Revelation 2:9-10

Revelation 2:9: “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 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.

Jesus had nothing negative to say about the church at Smyrna; He was very pleased with it. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” These people were laying down their lives for Jesus, thus demonstrating great love – the very thing that the Ephesians lacked. They loved not their lives to death, and so the Lord promised them a better resurrection.

Jesus once said that those who are persecuted for His sake should be exceedingly glad, for great is their reward in Heaven. Here Jesus reminds this church that although they are poor in this world, they are rich toward God and their reward in Heaven is great. He promised a special reward – a crown of life – to those who were faithful unto death. What this church was suffering was not for nothing; the Lord would reward them for it.

Notice that the Lord told them plainly that they were poor in material wealth and that they were going to suffer. There is no prosperity gospel to be found here! Jesus told His disciples that since the world hated Him, it would hate His followers as well. All throughout the Bible we are told that Christians will be persecuted, hated, and slandered. Jesus never promised us an easy life, so all of these should not come as a surprise. Our Savior warned us that we would suffer and He urges us to be faithful unto death and remember that the Lord will reward us. Our suffering is not in vain.