Revelation 2:10,11 - Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer

2:10

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer”. Note that there is no promise of not suffering, instead the encouragement is that they do not need to be afraid of the greater difficulties that lie ahead. Some would be put into prison, by the devil. Of course, it would be human agents who carried out the imprisoning, but the devil would be behind it. “You will suffer persecution for ten days”. The “ten days” may not be a literal ten days, but could just be a significant but finite length of time. They are commanded to be faithful “even to the point of death”. Their reward would be the crown of life. One of the lessons of Revelation is that we should be prepared to be faithful even if it costs us our life. We need to be prepared to pay a price. 

2:11

As usual, there is the exhortation to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And the promise is that the one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. There is something far worse than death in this life to fear. It is whether we will receive eternal life or be condemned to hell.