< Revelation 2 >
1 To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamps:
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 I know thy works and [thy] labour, and thine endurance, and that thou canst not bear evil [men]; and thou hast tried them who say that themselves [are] apostles and are not, and hast found them liars;
I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
3 and endurest, and hast borne for my name's sake, and hast not wearied:
Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name.
4 but I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love.
But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.
5 Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: but if not, I am coming to thee, and I will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou shalt repent.
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him that overcomes, I will give to him to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
8 And to the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived:
To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
9 I know thy tribulation and thy poverty; but thou art rich; and the railing of those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but a synagogue of Satan.
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear nothing [of] what thou art about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast 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 to thee the crown of life.
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He that overcomes shall in no wise be injured of the second death.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
12 And to the angel of the assembly in Pergamos write: These things says he that has the sharp two-edged sword:
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
13 I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan [is]; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in the days in which Antipas my faithful witness [was], who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits. Yet you have held fast to My name and have not denied your faith in Me, even in the day when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, to eat [of] idol sacrifices and commit fornication.
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
15 So thou also hast those who hold the doctrine of Nicolaitanes in like manner.
In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent therefore: but if not, I come to thee quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword of my mouth.
Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him that overcomes, to him will I give of the hidden manna; and I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he that receives [it].
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.
18 And to the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: These things says the Son of God, he that has his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass:
To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
19 I know thy works, and love, and faith, and service, and thine endurance, and thy last works [to be] more than the first.
I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
20 But I have against thee that thou permittest the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself prophetess, and she teaches and leads astray my servants to commit fornication and eat of idol sacrifices.
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her time that she should repent, and she will not repent of her fornication.
Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds.
23 and her children will I kill with death; and all the assemblies shall know that I am he that searches [the] reins and [the] hearts; and I will give to you each according to your works.
Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 But to you I say, the rest who [are] in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I do not cast upon you any other burden;
But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.
25 but what ye have hold fast till I shall come.
Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come.
26 And he that overcomes, and he that keeps unto the end my works, to him will I give authority over the nations,
And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27 and he shall shepherd them with an iron rod; as vessels of pottery are they broken in pieces, as I also have received from my Father;
He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery —just as I have received authority from My Father.
28 and I will give to him the morning star.
And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.