“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 about the slander of those who

say they are Jews and are not, but are a

synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what

you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will

put some of you in prison to test you, and you

will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful,

even to the point of death, and I will give you

life as your victor’s crown.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the

Spirit says to the churches. The one who is

victorious will not be hurt at all by the second

death.