“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
My Notes
What Does Revelation 2:10 Mean?
Jesus speaks to the church in Smyrna — a suffering church — and his first words are: fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. He does not deny the suffering. He names it specifically: prison, tribulation, testing for ten days. And then he says: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
The instruction is startling: do not fear what you will suffer. Not 'do not fear because suffering will not come.' The suffering is certain. The instruction is to face it without fear.
"Be thou faithful unto death" sets the ultimate standard of faithfulness. Not faithful until it gets hard. Faithful unto death. The crown of life is promised to those who hold on to the end — even if the end costs their life.
The ten days of tribulation may be literal or symbolic (representing a limited period). Either way, the point is that the suffering has a boundary. It is not endless. God has measured it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does Jesus saying 'fear not' while also confirming suffering is coming change your posture toward hardship?
- 2.What does 'faithful unto death' look like in your context — where faithfulness costs something real?
- 3.How does knowing suffering has a limit ('ten days') help you endure?
- 4.What 'crown of life' promise sustains you through your current difficulty?
Devotional
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Jesus does not say suffering is not coming. He says it is coming — and do not be afraid of it.
The devil shall cast some of you into prison. The suffering is specific, not vague. Jesus names it: imprisonment, tribulation, testing. He is not offering comfort through denial. He is offering courage through honesty.
Be thou faithful unto death. That is the standard for the church in Smyrna — and for you. Not faithful when it is convenient. Not faithful until it costs something. Faithful unto death. The whole way. No matter what.
I will give thee a crown of life. The promise on the other side of faithfulness unto death is not death. It is a crown. It is life. The death is temporary. The crown is permanent.
Ten days. The tribulation has a limit. It is measured. God has put a boundary on it. Whatever you are suffering, it has an end date — even if you cannot see it yet.
Fear not. Be faithful. The crown is waiting.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer,.... God's people undergo sufferings of various sorts, as the…
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer - He did not promise them exemption from suffering. He saw that they…
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer - This may be addressed particularly to Polycarp, if he was at that…
We now proceed to the second epistle sent to another of the Asian churches, where, as before, observe,
I. The preface or…
Fear none of Read simply Fear not.
those things which thou shalt suffer Probably refer primarily to a persecution…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture