be
(e)tried, and you will have (f)tribulation (2g)ten days.  Be (h)faithful
(i)unto death, and I will give you the (3j)crown of life.

(1) Gk. diabolos, meaning accuser, slanderer (Rev. 12:9-10).  The Devil, who
is Satan, the adversary of God, accuses us before God and slanders us before
men.

(2) Ten is the number of fulness, such as the ten commandments, which express
God's demand in full, and the tithes of the offerings, which show that ten
parts constitute the full offering.  Ten days in the Bible signify a period
of time which is full, yet short (Gen. 24:55; Jer. 42:7; Dan. 1:12-14).  
here it signifies the affliction of the suffering church was full, yet short.
As a sign, these ten days indicate prophetically the ten periods of persecution
which the church suffered under the Roman emperors, beginning with Caesar
Nero in the second half of the first century and ending with Constatine the
Great in the first part of the fourth century.  However the persecutions
instigated by the Devil, Satan, through the Roman Caesars, who did their utmost
to destroy and eliminate the church, they were unable to subdue and terminate
her.  History demonstrates that the church of the living Christ "Who became
dead and lived again" withstood the persecutions victoriously and multiplied
flourishingly by the indestructable resurrection life.

(3) A "crown" in New Testament usage usually denotes a prize in addition
to salvation.  See references.  The "crown of life" as a prize to those 
who are faithful unto death inovercoming persecution denotes the overcoming
strength, which is the power of the resurrection life (Phil. 3:10); it also
signifies these overcomers have attained to "the our-resurrection from among
the dead," i.e., the outstanding resurrection (Phil. 3:11).

(a) Matt. 10:28 (b) John 16:33; Acts 14:22 (c) rev. 12:9, 12; 20:2, 10
(d) Luke 21:12; Acts 5:25; 8:3; 12:4-5; 16; 23-24; 22.4; 26:10; 2 Cor.
11.23; Heb. 13:3 (e) heb. 2:18 (f) Rev. 1:9 (g) Gen. 24:55; Jer. 42:7;
Dan 1:12-14 (h) Rev. 2:13; 17:14 (i) Rev. 12:11; Phil. 2:8 (j) Rev. 3:11;
James 1:12; 2 Tim. 4:8, 1 Pet. 5:4, 1 Cor. 9:25;

   11  He who has an (a)ear, let him hear what the (b)Spirit says to the
churches.  He who (1)overcomes shall by no means be (2)hurt (3)of the
(d)second death.

(1) To "overcome" in this epistle means to overcome persecution by being
"faithful unto death."

(2) Due to the fall and the entering in of sin, every man must die once
(Heb. 9:27).  This first death, however, is not the final settlement.  All
the dead will be resurrected and pass through the judgment of the great white
throne at the close of the millenium, i.e., at the conclusion of the old heaven
and earth, except those who through faith in the Lord Jesus have been recorded
in the book of life.  As a result of this judgment, they will all be cast 
into the lake of fire, which is the second death as the final settlement
(Rev. 20:11-15).  hence, the second death is God's dealing with man after man's 
death and resurrection.  Since the overcomers have overcome death through 
their faithfulness unto death under persecution and have left nothing 
requiring furthe dealing by God after their resurrection, they will be
rewarded with the crown of life and willnot be touched, or "hurt," any more
by the death after resurrection, which is the second death.

(3) Gk. out of.

(a) Rev. 2:7; (b) Rev. 2:7; (c) Rev. 2:7; (d) Rev. 20:6, 14; 21:8

-----
Robert W. Johnson
Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland
robert@kontu.utu.fi 	(InterNet)
robert@firien.bitnet    (BITNET)

The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer
and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment.