Revelation 2:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There one need not fear the devil or the snares of demons, nor the threat of Gehenna, nor death, neither this present death nor the one far heavier than it.

Every such fear has been destroyed. It is like a king's son, who is first brought up in humiliation, under fear and threats, so that leniency may not corrupt him and make him unworthy of his father's inheritance.

When he attains royal dignity, he suddenly changes everything that came before. In purple and diadem, amid a multitude of spear-bearers, he presides with great boldness.

He has cast every humiliation and abasement from his soul, and has taken on another condition in their place. So it will be then with all the saints.

He who has spiritual hearing and has conquered the devil's suggestions, even if he dies according to the flesh, will not be harmed by Gehenna, the second death.

Therefore this takes place in them through grace. First, through justification, in which they are spiritually reborn, transformation begins in them by a divine gift.

Then, in the resurrection of the body, where the transformation of the justified is completed, perfect glorification, abiding in eternity, will not be subject to change.

Grace first transforms them through justification and then through glorification, so that this very immutable and eternal glorification may abide upon them.

Here they are transformed through the first resurrection, by which they are enlightened and converted. Through it they pass from death to life, from unrighteousness to righteousness, from unbelief to faith, and from evil deeds to a holy way of life.

This is said very strictly, for all alike, both righteous and sinners, are subject to the first death, which is the separation of soul from body. Thus the word of God is fulfilled: "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gen 3:19). But the second death, which comes because of sin, was indicated by the Lord when He said: "Leave the dead to bury their own dead" (Mt 8:22). This death will not be assigned to those who have conquered temptations.

The angel of the Church of Smyrna receives neither condemnation nor threats of punishment, but only praise, consolation, and promise. Therefore one may think that there were few bad Christians in Smyrna.

Polycarp, a disciple of John, was bishop there, and in old age he died a martyr's death. The Church of Smyrna is the second Church and represents the Church of the times of martyrdom.

This Church began soon after Christ's Ascension with the protomartyr Stephen, and ends around the middle of the fourth century, between 320 and 330.

To this Church the Lord declares Himself to be the First and the Last, who died and now lives. The One for whom Christians die first died for them.

"He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." Courageous endurance of sufferings for Christ is victory over the devil. Even if the martyr dies in sufferings, he is still a conqueror of death and will not be subjected to eternal condemnation in the torment of Gehenna (Rev 20:14). He will be brought into the marriage of the Lamb and counted worthy of the glory of reigning with Christ. Over all such persons the second death will have no power (Rev 20:6). The second death is condemnation to eternal torment, or casting into the lake of fire.

What did the Lord command to be written to the angel of the Church of Smyrna? Rev 2:8-11.

He commanded that it be written that the affliction for Christ's name and the poverty of the Smyrnean Christians, in the earthly sense, are known to the Lord. Their slander and reviling from the Jews are likewise known to Him.

He also wrote that persecutions from the devil and tribulation for ten days await the Smyrneans. Yet they must be faithful unto death, in order to receive the crown of life and be delivered from the second death.

"And ye shall have tribulation ten days" (Rev 2:10). The definite number ten is plainly taken here instead of an indefinite one, in the sense of the duration of the persecutions awaiting the Church of Smyrna.

In the epistle to the Church of Smyrna and her bishop, who together had to be faithful unto death, Christ consoles the suffering Smyrneans concerning the fate awaiting them.

He points to His power, since He holds the beginning and end of all things in His authority. He also points to the fact that He Himself underwent death and now lives.

The Lord then says that the Smyrnean Christians belong to the poorest class of society in wealthy and splendid Smyrna. Yet their spiritual wealth is well known to the Lord: their firmness in faith and virtue.

The Lord also consoles the suffering by saying that the blasphemies brought against them by those still calling themselves by the glorious name of Jews are well known to Him.