# General Information:

This is the beginning of the Son of Man's message to the angel of the church in Smyrna.

# the angel

Possible meanings are that this "angel" is 1) a heavenly angel who protects this church or 2) a human messenger to the church, either a messenger who went from John to the church or the leader of the church. See how you translated "angel" in [Revelation 1:20](../01/20.md).

# Smyrna

This is the name of a city in a part of western Asia that today is modern Turkey. See how you translated this in [Revelation 1:11](../01/11.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names]])

# the first and the last

This refers to the eternal nature of Jesus. See how you translated this in [Revelation 1:17](../01/17.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism]])