Name: Leslie
Question: Regarding your perspective that the Tribulation will only last 5 months… What about Revelation 2:8-10 that says the Church Of Smyrna will only suffer for 10 days?
Answer: Leslie, thank you for the question.
Jesus did say the days were shortened in Matthew 24:22, we just don’t know what they were shortened too with 100% accuracy.
Now, let’s read the verse together.
Revelation 2:10
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.
Those are the words of Jesus written by John, but who was Jesus speaking to?
He was speaking to the church of Smyrna 2,000 years ago.
It’s interesting to note, most Bibles translate the verse,
- “Do not fear what you are about to suffer…”
Instead of:
- “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer…” as the King James reads.
“Thou shalt” can mean a verity of things, including, “about to be, do, or suffer something.” I provide this background as John was not issuing a prophetic statement for us today, but for his era. His statement concerned the 7 churches of Revelation that existed 2,000 years ago.
Today, there is no church of Smyrna. Instead, we are to take the characteristics of the 7 churches and apply them to our life. They display the sort of faith and works we should possess, if we want to be acceptable to Jesus.
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Now in that verse, we are also told, “The devil shall cast some of you [Smyrna] into prison.”
Unfortunately, the Devil not only roamed the earth during Biblical times, but he also had a very strong influence over mankind. Evident by his many appearances and the evil spirits who follow him.
Just take a look at Satan attempting to disrupt the Apostles and the early church.
2 Corinthians 2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.1 Thessalonians 2:18
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
In Revelation 2:10, that is the issue at hand, Satan attempting to prevent progress of the early church. So the “tribulation ten days” concerned a specific church, Smyrna, from 2,000 years ago. It was a warning for them to be spiritually on guard against the Devil and what would happen to them.
To add to that, in verse 9, we are told about the synagogue of Satan, being the synagogue of the Jews. There’s no doubt, Satan was working within that religious community. Evident as they and the rest of the Israelites did everything they could to silence Jesus, and finally, put him to death, (Acts 2:36).
Speaking of the crucifixion of Jesus, Satan was heavily involved.
Luke 22:3
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
That occurred on the night Jesus was betrayed. So over and over again we see Satan attempting to destroy not only Christ, but the church He established. Therefore, the “tribulation ten days” was a reference to the troubles Smyrna was going to endure in their era, not today.
In fact, nothing is stated or implied in the Scriptures that indicate this would apply to us today or in the future.
Now during the Tribulation, when Satan is cast from Heaven to earth, (Revelation 12:7-9). I fully expect, Christians that stay true to Jesus, will be cast into prison, but I wouldn’t expect it to only last “ten days.”