Revelation Letters II
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “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. 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. 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.” (Revelation 2:8-11 ESV)
The Worst
What is the worst that could happen? The church in Smyrna (as in fact, ALL followers of Christ) was suffering. They were being slandered, publicly challenged, and falsely accused. Soon, Christ tells them, their suffering would increase. Some might be imprisoned. And some might die as they suffer.
But the worst they would experience was physical death. Obviously, that is not ‘nothing.’ But Jesus tells them that even the worst leads to the best. The ‘second death’, the result of God’s judgment after their bodies die, was NOTHING to fear.
In fact, it is a fantastic blessing. For them, those who lean on Christ, those who believe, those who know Him, those who are HIS… the judgment was not fearful, but hopeful. It was not suffering, but blessing. It was not difficult, but an easy yoke to bear.
And that promise is the same for believers today. When bad days come (and I am not necessarily referring to any apocalyptic, world-ending, movie-level disaster. But we suffer… and we will suffer. And when we do, no matter HOW bad it seems or is, that suffering is an avenue to betterness instead of bitterness, a beginning instead of an end, and blessing instead of pain.
The worst is not the worst… it is God at work bringing us the best.