Jack County Cowboy Church

This is a tough one. This is not one of the most often quoted scriptures. John is talking to the church in Smyrna and quoting Jesus words that were told to him. There may be a day in the future where it is held on to dearly by those who suffer the kind of affliction that is described in this verse. And there will be a day in the future, no way of knowing exactly when it will come, when being a follower of Christ will be a crime, or maybe considered a form of mental illness. There are places where people who name the name of Christ as their Savior are persecuted and martyred daily. Unless the church is removed at the very beginning of the great tribulation we who believe may suffer this globally, possibly even sponsored by governments or a unified government. I don't see it tomorrow, or next week. Look in the recent news and it becomes not nearly so far fetched as it may sound. Does it sound horrible? If you know Jesus as your Savior, and you know in your heart of hearts beyond a shadow of doubt that He is the one who holds your future, be encouraged. I would quote another verse here that we should stand on in this life. It is the next verse, Revelation 2:11. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. Jesus is with us no matter what we go through in this life, giving us strength to over come.