Enduring to the End: A Letter to Smyrna
Every year, an organization called Open Doors publishes an annual report in which they rank the top 50 countries in the world where persecution against Christians is most severe. In 2024, North Korea ranked number one; number 50 was Turkey.
These 50 countries literally span the globe. Countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as in Africa and Asia are on the list. According to Open Doors, more than 365 million Christians around the world suffer high levels of persecution. Last year, approximately 5,000 Christians were martyred for their faith, with another 4,000 put under arrest.
In spite of it all, the gospel of Jesus Christ continues to spread around the world and the global church is growing exponentially every day. As one church father correctly said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
This edition of Heart to Heart includes some encouragement that arrived from one of these persecuted countries. Our Mandarin translator, Simon, who lives in China, recently came to visit our Wisdom office. China is ranked nineteenth on the Open Doors list. On page 10, you can read about Simon’s incredible ministry and testimony.
In Jesus’ letters to the seven churches, delivered through the apostle John, Jesus wrote specifically to the church in Smyrna with both encouragement and challenges regarding persecution.
“I know your tribulation and your poverty … and the slander. … Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. … Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:9-10).
While this warning was delivered specifically to the church in Smyrna, the other six churches were certainly facing their own difficulties as well. The purpose and timing of this inspired letter to Smyrna indicates that this church, in particular, was about to experience a severe time of suffering.
Jesus’ encouragement to these believers can be summed up with the words “I know.” Jesus says He knows their tribulation, their poverty, the slander facing them, and the fact that some of them will be thrown into prison. Perhaps some of them already were.
Isn’t it encouraging, beloved, to know that Jesus knows?
Whether you are going through a health crisis, job upheaval, or maybe even risking your life as a follower of Christ—Jesus knows. Maybe you fear what your family will say or do to you if they find out you are a Christian—Jesus knows. No matter how alone you may feel, your Savior is distinctly and personally aware of what you are enduring for Him.
The challenge Jesus delivers to these believers is this: “Be faithful unto death.”
That may sound hyperbolic to some today for whom faithfulness to God does not mean death. When I tell many American Christians about the global persecution of the church, the concept of having to die for your faith feels very foreign. That is not a risk here in America— at least not from an institutional, governmental level.
But for many, this command is a serious, tangible command concerning real circumstances they face. Remember, 5,000 brothers and sisters applied this command just last year, as they died for their faith in Christ.
We can’t know if we will suffer for Jesus, but Jesus knows!
But we can answer this question: “Would we be willing to sacrifice what we have: our security, our career, our family relationships, even our lives, if necessary?”
Remembering that our earthly suffering is temporary, remembering the sacrifice Jesus made on this earth to redeem us, and remembering the crown of life that awaits us in heaven, we can faithfully follow our Lord, no matter where it leads.
And above all, remember this:
Jesus knows.
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