The letter to Smyrna is for a poor church that is rich,
and about to suffer.
I know your tribulation and your poverty,
but you are rich.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
Be faithful unto death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
Jesus speaks as the first and the last, who died and came to life. Smyrna does not get a rebuke. He knows the tribulation, the poverty, and the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. The devil will throw some into prison. They will have tribulation ten days. The command is not to fear. Faithful unto death receives the crown of life. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
This is one of the seven letters. The Spirit says it to the churches. A suffering church does not need a new charge. It needs the One who died and lives, and a crown on the other side of faithfulness.
Poor in Smyrna.
Rich before Him.
Do not fear.
Be faithful unto death.
Full text from Revelation 2, as on the chapter page.
Rev 2:8 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 2:9 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 2:11 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.
I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
He died and came to life. A church about to suffer does not need a softer lord. It needs this one. Do not fear. Be faithful unto death.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.