111. (Verses 8-11) And unto the angel of the church of the Smyrnaeans write, These things saith the first and the last, who was dead and is alive. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich); and I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful even unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
"And unto the angel of the church of the Smyrnaeans write," signifies, for remembrance to those within the church who wish to understand the Word, and do not yet understand it, and therefore as yet have but little knowledge of truth and good, which nevertheless they desire in heart. "These things saith the first and the last signifies the Lord who rules all things from the Divine Human, from primaries by means of ultimates. "Who was dead and is alive," signifies that He is rejected, and that nevertheless eternal life is from Him.
"I know thy works," signifies love; "and tribulation," signifies anxiety from the desire of knowing truths; "and poverty (but thou art rich)," signifies acknowledgment that they know nothing of themselves; "and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not," signifies vituperation by those who think themselves to be in the knowledges (cognitiones) of good and truth, because they have the Word, and yet it is not so; "but are a synagogue of Satan," signifies the doctrine of all their falsities.
"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer," signifies not to grieve on account of such persecution. "Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison," signifies that those who are in falsities from evil, will attempt to deprive them of all truth from the Word; "that ye may be tried," signifies that consequently there will be increase of the desire for truth; "and ye shall have tribulation ten days," signifies that infestation, and thence temptation, will endure for some time; "be thou faithful even unto death," signifies continuance in truths to the end; "and I will give thee a crown of life," signifies wisdom, and thence eternal happiness.
"He that hath all ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," signifies that be who understands should 'hearken to what Divine truth proceeding from the Lord teaches and says to those who belong to His church. "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death," signifies that he who continues in the genuine affection for truth to the end of his life in the world, shall come into the New Heaven.
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