The church of Smyrna was purified by suffering.

The price for being a Christian in that city (Smyrna) was very, very high. It was a very anti-gospel, anti-God place.

Believers in Smyrna loved Christ and never left their first love; they continued to love Him zealously.

Persecution does not destroy the church; but it makes it strong.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10, NASB)

True faith endures to death.

The faith that pleases God is based not on convenience, but on deep and abiding conviction.

The church that left the first love.

Revelation 2:1-7

This church toiled for the kingdom of God, they never gave up on the word of God; they were active. It was a church which understood their yoke of salvation. They were persistent, hardworking.

They were intolerant of sin; they resented evil doers, they hated all that was spiritually bad.

They gave no place for evil inside church.

They had the knowledge of truth and thus they were able to discern false prophets and doctrine.

Revelation 2:4

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

The flaming love that they had for Christ on the day they were delivered from the kingdom of darkness; the day when they felt like Peter when he said that Lord you that I love you as he said three times in John 21.

The heat of the first love was gone and they left it. It’s a danger for all of the believers to persevere, know the truth, endure, have discernment, work hard, hate sin and we are capable of exposing error but leave the first love.