Second, Christ exhorts them, “Be faithful unto death,” which translated literally is, “Become faithful even unto death.” Up to this time, apparently no believer had died. But even though their lives might be sacrificed, their real riches could not be touched because they were heavenly. Faithfulness to death would result in the crown of life. This is not to be understood as a crown or a reward accompanying eternal life, but eternal life itself—“the crown which is life.” This promise had to be encouraging to John also in his own bleak circumstances on Patmos.
