The church at Smyrna, unlike Ephesus, was facing persecution, poverty, imprisonment & even death. The heart of the message was not “repent,” but be faithful, even to the point of death, and the COMMAND was reinforced, not by a threat, but by a promise: I will give you the crown of life and you will not be hurt by the second death. It costs to be a dedicated Christian…..in some places more than others. As end-time pressures increase, persecution will also increase; and we, as God’s people, need to be ready and faithful.*
