“And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive: I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them that 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 will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death.”
No reprehension is given to the church of Smyrna, which was entirely in need of encouragement from the First and the Last, and the one that loves gives gentle correction where necessary, but encourages the one that is in need to walk bravely: “Do not therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward” (Hebrews 10:35). The eyes of Jesus look upon all His people with deep love, and just as a parent looks with joy and wonder upon every action of a little child, so too does Jesus rejoice in seeing what His little ones do with the gift of His love: “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise” (Sophonias 3:17). He then sees, with great compassion, the afflictions being placed upon the church of Smyrna, and tells them that He sees their poverty and tribulation: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3-8). Being poor in possessions and in security, those in Smyrna were rich in love: “Lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20), being a shining light in the world even through the attempted dimming by the pagan community there: “You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14). When, then, He mentions being blasphemed by those who say they are Jews but are not, there is a tie to the book of Romans, when St. Paul declares that “It is not he is a Jew, who is so outwardly; nor is that circumcision which is outwardly in the flesh: but he is a Jew, that is one inwardly; and the circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28-29). Those that loved Jesus and others in Him were driven by the Spirit of love: “And there came a voice from heaven: ‘Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.’ And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the desert” (Mark 1:11-12) and are thus God’s chosen people: “Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7), and those that claimed the Jewish heritage without the love that He commanded, instead slandering the ones that truly loved, did not know the God of Israel: “And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father.’ For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Matthew 3:9); “If God were your Father, you would indeed love me” (John 8:42). Because they seek to stifle the community of the God of love: “God is love: and he that abideth in love, abideth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16), Jesus uses strong language in calling them the “synagogue of Satan;” similar language is used in the Gospel of St. John: “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44), that is, of a spirit that harbors hate rather than love. Jesus then exhorts the people of Smyrna not to fear the trials they are to undergo. Now, to feel fear is natural and involuntary, and one is not responsible for what one’s nature does, but to always choose love, even in the face of grave trials, is the Christian walk: “Purifying your souls in the obedience of charity, with a brotherly love, from a sincere heart love one another earnestly” (1 Peter 1:22). Jesus Himself felt great fear before His passion: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me,” but He went forward with great love: “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39), and encourages His people to pray for the same strength of love to follow Him: “Watch ye, and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). He then says that the devil, enticing others through his lies, would cast some of them into prison for ten days. The number ten here is symbolic of the ten commandments, showing that in life, while one can be tempted, the devil will “imprison” with trials, be it external or internal, but in following the living flame of love and His ways: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), even to death, there will be a magnificent reward: “As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice” (2 Timothy 4:8). To live this life of love, then, comes with the promise to continue in living on love for eternity, and therefore one need not fear the second death, which is punishment for a loveless life.