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Smyrna was a seaport city, about thirty miles north of Ephesus. It had a prominent Jewish community, as well as a strong allegiance to the Roman Empire.
Smyrna is one of only two churches out of the seven in chapters 2-3 of Revelation, for which Jesus holds no condemnation. Most of the other letters contain a mixture of commendation and rebuke, but Smyrna is all commendation, and encouragement to remain faithful and patient during the trials they would face... to remain "faithful unto death", and He would give them "the crown of life". One of the early church martyrs was Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna who in the second century was burned at the stake for his faith, as an old man.
“...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life’’ (Revelation 2:10)
Modern day Izmir in Turkey stands on the site of the ancient city of Smyrna.
The main archaeologic preserves of ancient Smyrna, the Agora Open Air Museum, features the remains of Roman era courtyards, gates, porticos, streets & temples.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smyrna
http://www.visitizmir.org/en/how-come/phokaia/agora-acikhava-muezesi
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Nathan Gopen is a professional software engineer and MIT graduate. He is committed to using his skills in software, multimedia and graphic design to create inspiring and powerful new ways of comprehending and studying the vast riches of God's Word.
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