“..Be faithful until 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. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'”
(Revelation 2:10c-11)
Here He indicates that some in their number would die for their faith in Christ. And it happened. Quite possibly at this time, a young man named Polycarp listened to the reading of Revelation. About 20 years later, he was made bishop of Smyrna, faithfully carrying out his responsibilities. As an old man, persecution became acute. Polycarp was brought before the Roman proconsul who told him that he could go free “if he would swear by the emperor and curse Christ”. He replied, “For eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no evil. How could I curse my King, who saved me?” With every threat, Polycarp refused to deny Christ and be set free. After being tied to the post to be burned, he looked to heaven, praying, “Lord Sovereign God… I thank you that You have deemed me worthy of this moment, so that, jointly with Your martyrs, I may have a share in the cup of Christ…. For this…I bless and glorify you. Amen”
Christ commands, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” In other words, the message was for Smyrna but not only Smyrna. Christ is teaching the church in every age about faithfulness unto death. The promise of “the crown of life” is a metaphor for eternal life, evident by the next promise, “He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” Jesus was not speaking of peripheral issues. He spoke of life and eternity. The call for overcoming is viewed as the only way to life. Overcoming bears evidence of Christ-transformed lives. What does this pose for the many half-hearted, wimpy, worldly-absorbed kind of professing Christians represented in churches across our land? Here is the radical call to authenticity, demonstrated by faithfulness to Christ even in suffering, and if God so wills, in death.
(Phil A. Newton)
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