The Letter to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8–11)
The Letter to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8–11) The word “Smyrna” means “sweet-smelling” and comes from the word for “myrrh,” as an embalming spice. It is throughout the Scriptures as an emblem of suffering. Like myrrh, the Smyrna church, known as the suffering church or the persecuted church, was crushed by Roman persecution and the blasphemy of some Jews but gave off the most regnant perfume. The Correspondent 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: This description identifies the message’s sender as the glorified, exalted Christ, described by that phrase in the vision of “the One like the Son of Man” (Rev. 1:18). The phrase, “The first and the last,” is an Old Testament title of the Lord God (Isa. 44:6, 48:12; John 14:10). The Lord Jesus Christ introduced Himself to the angel of the church in Smyrna as the risen Lord. He said that He is “the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life” (Rev. 2:8). Such d...