Second Church–Persecuted and faithful Church, where the temple of Satan exists, are given the reward of eternal life.

Revelation 2:8-11

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click here for a description of the image of the beast.

• Message from the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life.
• Persecution of those faithful to Jesus Christ.
• Overcomers have victory over the second death.

The corruption of five of the seven churches leads to our Lord Jesus Christ opening the Seven Seals, as described in Revelations 4 and also Revelations 5. That leads to the events of the Seven Trumpets of Revelations 8, 9, and 11, the Seven Thunders of Revelations 10, and the Seven Plagues of Revelations 16. The two faithful witness, or two faithful churches [second and sixth Church], are faithful to the testimony of Jesus Christ, persecuted, and have little strength. A link to each of the seven churches are at the bottom of this post.

In the first church of Revelations 2:1-7, The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been abandoned and the lampstand removed from the church, no more to shine with the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the church of this post, there is tribulation and poverty for those who live for God through Jesus Christ. For we who overcome in dire circumstances, we pass from death into eternal life, as Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24

Message from the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life…” Revelations 2:8

This message is written from the First and the Last, who is Jesus Christ. He has been here since the beginning of time and will be here after the end of this present heaven and earth, and will exist for eternity, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made…And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” John 1:1-3, Revelations 22:12-13

Our Lord Jesus was crucified on the Cross, suffered death to atone for our sin, and came to life after three days in the grave. Jesus says, “Because I live, you will live also.” John 14:19 That is the message to the persecuted Church of this post, to every follower of Jesus Christ.

Persecution of those faithful to Jesus Christ.

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelations 2:9-10

We followers of Jesus Christ suffer difficulties, hardships, affliction, and tribulation of every type. Some of us suffer imprisonment and death in countries around the world. We are not rich by this world’s standards because we followers of Jesus Christ are not warmly accepted at work places and not joyfully placed in high-paying jobs.

Prosperity, peace, and comfort are reserved for those of the he culture of the beast. They serve the beast that has power over physiology to give them what to speak, do, think, and feel. The beast empowers them with uncanny knowledge, heightened intuition, extraordinary skills and talents, amazing physical abilities, uncanny authority over others, etc. That empowers them to succeed and thrive. The day is upon us, like a dark cloud overshadowing the world, when no one will be able to buy, sell, nor to have peace and comfort unless they serve the beast. Followers of Jesus Christ will be killed, and already the global culture intends to drive Christianity into extinction, as described in the post on Revelations 12. “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelations 12:17

We are living in the days when the churches have fallen and have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The seats of the churches are filled, but the congregation is blasphemous in trying to come across as being Godly while they reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument…” Ezekiel 33:31-32 Click for a post on Isaiah 28:7-8 about “The ministers of the churches have erred, have deviated from the way.” Click for a post on Isaiah 28:9-10 about “To whom will the corrupt ministers teach the knowledge of Christ and the message of the Cross?” “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.” Jude 1:12

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” Revelations 13:6-7 The “he” in that verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast.

Those of today’s fallen churches have formed a partnership with the culture of the community, while denying God the Creator, rejecting the need for the remission of sin through Jesus, and not wanting the Holy Spirit to be part of who they are. They are a synagogue of Satan, making their body the home of Satan’s beast. The beast has power over physiology to set self up as God within our body, the temple of God. The beast does that by giving people what to feel, think, say, and do, and is the one “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Click for a post on that.

Our Lord Jesus says to us not to fear any of the sufferings that are upon us, and will come upon those in the future who lift up Christ as Lord and Savior and are not welcoming to the beast. “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:8 Followers of Jesus Christ will have tribulation in this world for “ten days”, even to death. With persecution from the government of the beast, the tribulation involves being betrayed by those closest to us, like when Jesus was betrayed by a kiss to deliver Him to be crucified by government officials. Jesus says, “…they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake…You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.” Luke 21:12, 16

Click here for posts on Matthew 24.

Our Lord Jesus says to us, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.“

Overcomers have victory over the second death.

“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.” ’ Revelations 2:11

The “second death” refers to eternal hell, whereas the first death is when we go to the grave. The second death is mentioned in Revelation 21:8, as quoted, “… will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” We will all be resurrected, some to eternal life in the New Jerusalem, but others to eternal death in hell, “…those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:2-3

The Christ, Jesus, says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24 Jesus reassures us that we who overcome will not be hurt by the second death.

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The second Church of this post, Smyrna, and the sixth Church, Philadelphia, are the two faithful but persecuted Churches. Click here for a post on the Two Faithful Witnesses from Revelations 11.
Click here for a post from Zachariah 4 which talks about the Seven Churches.

The Seven Churches

• First church — Lampstand removal from church for leaving the first love for Jesus Christ.
• Second Church–Persecuted and faithful Church, where the temple of Satan exists, is given the reward of eternal life.
• Third church–Those embracing the worldly agenda enters the church, but hidden “bread” given to those faithful to Jesus Christ.
• Fourth church– Teachings of the beast mixed into the church to teach Satan’s “deep secrets”. The faithful to Christ to hold on to what we have in Him.
• Fifth church–Dead church, but the names of the faithful to Christ are written in the Book of Life.
• Sixth Church–Faithful few have little strength but are made pillars in the temple of God and preserved for the eternal New Jerusalem.
• Seventh church– Church is indifferent to Jesus Christ but wealthy by worldly standards. Jesus stands at the door and knocks.