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I know that bad people are making you suffer. I also know that you are poor. But really, you are rich. Some people say that they are Jews, but they tell lies about you. So they cannot be my true people. Instead, they belong to a group of Satan's people. 10 I know that trouble will soon come to you. But do not be afraid. Listen! The Devil will cause some of you to go to prison. He wants to see whether you will continue to believe in me. As a result, you will suffer for ten days.[a] But continue to trust me, even if you die. Then you will win against the Devil. I will give you a gift, as they give a crown to the winner of a race.[b] You will have life with me for ever.

11 God's Spirit is speaking to you in the churches. You should understand what the Spirit is saying to you. You have ears, so listen carefully! The second death will not hurt anyone who wins against Satan.” ’[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 2:10 ‘ten days’ may mean a short time of trouble, rather than a long time.
  2. 2:10 At the time John was on earth, a winner of a race received a crown. The crown was the shape of a circle. Somebody had tied leaves together to make it.
  3. 2:11 The second death is the opposite of when someone lives always with Jesus. It means that a person must go to a place without Jesus. Nobody is happy in that place. The name of that place is hell, or the lake of fire. See Revelation 20:14.

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(A) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(B) but are a synagogue of Satan.(C) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(D) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(E) Be faithful,(F) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(G)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(H) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(I)

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