Revelation 2:7-10 NKJV,NLT

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

Smyrna: words of cheer from a reigning Saviour to a suffering Church. In some respects this letter awakens more interest in the Church to which it was addressed than any other of the seven. Out of the seven Churches, two only are unrebuked. Of these two, Smyrna is one. It is a poor Church, but Jesus calls it rich. It is beset with opposition, but it has the Lord for its Advocate, and is addressed by him in words of cheer and of hope. Not only, however, is this Church interesting to us on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The epistle to the Church at Smyrna. This city was situated in the same district of Asia Minor, some forty miles to the north of Ephesus, in which all these seven Churches were, at the mouth of a considerable river, in a most beautiful bay. The lands lying round were very fertile, bearing grapes in abundance, as befitted the city where the god Bacchus was the deity most honoured by the people. The city itself was large, beautiful, populous, wealthy. It was called, "The lovely one;" "The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

(2) The epistle to the Church in Smyrna : the Church exposed to suffering. The dark shades of coming sorrow gather about a Church already distinguished by tribulation and poverty and rude reviling. "The devil is about to cast some of you into prison;" so saith he "which was dead, and lived again." Even death in bitterness of persecuting violence will fall upon some. The All-seeing One discerns the coming storm, and cheers his faithful people to stand firm in the day of their suffering, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The words of Christ to the congregation at Smyrna. "And unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna," etc. This letter is addressed to the Church at Smyrna. "Smyrna is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, so that we have no means of ascertaining when, and by whom, the Christian faith was first planted there. We may, however, conjecture that that great commercial city did not escape attention either by St. Paul or his associates in missionary effort during his three years' stay at Ephesus?... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:9

I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty . "Thy works" has been inserted here and in Revelation 2:13 in order to make the opening of all seven epistles alike. The uncials A, C, P, and the Vulgate, Coptic, and AE thiopic Versions omit the words in each place. The Sinaiticus inserts them here and omits them in Revelation 2:13 , where they are plainly awkward in construction. Like all wealthy cities, Smyrna showed the extremes of wealth and poverty side by side. It would be among the poor... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:10

Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer . We must bring out the difference between "to be about to" ( μέλλειν ), in the first two clauses, and the simple future ( ἔξετε ) in the third; compare "I will show him how many things he must suffer for my Name's sake" ( Acts 9:16 ). The devil, who inspires the "synagogue of Satan," is to be allowed to afflict them, as he afflicted Job. (For "behold," see note on verse 22.) The expression, "some of you" ( ἐξ ὑμῶν ), is an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:10

The severe law of Christ. "Be thou faithful," etc. Beneath the city of Rome there is a long succession of subterranean streets and galleries, quarried from the rocky strata of the soil. These are now opened, and strangers may visit them. They are remarkable; they are even wonderful; they are the most astonishing cemeteries in the world. They are called the Catacombs; they are the burial places of the martyrs of the young Christian faith. The inscriptions over innumerable tombs are to be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:7

He that hath an ear, let him hear ... - This expression occurs at the close of each of the epistles addressed to the seven churches, and is substantially a mode of address often employed by the Saviour in his personal ministry, and quite characteristic of him. See Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:23; Mark 7:16. It is a form of expression designed to arrest the attention, and to denote that what was said was of special importance.What the Spirit saith unto the churches - Evidently what the Holy Spirit says... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:8

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write - On the meaning of the word “angel,” see the notes on Revelation 1:20.These things saith the first and the last - See the notes on Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17.Which was dead, and is alive - See the notes on Revelation 1:18. The idea is, that he is a Living Saviour; and there was a propriety in referring to that fact here from the nature of the promise which he was about to make to the church at Smyrna: “He that overcometh shall not be hurt... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:9

I know thy works - The uniform method of introducing these epistles, implying a most intimate acquaintance with all that pertained to the church. See the notes on Revelation 2:2.And tribulation - This word is of a general signification, and probably includes all that they suffered in any form, whether from persecution, poverty, or the blasphemy of opposers.And poverty - It would seem that this church, at that time, was eminently poor, for this is not specified in regard to any one of the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:8-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 2:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Revelation 2:9

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