The overview reported for members of the church of Smyrna are as follows:

Passage

⁹ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9)

Understanding

Those in this church are being changed into pearls and the enemy is impersonating them. The word tribulation is a word that also means pressure, either literal or figurative. Pearls are made by pressure and irritation inside clams, oysters, or mussels. All these are considered detestable to include thier carcasses because they do not have fins or scales. Although these sea creatures are considered detestable, Jesus says something inside of them is of such great value that He would sell everything He has to buy it.

*To my understanding if an oyster is fully opened to remove the pearl it dies within minutes.

References

Pearl of great value

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, ⁴⁶ and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46)

Unclean sea creatures

¹⁰ But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water, and among all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable things to you, ¹¹ and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall detest. ¹² Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is abhorrent to you.

Other sheep

⁶ I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:16)

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