Jesus introduces himself to the Christians in the city of Smyrna by saying, “I am the First and the Last. I am the one who died and came back to life.” These are powerful words. They show that Jesus is not just someone from the past—he is alive and in control now. Being the “First and the Last” means he is there at the beginning and at the end, and he is in charge of everything in between.
He also says that he has power over death and life. When Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples, he said, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). This means Jesus has full authority over everything—both spiritual and physical. This message must have been very comforting to the suffering Christians in Smyrna Diaspore Zultanite.
Jesus Knows Their Pain
Jesus tells the believers in Smyrna, “I know your afflictions.” The word “afflictions” means constant suffering or pressure. They were facing serious trouble every day—just like how Jewish people were treated during the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, or how Christians were treated under strict Communist governments in Eastern Europe. They were attacked, insulted, and treated cruelly with no escape from their pain.
This shows us that Jesus is aware of their suffering. He understands what they’re going through and cares deeply about it.
Jesus Knows Their Poverty—But Also Their Riches
The next thing Jesus says is, “I know your poverty—yet you are rich.” We’re not sure exactly why the Christians in Smyrna were poor, since their city was wealthy. But it’s possible that their poverty came from persecution. Maybe their homes were taken, or their belongings stolen. This kind of thing happened often in the early church. Believers were sometimes forced to take low-paying jobs or eat poor-quality food to survive.
Even though they had little money, Jesus says they were spiritually rich. Their love for each other, their faith, and their unity as a church family gave them great spiritual wealth. In God’s eyes, they had something far more valuable than money Sightseeing Tour Ephesus.
Final Thoughts
Jesus wants the believers in Smyrna—and us today—to know that he sees our struggles, understands our pain, and values our faith. Even in hard times, he is in control, and our true riches are found in him, not in what we own.
