The Seven Churches: The Church in Smyrna

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 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 the crown of life.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.  -Jesus in Revelation 2:8-11

This letter describes the Christian church from the time of the first major persecution (AD64) to the time of the last major persecution (AD311), which was the most severe of all.  Not long after this the emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan (AD313), legalizing Christianity.  The "ten days" in this letter symbolically represents ten major persecutions.  Here are the ten emperors that enacted these persecutions:

1) Nero AD 63-68
2) Domition AD 81-96
3) Trajan AD 112-117
4) Marcus Aurelius AD 161-180
5) Septimus Severus AD 202-210
6) Maximus the Thracian AD 235-238
7) Decius AD 250-251
8) Valerian AD 257-259
9) Aurelian AD 270-275
10) Diocletian and Galerius AD 303-324

This church has always been know as the early persecuted church.  This church is also known as the most pure of any Christian church.  Jesus states that they are poor in physical possessions, but rich in spiritual wealth.  In no way does Jesus rebuke of criticize the church in Smyrna, giving us a shining example to follow.  The ones who say they are Jews, but are actually a synagogue of Satan, is most likely the Jews who persecuted early Christians.  We see this clearly in the book of Acts, where Jews are causing trouble for Paul everywhere he goes.  When Jesus implies that they're not actually Jews, He is speaking of them not being the spiritual Israel, or truly Jewish in their heart (Romans 2:28-29).  So while they may have had a Jewish pedigree, they were not truly Jewish.  Take a closer look at the early persecuted church; there are many amazing stories of perseverance and faithfulness.  We truly have an amazing example of how to be faithful followers of Christ with the church in Smyrna.