Revelation 2:8 Amplified Bible 8 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Smyrna write: “These are the words of the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God] who died and came to life [again]: The message to the church at Smyrna was spoken by Jesus, the Son of God, absolute Deity, who was in the beginning and endures forever, the one who suffered and died to provide us redemption from our sin and resurrected in power as evidence of His power over death and sin. The book of Hebrews explains that He is able to understand our suffering because He took human form for our salvation and endured temptation and pain for our sake. As we read what He spoke to the church at Smyrna, we can see how this description of Himself was important for understanding the message He gave them. Revelation 2:9 Amplified Bible 9 ‘I know your suffering and your poverty (but you are rich), and how you are blasphemed and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are ...
