Bible Tuesday - Revelation Part 7

Write this to Smyrna, to the Angel of the church. The Beginning and Ending, the First and Final One, the Once Dead and Then Come Alive, speaks:
“I can see your pain and poverty—constant pain, dire poverty—but I also see your wealth. And I hear the lie in the claims of those who pretend to be good Jews, who in fact belong to Satan’s crowd.
 “Fear nothing in the things you’re about to suffer—but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing—ten days. It won’t last forever.
Revelation 2:8-10

It's pretty clear what's happening so we don't have to wrestle with this text to understand it.  The church at Smyrna is suffering...and they are gonna keep on suffering for ten days.  (I am assuming this is ten years just based on normal bible prophecy stuff.   Days usually equal years.  I don't know why.  Let's just go with it.)

“Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you.
Revelation 2:10

If you live in a world where Jesus only desires your happiness, this passage is about to ruin your day.  The believers in Smyrna lived in constant pain and dire poverty.  And Jesus is ok with it.  In fact, He tells them to keep going even if it kills them! 

This is hard for modern believers, isn't it?
Jesus loves us, right?
Right.
And if you love someone, you never want them to suffer, right?
WRONG.

Sometimes (maybe even often) suffering is necessary. 

The devil is about to do some damage to the church is Smyrna.  Do Not miss this.  Jesus knows about it beforehand.  And He is going to let it happen.  Not because He is mean and wants His followers to suffer for no good reason.  Suffering creates strength.  And the believers at Smyrna are going to need that strength.