Apocalyptic Hope

YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION TEN DAYS

In Revelation 2:10, the Holy Spirit tells the Smyrna Church :

"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"

This has often been a puzzling passage, for many have tried to discern what is meant by the phrase
"ten days".
Is this a literal 10 days, or a figurative 10 days...what exactly did the Holy Spirit mean when He said that ?

We know that there has been suffering, imprisonment and martyrdom within the Church Age ever since the Church began. We also know that all these persecutions are put upon the Church today---in these last days,---especially in the Islamic and Communist countries.
Every day, around the globe, Christians are harassed, arrested, jailed, beaten, tortured and killed.
There never has been a time on the globe when Christians weren't persecuted.

" Yea, and all those that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution". 2 Timothy 3:12
" Blessed are they who die henceforth in the Lord ." Rev. 14 : 13.

We know for a fact that these persecutions last more than 10 days. For many , it involves a lifetime of intense suffering and persecutions. Not only have there been severe persecutions and executions of Christians in the past and in our present world, but we are told from the Book of Revelations that the coming world ruler and his 666 global government and religion will overcome the saints during the last 42 months of this age...the time known as the Great Tribulation.

"And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months" Revelation 13:5
"And it was given unto him [the beast] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them:
and power was given unto him over all kindreds and tongues and nations." Revelation 13:7

"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." Revelation 13:10

So therefore from the past, the present and even into the future, we see time frames of suffering, imprisonment and death that involve a lot more time than only 10 days.
So how are we to understand the meaning of the phrase "10 days"?

PATTERN :10 Days Between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost
It is possible that the 10 days referred to in Revelation 2:10 is figuratively applied. In other words, it is not a literal 10 days for those undergoing persecution and death. If it is not literal, it involves any number of days and years of suffering.

It is our belief that the phrase "10 days"( if applied figuratively ) would refer to the historical time between the birth of the Church Age and it's conclusion.
That long 2,000 + time period will be patterned after the 10 days between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost. It was during that time that the Early Believers felt a loss of Godly Presence, and were not yet spirit-filled.

Immediatley after the Midnight Rapture ( just prior to the Great Tribulation ) those that are left behind will also feel a sense of loss.
Yet the Holy Ghost will be strengthening Believers as never before, especially as they surrender their life to Jesus during this time. And Jesus will be with them to the end ..
"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" Hevrews 13.

LITERAL
If the reference is also literal---meaning it represents an actual "10 day" period sometime --- then this could be the possible meaning.
The suffering Smyrna Church Believers, who are in the Great Tribulation, may be on trial for 10 days before they become martyrs. Only time will tell the exact meaning of the ten days.
" In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world " --John 16:33

"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" Revelation 2:10

Even so, God never leaves His own without a hope. They have the Blessed Hope of being raised up at the Cockcrowing Resurrection ? Rapture just before Armageddon. (Revelation 16:15 )

The Church Age must be brought to a close, and that is why the Great Tribulation Church" is a multitude no man could number " Rev. 7: 9, 10 .
They are resurrected / raptured out just before the bitter end.

biblia ( adaptation )

PSALM 45 and REVELATION 7

These tribulation saints are more like bridesmaids (Psalm 45: 14...virgin companions of the king's daughter). Those raptured before Armageddon will participate in the Wedding Feast. (Revelation 19:7-9)
They will be worthy and walk in white. Revelation 3:4.

"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me:
"What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? And whence came they ?
And I said unto him, "Sir, thou knowest."
And he said to me,"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Jesus).

"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple:
and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb (Jesus) which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Revelation 7:13-17

Even though the Church Age ends prior to Armageddon, the" times of the Gentiles" is not over until Armageddon is over.
Then the Messianic Millennial reign of Jesus Christ begins.

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God,
ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
Hebrews 10: 35 - 37

Let us all therefore :
"Look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh" Luke 21:28

Bible www.blueletterbible.org

Salvation www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/sal.htm