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Smyrna City Church Day 34
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty, yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." (Revelation 2.8,9)
The name of the church in the city of "Smyrna," means "bitter" and is derived from the same word as "myrrh." "Smyrna City," was materially poor, but spiritually rich. "Smyrna," is now known as Izmir and is located about 25 miles north of Ephesus. It was nicknamed "Port of Asia" because it had a deep harbor on the Aegean Sea. (See photograph of ancient remains of "Smyrna City," to the right.)
The Smyrna City church there struggled against two hostile forces, a Jewish population strongly opposed to Christianity, and a group of people who supported emperor worship and worshipped the goddess Roma. Persecution and suffering were inevitable in this environment. The "Smyrna city church" had stood up well but Jesus reminds them that he is the "First and the Last," the one to be worshipped, rather than the imperial cult of emperor worship.
"Smyrna City Church"
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