Revelation 2:8

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8 And [kai] unto the angel [aggelos] of the church [ekklesia] in Smyrna [Smurnaios] write; [grapho] These things [hode] saith [lego] the first [protos] and [kai] the last, [eschatos] which [hos] was [ginomai] dead, [nekros] and [kai] is alive; [zao]    KJV-Interlinear

8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:    NASB

Smyrna is a rich and prosperous trade city, yet it is generally poor in the spiritual wealth which God provides through knowledge of doctrine.The first city, Ephesus, received a message of warning for the failure of those who were once positive, but later misapplied their doctrine to life, and became negative, or misdirected.

Here we have those who are not so prosperous, but have to undergo the pressures and persecutions of life.  This is an unfair world.  Though the city was a wealthy one, its wealth was not shared by many.The greater population had to live in poverty.

Surrounded by many false teachings, many false philosophies, we are exposed to the idea of want.  The want for something better.We see all the prosperity around us and we have our doctrine, but that tremendous prosperity of the world may not be dropping its crumbs in our lap, so the possibility of envy, or lust, or coveting what others seem to be enjoying, is a very real distraction to us. They have and we do not.Others are having fun and we are not.Others are going places, doing things, enjoying life, and we don't seem to be able to get onto that fun wagon.

We could get jealous and bitter that life has left us behind.Why hasn't God blessed us?Which really means, Why aren't we rich too?

The Church of Smyrna demonstrated spiritual strength through suffering from persecution and poverty.  It is primarily for this reason that Christ has no complaint against this, the first of two churches (Philadelphia being the other church).

Life is fraught with trials, and odd as it may seem, the trials of life most often serve to strengthen ones spiritual attributes, whereas prosperity has a tendency to diminish ones spiritual status.

Christ is the first and the last.  The first from eternity past, and the last meaning forever into the future.  The letters to the churches continue from Christ who is the focal point of our life, and of all of history.

‘Who was dead and has come to life,’ further identifies Jesus Christ as the author and source of this letter.

This is the second letter, and the second reminder of who the author is.

This is repetition, but there are many folks who need to be reminded several times, in order for them to get the point of the importance of this information.

Far too many people do not take their spiritual life seriously, nor do they deem it as having any value.

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