“你务要至死忠心，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。” – 启 2:10
面对神的大家庭，无论远近、老幼、贫富，耶稣都以“首先的和末后的，死而复活的”身份说话。
耶稣向士每拿教会显明了祂的神圣和主权，祂掌管着所有的历史——包括过去、现在和未来。作为首先的和末后的，祂不仅掌管历史的起头和末了，也掌管着介于两者之间的一切。
即使死亡也无法阻挡耶稣，祂仍活着！所有相信耶稣为他们受苦和受死的人都会感到安慰，因为他们知道死亡也无法将他们困住。在耶稣里，我们将和祂一样复活重生。在耶稣里，我们确信，我们将永远与祂同住。
耶稣用这个真理鼓励和坚固了士每拿的弟兄姐妹。祂接着提到了他们的患难和贫穷。祂知道他们受到了一些人的诽谤，这些人说他们跟随神，但实际上并没有。祂说，那些人是撒但一会的人。耶稣呼吁真正跟随祂的人不要害怕任何患难和逼迫。祂说：“你们要至死忠心。祂已经在那里等着他们了。那位首先和末后的主会扶持他们渡过一切艰难。
这位耶稣也将与我们同在，共渡难关。耶稣是赐予生命和得胜的那一位，从现在直到永远。
祷告
耶稣，感谢你为我们死而复活。在你里面，我们可以确信，没有什么能将我们与你的爱隔绝。阿们。
启示录 2:8-11
8“你要写信给士每拿教会的使者说：‘那首先的、末后的、死过又活的说：
9我知道你的患难、你的贫穷，你却是富足的；也知道那自称是犹太人所说的毁谤话，其实他们不是犹太人，乃是撒旦一会的人。
10‘你将要受的苦你不用怕。魔鬼要把你们中间几个人下在监里，叫你们被试炼，你们必受患难十日。你务要至死忠心，我就赐给你那生命的冠冕。
11圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！得胜的，必不受第二次死的害。’
To Smyrna
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” — Revelation 2:10
To the family of God, near and far, young and old, rich and poor, Jesus speaks as “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.”
Jesus presents himself to the church in Smyrna as divine and sovereign, being over all history—past, present, and future. As the First and the Last, he covers not only the ends of the spectrum but also everything in between.
Even death could not hold Jesus; he is alive! All who believe that Jesus suffered and died for them can find comfort in knowing that death will not hold them either. In Jesus, like Jesus, we will be raised to new life. In Jesus we have assurance that we will live forever with him.
With this truth Jesus encouraged and strengthened our brothers and sisters in Smyrna. He went on to mention their afflictions and their poverty. He knew they were slandered by people who said they followed God but did not. Those people were agents of Satan, he said. Jesus called his true followers not to be afraid of any suffering or persecution they would face. “Be faithful, even to the point of death,” he said. He had already been there for them. The One who is First and Last would hold them through all that would come their way.
This same Jesus will also be with us through the difficulties we face. Jesus is the One who gives life and victory, now and forever.
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for dying and coming to life again for us. In you we can be assured that nothing will ever separate us from your love. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
