V.8-11 Smyrna; the word means “myrrh” (the sorrows of persecution). This covers the time when the believers went through a dreadful time of persecution in the third century. No fault is found with the believers during this time. Persecution drove them close to Christ. “Ten days” may represent ten dreadful persecution periods under ten Roman dictators.
V.12-17 Pergamos means “much married.” Satan now changes his methods. Instead of persecuting the believers, he led unbelievers to become nominal Christians. In the time of Constantine (about AD 288 to 337) thousands of this Roman Emperor’s subjects became Christians, some in name only. The believers allowed these people among them. We read of the result. May we take this warning to ourselves. The political world and the religious world were married.
V.18-29 Thyatira. This period was when the Roman Catholic church dominated. Corruption is here, and the Lord speaks very severely.
V.20 “Jezebel” this was the name of the wicked woman who was married to one of the kings of Judah. 1 Kings 16:30-31 and 21:25. She is a type of what was happening spiritually here.