Blessed is the person who keeps going when times are difficult. After they’ve made it through these times, they’ll receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to give to those who love him.
Don’t be afraid of what you’re going to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you’ll be mistreated for ten days. Be faithful, even if you have to die, and I’ll give you life as your victory crown.
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they have nothing to do with you, when they say bad things about you, and when they treat your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
‘Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. If anyone wins the victory, I’ll give that person some of the hidden manna. I’ll also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it. Only the one who receives this name will know what it is.’
But the seed that fell on good soil stands for those who have good and honest hearts. Those people hear the message, keep it in their hearts, remain faithful, and produce a good crop.
‘If anyone wins the victory, I’ll give that person the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne.
‘Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. If anyone wins the victory, I’ll let them to eat from the tree of life that’s in God’s paradise.’