Revelation 2:8-11 To Smyrna believers: persevere!

Revelation 2:8-11 Jesus' words to Smyrnan believers are entirely encouragement to persevere in the face of tribulation (thlipsis) which Jesus mentions twice. Jesus also brings up their poverty but states that they are rich. (Quite a contrast to the church in Laodicea, Rev. 3:17)  He then goes on to say that those who claim they are Jews are actually a synagogue of Satan. Perhaps these were people seeking to claim the authority of Moses for the purpose of misleading others to advance Satan's agenda. This seems to be tied to the tribulation that the Smyrnan Christians were experiencing. Certainly Paul faced the opposition of the Jews in Psidian Antioch (Acts 13:44) and many other cities as recorded in Acts.

          There are many ways to blaspheme God. Certainly doing evil and claiming that He commands it, or that it is done in His name, is one. Were those of the synagogue in Smyrna who claimed to be Jews but actually served Satan deliberately misrepresenting themselves, or were they themselves deceived? One aspect of this is question how people individually respond to the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks to each individual concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. (John 16:8 et seq) The devil disguises himself as an angel of light and attempts to deceive. (2 Cor. 11:14) How do we know which is which? The best approach seems to be in the broader view of which this is one aspect, which is, how does our interior being, our soul, align with the nature and character of God? God's nature and character were described in Rev. 1:13-18. If we share that character or desire to share it, the Holy Spirit will guide us. If we are self-centered in any one of several dimensions (narcissistic, self-righteous, or seeking self-gratification) then Satan will use those attributes to guide us along to do his bidding. If we make any aspect of our own life our god, then ultimately we worship and serve Satan.

          Jesus' warning of ten days of imprisonment and tribulation seems primarily to encourage the Smyrnan Christians to hope for the eternal reward, against which this finite trial will become a memory. He promises to give them a crown of life. In view of the next statement about the second death, (see also Rev. 20:6 & 14; 21:8) the implication is that the tribulation they will endure for ten days will result in physical death but eternal life. How can we not fear suffering and painful death? By putting our faith totally in Jesus, and abandoning all earthly values. He identifies the certainty of the prize with His own death and resurrection. It is by identification with Him in that suffering that they will attain eternal life, with no fear of the second death.

          In the modern world, those privileged to live in "the West", or first-world democracies, very seldom face tribulation of this type for faith in Christ. Our identification with Christ takes on different forms, as is addressed by Christ in some of the later letters. Although, as later chapters reveal, this tribulation will be the common lot of God's people during the time immediately preceding the visible return of Jesus.