And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna

write; These things saith the first and the last,

which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works,

and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)

and I know the blasphemy of them which say they

are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of

Satan. Fear none of those things which thou

shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of

you into prison, that you may be tried; and you

shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful

unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit

saith unto the churches; He that overcometh

shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev. 2:8-11)

Smyrna and Philadelphia are the only two churches out of seven that never encounter censure of any kind. Overall, Smyrna is a worthy Church: "but thou art rich."

The bulk of future Smyrna will comprise new converts deep in the Tribulation. As a result, Smyrna won’t be around long enough to be known for any in-depth accomplishments of faith. This is why praise, even though Smyrna owns no condemnation, largely lacks in her letter.

Christ is "the first and the last" in Smyrna’s Salutation. "The last" affirms that Smyrna represents a segment of the Church in the end-time, who will share the early persecution experience (the first). The word "Smyrna" means myrrh, which is a very bitter herb, and the bitterest persecution is yet to come. Jesus said, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you. And you shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake" (Matt. 24:9).

Masses of Christians were persecuted from AD 90 to 312. Sadly, history will repeat itself in the coming devastation of the worldwide Great Tribulation. Smyrna, unlike the present Church that holds the Blessed Hope of Christ coming, collectively has a very solemn admonishment: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

Paralleling what the Persecution Church experienced at first, so shall Smyrna in the last. Devastatingly, unlike the present Church who now owns the Blessed Hope of Christ coming (and, unlike Israel’s faithful remnant who will have a place prepared for them in the wilderness), spiritual Smyrna of tomorrow will largely suffer martyrdom: "be thou faithful unto death." She is not appointed to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Historical Smyrna gave up financial prosperity to join the ranks of the persecuted faithful. In the Great Tribulation, spiritual Smyrna won’t chance receiving the mark of the Beast by working for a living. More than just perceivably, Smyrna of tomorrow will not be grinding at the mill when one shall be taken and the other left, but will bear her poverty and affliction. Note: Satan’s Synagogue is made up of the future legalistic persons who will reject Christians lacking law works. These in their rejection of others will claim to have the sole true way, which is really to reject the Son of God ("the blasphemy of them").

In her trials, historical Smyrna had to confront certain legalistic persons who portrayed themselves to be God’s true people. In like manner, Smyrna in the Great Tribulation will also confront the many schismatic types who proclaim that their avenue of religion is the sole way. But this won’t stifle the steadfast of future Smyrna. Because newborn Smyrna will possess the wisdom to recognize these legalists for who they are. Smyrna will know the comfort of the Lord Jesus by using genuine faith. Then, the Lord of All will give more of Himself than ever before to new converts.

Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)

In the Great Tribulation, violent enemies of the Gospel will take the lives of faithful saints: "And you shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death" (Luke 21:16). Of those perpetrators, some will repent and accept Christ by the witness of devout martyrs. Nevertheless, how utterly tempting it will be to hate the enemies of God in That Night. But the faithful new converts of Smyrna will not allow their flesh to prevail: "In your patience, possess you your souls" (Luke 21:19).

As previously mentioned, multitudes in this message never live long enough to enjoy any merit or praise. Still, anyone who lays their life down for the Lord Jesus will experience much commendation, not to mention the Crown of Life. Moreover, when Christ states "fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer," He means it. Because what the Lord is really saying is that He will be ever present in Smyrna’s suffering.

Besides being a reward for faithfully dying, James tells us that the Crown of Life is a reward for patiently enduring temptation. He penned, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which he hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:12).

Christ proclaimed that He is the resurrection, and this is the weighty point that He wants Smyrna to behold. Fully in line with Christ’s promise to Smyrna is the fact that all who overcome will not be hurt of the second death. Meaning that all who overcome will not be harmed in the final judgment (Rev. 20:6). But, being victorious, they will have their part in the First Resurrection of the righteous upon the Second Coming, which again, is when God brings with Him all those who sleep in Jesus and all the saints (1 Thess. 3:13, 4:14).

The Lord remarked to Smyrna, "Behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison. . . ." Some isn’t all, so the Lord will spare many remnant saints from that persecution. Historically, the ten days in Smyrna’s letter possibly have a dual application. One semi-popular view is that historical Smyrna underwent a ten-year period of persecution, or a day for a year (Num. 14:34). The other interpretation is one that other scholars hold, which alleges the ten days as ten periods of persecution, beginning with Nero and ending with Diocletian.

If the coming Tribulation were to last ten years, it would take its toll on countless lives while possibly destroying the whole world. By that account, not to mention others, this author particularly believes that Christ expressed ten days spiritually for end-time Smyrna, being a "complete" Tribulation experience. Deep into the Great Tribulation, some must be faithful unto death, while others are to be those who are "alive and remain" until the Second Coming of Christ. The Tribulation will spark much disorder, yet all trouble eventually becomes as the many yesterdays that are so hard to remember. So, "be of good cheer" Smyrna, not only will Christ be faithful until the end of this age, He will be with you (Matt. 28:20). And "fear none of those things," because Christ will more than supply the strength and comfort to overcome the trials of persecution (including death). So much so that our Lord will freely give His saturating inner peace, being a physical mind-felt anesthetic peace from the Holy Spirit, which surpasses all understanding of man (Phil. 4:7).

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev. 2:11)

Myrrh, the meaning of Smyrna’s name, speaks to the bitterness of unbelief and to the sweet fragrance of conversion; to the bitterness of death and to the sweetness of the Resurrection. Also, myrrh speaks to persecution, and to the sweet bouquet of deliverance. Although myrrh is bitter, it has a much sweeter fragrance, for which reason it is used in some of today’s top perfumes.

Speaking of fragrance, in ancient times, a king would leave myrrh on the doorstep of His unresponsive but prospective bride, reminding her that He had called during the night. And so it is with the Church that is literally called "myrrh," which, by not knowing the Lord as we do now, will fail to answer His call when He redeems the present Church earlier in That Night.

Although Smyrna presently doesn’t exist, Smyrna will come alive deep in the Great Tribulation: "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; these things saith the first and the last, which was dead and is alive" (Rev. 2:8). Smyrna, including her dead, shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the Last Trump: "Behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep. . . ." No, all in Smyrna won’t die! And, for those who do die in this message, but overcome, the second death won’t hurt them.

(We Answer Bible Prophecy Questions)

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