Church of Smyrna [Long Hot Summer]

Church History

Long Hot Summer of the 7 Churches of Revelation

Smyrna - Post-Apostolic Church

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;
These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

*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.
*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: (a day for a year would be the 10 year persecution of Diocletian--the most brutal)
--be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 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.
Revelation 2:8-11

Smyrna signifies "myrrh," denoting that the church in this age would be a sweet-smelling savor to God, while passing through the fiery ordeal of persecution.