启示录 2:10-11

4. Promise 2:10b-11

The citizens of Smyrna had a reputation for being faithful to the emperor because of their previous acts of fidelity to him. The crown of life is probably the fullness of eternal life as a reward (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Hebrews 2:9; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 4:4). This appears to be a victor’s crown (Gr. stephanos) given for enduring the trials and tests of life even to the point of death without denying Christ. It is not the gift of eternal life but the fullness of that life (cf. John 10:10, et al.). The person who endures these trials will receive the crown of life after Jesus Christ has approved him or her. This approval will take place when the Lord evaluates that believer’s works at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:13). He will award the crown at this judgment (1 Corinthians 3:14). [Note: Aune, p. 167. See Joe L. Wall, Going for the Gold, pp. 128-29, 140-51.]

The Greeks called Smyrna "the crown of Asia Minor" because of its beauty as a city. Moreover every year a few city administrators, rulers, and priests received a crown of leaves for their faithfulness to their duties.

". . . it is noteworthy that Smyrna was famous for its games . . . in which the prize was a garland." [Note: Swete, p. 33.]

Christians will not (a double negative in Greek: "not in any way") suffer injury or harm (Gr. adikethe) by the "second death." The second death is eternal separation from God. It follows the first death, which is separation of the soul from the body.

"It is not annihilation, but conscious unending punishment." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 1-7, p. 174. Cf. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, 6:303.]

"By litotes this [promise] intimates a superlative triumph over the second death. But since the second death is actual banishment from the presence and life of God (Revelation 20:14-15), the litotes also intimates a splendid experience of the divine life and presence." [Note: Zane C. Hodges, The Gospel Under Siege, p. 119. ]

Litotes is a figure of speech in which the writer expresses an affirmative idea through the negation of its opposite. Examples include, "I am not amused" (meaning "I am very annoyed"), "I won’t forget that" (meaning "I’ll remember it"), and "That test was no snap!" (meaning "That was a tough test!"). For some biblical examples, see Acts 12:18; Acts 15:2; Acts 17:4; Acts 17:12; Acts 19:24; and Acts 27:20.

The point of the Lord’s promise is that those who remain faithful will experience eternal life to the utmost in the life to come. The first death might hurt them briefly, but the second death would not hurt them at all. [Note: See idem, "No Small Problem," Grace Evangelical Society News 6:3 (March 1991):4.]

Historically the church experienced intense persecution during the post-apostolic era until Constantine elevated Christianity to the official religion of the Roman Empire. As mentioned before, some interpreters have correlated the 10 days of persecution (Revelation 2:10) with 10 periods of persecution instigated by 10 Roman emperors between A.D. 54 (Nero) and A.D. 284 (Diocletian). [Note: E.g., W. A. Spurgeon, The Conquering Christ, p. 28.]