Chapter
Verse

Revelation 2:10

ESV Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
NIV Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.
NASB Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
CSB Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
NLT Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
KJV 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.

What does Revelation 2:10 mean?

In this verse we learn that Jesus predicted further suffering for the church at Smyrna. Some of the believers would encounter imprisonment and death. The Devil would be responsible for this hateful treatment, but Jesus told the believers not to fear. Early in His earthly ministry Jesus had counseled, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). He continued His counsel by asserting that our heavenly Father's eye is on the sparrows and He values us more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29).

The "ten days" in Revelation 2:10 may refer to ten persecutions that began with Nero and ended with Diocletian at the end of the third century. Christians are not promised to be kept from persecution, but we are kept in—or through—persecution. Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us; therefore we can say, "I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5–6)

Jesus promises the crown of life to those who remain loyal. The "crown" refers to the wreath that was given to the winner of an athletic contest. At the end of life's race an imperishable wreath awaits all who faithfully served Christ even unto death (1 Corinthians 9:25).
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