Smyrna

[Rev. 2:8] And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
[The messenger, traveling about thirty-five miles north from Ephesus, would reach another of the great cities of Asia Minor- Smyrna (Izmir, on today’s map.)
Smyrna - in Ionia, a little to the north of Ephesus, it was a city of great antiquity, and became a large and prosperous commercial center. The city was renowned for its loyalty to Rome and its ritual worship of the emperor. Almost three hundred years before the writing of Revelation the first temple in the world dedicated to the G-ddess Roma was built in Smyrna. Seventy years before John’s banishment the city dedicated a magnificent temple in honor of the Emperor Tiberius. Thereafter it was a center of worship of both Rome and Caesar.
POLYCARP, martyred in A.D. 168, eighty-six years after his conversion, was bishop, and probably "the angel of the Church in Smyrna" meant here the allusions to persecutions and faithfulness unto death accord with this view. IGNATIUS [The Martyrdom of Ignatius 3], on his way to martyrdom in Rome, wrote to POLYCARP, then (A.D. 108) bishop of Smyrna; if his bishopric commenced ten or twelve years earlier, the dates will harmonize. TERTULLIAN [The Prescription against Heretics, 32], and IRENÆUS, who had talked with POLYCARP in youth, tell us POLYCARP was consecrated bishop of Smyrna by St. John. The first . . . the last . . . was dead . . . is alive - The attributes of Messiah most calculated to comfort the Church of Smyrna under its persecutions; resumed from 1:17,18. As death was to Him but the gate to life eternal, so it is to be to them (2:10,11).
The letter to the church in Smyrna is the shortest of the seven messages and, like the letter to the church in Philadelphia, contains no condemnation, only commendation.]
[9] 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.
[The Believers there had to endure persecution and deprivation, due to their refusal to take part in ceremonies connected with emperor worship. In addition to poverty, the Believers had to bear with the lies spread by certain Jews, who were accusing them of being agitators against the civil authorities.
This appears to have an anti-Semitic slant, but it was in not way speaking of negatively of Jews, it pointed to those non-Jews in the early fellowship who for the benefit of the Jewish immunity that the Roman government had afforded the Jews in certain persecutions. Many through the centuries have claimed to be Jews, Hebrews or Israelites who were not.
Synagogue of Satan was addressed to the city of Smyma that today is known as Ismir, Turkey. Although this phrase is thought to be directed against the empire worship done in Smyrna, it was a common thing for first century Jews uses this law of double reference to label those of an opposing belief, even with the faith, with titles involving the name Satan. An example is seen in Y’Shua’s rebuke of Peter’s sin when the L-rd called him Satan in Matt. 16:23.]
[10] 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: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
[Fear none - the oldest manuscripts read, "Fear not those things" . "The Captain of our salvation never keeps back what those who faithfully witness for Him may have to bear for His name's sake; never entices recruits by the promise they shall find all things easy and pleasant there". Devil - "the accuser." He acted, through Jewish accusers against Y’Shua and His people. The conflict of the latter was not with mere flesh and blood, but with the rulers of the darkness of this world. Tried - with temptation by "the devil." The same event is often both a temptation from the devil, and a trial from G-d – G-d sifting and winnowing the man to separate his chaff from his wheat, the devil sifting him in the hope that nothing but chaff will be found in him. Ten days - not the ten persecutions from Nero to Diocletian. The shortness of the duration of the persecution is evidently made the ground of comfort. The time of trial shall be short; the duration of your joy shall be forever. Compare the use of "ten days" for a short time, Genesis 24:55, Numbers 11:19. Ten is the number of the world powers hostile to the Church; compare the ten horns of the beast, 13:1. Unto death - so as even to endure death for My sake. Crown of life - 1:12, 2 Timothy 4:8, "crown of righteousness"; 1 Peter 5:4, "crown of glory." The crown is the garland, the mark of a conqueror, or of one rejoicing, or at a feast; but diadem is the mark of a KING. In Greek there are two words that can be translated ‘crown.’ One is diadem, which means a royal crown; the other, which is used here, is stephanos, which usually has something to do with joy and victory. John is referring to the garlands that were presented to the winners at the Olympic and other games.
Y’Shua exhortation to these persecuted believers was to be faithful to the extent of being ready to die for His sake.
Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna and this may have been a source of strength to him when his hour of martyrdom came in February of the year 156.]
Smyrna (meaning myrrh) yielded its sweet perfume in being bruised even to death. Myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies (John 19:39); was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:23); a perfume of the heavenly Bridegroom (Psalms 45:8), and of the bride (Solomon 3:6). "Affliction, like it, is bitter for the time being, but helpful; preserving the elect from corruption, and seasoning them for immortality, and gives scope for the exercise of the fragrantly breathing Believers virtues". Smyrna's faithfulness is rewarded by its candlestick not having been removed out of its place (Revelation 2:5).