“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” (Revelation 2:10).

This was My personal message to Smyrna. It was well named, for Smyrna comes from the word myrrh, which is symbolic of suffering. Smyrna was a city of Asia Minor. There were two parts to the city: the ancient city, which was built by Greeks about 1500 B.C. and the new city, which was one of the most beautiful in all Asia. Ancient pagan rituals had taken place in the old city. These pagan rituals had been brought there by some of the descendants of Jacob who were from the ten northern tribes, which had accepted the pagan teachings of Jezebel and later were taken into captivity in the first dispersion of the Israelites. That is why, when they claimed to be Jews, I rebuked them, calling them liars, for they had long since forsaken the true worship of Jehovah, and were worshippers of idols, such as, Baal, Ashtoreth, and many false gods. I said they belonged to the Synagogue of Satan.

You cannot call yourself a “Christian” (follower of Christ), just because your parents or grandparents were. You need a personal experience with Me to be a true Christian.

I saw into the future, and warned them that those ancient demons that had ruled over that area would be revived, and with their coming back into power, they would try to stamp out the new Christian religion.

Today, this same thing is happening in India, where Hindu extremists are becoming fanatical in their anger against Chrisfianity, and as a result, great persecution has broken out in some parts of India against the Christians. It is also hue in the Moslem and Buddhist nations. Religious demons are having a revival, and with that revival, there is new Antichrist zeal against Me, and all My followers. Religious demons are very powerful — and always remember, they do not convert — once a demon, always a demon. They can change religions, but they canNOT be born again.

I warned the saints in Smyrna that the persecution would be very bad, and that they must prepare to lay down their lives for Me, for Satan doesn’t want to give up his territory where he has been in control for so long.

But, I also comforted them that it would last only “ten days.” To everything there is an end — both good and bad!

He Sent Me Back to Tell You by Gwen Shaw
Available from our webstore: