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.
Shall not be hurt - `shall not by any means be hurt.'
The second death - `the lake of fire.' 'The death in life of the lost, contrasted with the life in death of the saved' (Trench). "The second death" is unique to the Apocalypse. What matter about the first, which sooner or, later must come, if we escape the second death. 'They who die that death shall be hurt by it. If it were annihilation, so a conclusion of their torments, it would be no way hurtful, but highly beneficial to them. But the living torments are the second death' (Dr. Pearson). Smyrna (myrrh) yielded its sweet perfume in being bruised to death. Myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies (John 19:39): was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil (Exodus 30:23): a perfume of the heavenly Bridegroom (Psalms 45:8), and of the bride (Song of Solomon 3:6). 'Affliction, like it, is bitter, but salutary; preserving the elect from corruption, seasoning for immortality, giving scope, for the fragrantly-breathing Christian virtues' (Vitringa). Polycarp's words to his pagan judges, refusing to recant, were, 'Fourscore and six years have I served the Lord, and He never wronged me: how then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?' Smyrna's faithfulness is rewarded by its candlestick not having been removed (Revelation 2:5): Christianity has never wholly left it: whence the Turks call it 'Infidel Smyrna.'