Correct.
'Do
not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast 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.' 11'He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who
overcomes shall not be hurt by the
second
death.' Revelation 2:8-11 (NAS)
Jesus asks His followers to be faithful until death, despite the persecutions
and sufferings they will endure on this earth...and, if they do, Jesus promises
the crown of life.
The First Death
Jesus promises in Revelation 2:11
above, that he who
overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.
The
scriptures talk about a "first death" and
then a "second death." If Jesus does
not come back prior to the end of our life, then we
will experience death (the first death) just as our
relatives and/or friends that have gone on before
us. When Jesus comes back, all of the dead shall be
raised and we shall face the judgment of God:
"Do
not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which
all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and
shall come forth; those who did the good to a
resurrection of life, those who committed the evil
to a resurrection of judgment. John
5:28-29
(NAS)
Those people who are "in Christ"
and have been faithful to Jesus until death...they
will not face the second death. Instead
Jesus promises to take them back to heaven with Him
to be with God forever:
For
the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trumpet of God; and the dead
in Christ
shall rise first. 17Then we who are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we
shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore
comfort one another with these words. 1Thessalonians
4:16-18 (NAS)
The Second Death
The second death is the eternal
punishment prepared for those who are not caught up
to meet the Lord in the air. This second death is
described many times in scripture. Here are
just two references:
II Thessalonians 1:7-9 -- "...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not
know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And
these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of
the Lord and from the glory of His power..." (NAS)
Revelation 21:8 -- "But for the cowardly and unbelieving
and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters
and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death." (NAS)
The instructions that Jesus
gives to His bond-servants (Christians) in the
Revelation are added below:
To the Christians
(to those in Jesus'
church...the bride of Christ): |
Who do what: |
Jesus Promises: |
Reference: |
Who read, hear and heed the words of this prophecy. |
He will be blessed. |
Revelation 1:3 |
Change your hearts and do the things you did at first. |
If you don't change, I will come to you. I will take away
your lampstand from its place. |
Revelation 2:5 |
To him who
overcomes. |
Will grant to eat of the tree of life. |
Revelation 2:7 |
To the one who is faithful until death |
I will give you the crown of life. |
Revelation 2:10 |
To him who
overcomes. |
Shall not be hurt by the second death. |
Revelation 2:11 |
Are you willing to serve Jesus today, despite the persecution
and sufferings that you may be subject to as a Christian?
Do you have faith, that after death, Jesus will raise us from
the dead and will give a crown of life to His followers?
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he
has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has
promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 (NAS)
Click on the next question to continue...
|