Smyrna

Rev. ii. 8, 9, 10.SMYRNA, a City of Asia Minor, upon the Archipelago, having a fine Harbour. St. John the Evangelist, in his Revelation, or rather Jesus Christ by the Mouth of St. John, thus speaks to the Angel or Bishop of Smyrna: These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive. I know thy Works, and Tribulation, and Poverty, (but thou art rich), and I know the Blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have Tribulation ten Days. Be thou faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life.

‘Tis asked, Who was this Angel, or this Bishop of Smyrna? The Generality think a it was St. Polycarp, who was made Bishop of Smyrna by the Apostle St. John the Evangelist¹. The Commendations which the Holy Ghost here gives to the Angel of Smyrna, perfectly well agree with St. Polycarp; and it is observable, that here is not one Word of Reproach. There is some Probability, that ‘tis the Martyrdom of St. Germanicus, and of the other Martyrs of Smyrna, who suffer’d Martyrdom under Marcus Aurelius, that St. John has here in View, when he says, that the Devil shall cause some of them to be put in Prison.

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