8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:8–11)
Contrasts mark this letter. Jesus, the first and last, once dead, now alive. The Smyrnans, in the depths of poverty, but rich. The religious whose words and deeds betrayed their heritage, as a “synagogue of Satan.”
It also illustrates Paul’s concept of “momentary, light affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Like Jesus’ final day, a handful of Smyrnans needed only to persevere through a short time of persecution to obtain an eternity with him.
This church letter contains no reference to unacceptable behavior. Rather, it contains critical instructions to the few who were chosen to suffer for Christ’s sake. Yet, the whole church would vicariously suffer loss and endure pain, because the coming persecution would hit very close to home.
Sooner or later, the faithful will be tested. Something will happen that puts our faith on display, showing others it’s authentic. It will be designed for maximum impact. As with the Smyrnans, the opportunity must not be squandered or resisted, but endured. Perhaps the test will not end in personal death, but something will be lost for Christ’s sake. Revel in this opportunity to watch the Lord at work. Consider it a privilege to suffer on his behalf.
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
From what we read, from what we observe in others, and perhaps from our own experiences, suffering may be for a season, or it may result in the loss of our lives. What this letter teaches is that in either case, its impact is powerful. God does his best work through it (His own Son), and the change it brings about is enduring.
What have we learned from this letter? God always holds the upper hand. He knows how superior eternal life is compared to what we might call a “decent” life in this world. Disruptions in our peaceful coexistence are bound to occur because Satan continues to roam free. On occasion, the Lord will want to make a point and allow a controlled test in our lives to demonstrate that he ultimately holds the upper hand. It’s important to note that the most tested church is the purest. Case in point: there is no mention of “but I have this against you” in this letter.
This phenomenon is not confined to the days of Smyrna. Today, persecution of Christian churches rages on, particularly in North Korea and Nigeria. This persecution is leading to the martyrdom of thousands of believers in real time.
And then there is the Iranian church, currently driven underground, waiting for a violent knock on the door at any moment, yet thriving like never before.1
1 https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/04/the-iranian-church-persists/
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