Revelation 2:10

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the church in Smyrna, the only one of the seven churches that receives no reproof. They are poor, slandered by a "synagogue of Satan," and about to face imprisonment.

The words — mēden (μηδέν, "nothing") negates the fear-command absolutely; paschein (πάσχειν, "to suffer") names the concrete tribulation they are about to undergo.

The thread — The "crown of life" appears in James 1:12; "faithful unto death" parallels Matthew 10:22's "endure to the end." Revelation 3:10 promises the Philadelphia church preservation from the hour of testing, while Smyrna is promised preservation through it.

Why it lands — It sets a fixed duration on the suffering ("ten days") and a fixed cost on fidelity ("unto death"), leaving no middle path. The reader is asked to choose: endure a bounded tribulation and receive the crown, or not.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Luke 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
Mark 13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Matthew 24:13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Revelation 2:9 I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.