As we continue in our "Ears to Hear" series from the book of Revelation, we consider the church at Smyrna, and the poverty that has come as a result of embodying Christ's presence, and the presence of the kingdom in the world.

Jesus knows about the way that the church has been slandered, perhaps in part because of their refusal to to worship Caesar either in addition to, or in favor of, their Lord and Savior Jesus– which would have made them seem unpatriotic or treacherous.

Jesus encourages those in the church to not be afraid of the suffering that is undoubtedly ahead for them, which may include imprisonment, or even death. Interestingly, in their suffering, the church at Smyrna is not corrected by Jesus. There is a righteousness to what they are bearing.

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