Revelation 2
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
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 lamps: —
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
I know your life, your toil and endurance, and I know that you cannot tolerate evil-doers. I know, too, how you tested those who declare that they are Apostles, though they are not, and how you proved them false.
3 And thou hast patience, and hast endured for my name, and hast not fainted.
You possess endurance, and have borne much for my Name, and have never grown weary.
4 But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity.
But this I have against you — You have abandoned your first love.
5 Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance.
Therefore remember from what you have fallen, and repent, and live the life that you lived before; or else, I will come and remove your Lamp from its place, unless you repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaites, which I also hate.
But this is in your favour — You hate the life lived by the Nikolaitans, and I also hate it.
7 He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him, that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God.
Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To him who conquers — to him I will give the right ‘to eat the fruit of the Tree of life, which stands in the Paradise of God.’ “
8 And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive:
To the Angel of the Church in Smyrna write: — “These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died, but is restored to life: —
9 I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
I know your persecution and your poverty — yet you are rich! I know, too, the slander that comes from those who declare that they are Jews, though they are not, but are a Congregation of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tempted, and may undergo persecution for ten days. Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the Crown of Life.
11 He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death.
Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who conquers shall suffer no hurt from the Second Death.”
12 And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things, saith he, that hath the sharp two edged sword:
To the Angel of the Church in Pergamus write: — “These are the words of him who holds the sharp two-edged sword: —
13 I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
I know where you dwell, where the Throne of Satan stands. And yet you hold to my Name, and you did not disown my Faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death among you where Satan dwells.
14 But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit fornication:
Yet I have a few things against you — You have among you those who hold to the Teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put temptations in the way of the Israelites, so that they should eat idol-offerings and commit licentious acts.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites.
Again you have among you those who hold in the same way to the Teaching of the Nikolaitans.
16 In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Therefore repent, or else, I will come quickly and contend with such men with words that will cut like a sword.
17 He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna, and will give him a white counter, and in the counter, a new name written, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it.
Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To him who conquers — to him I will give a share of the mystic manna, and I will give him a white stone; and on the stone shall be inscribed a new name, which no one knows except him who receives it.”
18 And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet like to fine brass.
To the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write: — “These are the words of the Son of God, ‘whose eyes are like flaming fire, and whose feet are like brass’: —
19 I know thy works, and thy faith, and thy charity, and thy ministry, and thy patience, and thy last works which are more than the former.
I know your life, your love, faith, service, and endurance; and I know that your life of late has been better than it was at first.
20 But I have against thee a few things: because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sacrificed to idols.
Yet I have this against you — You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who declares that she is a Prophetess, and misleads my servants by her teaching, till they commit licentious acts and eat idol-offerings.
21 And I gave her a time that she might do penance, and she will not repent of her fornication.
I gave her time to repent, but she is determined not to turn from her licentiousness.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed: and they that commit adultery with her shall be in very great tribulation, except they do penance from their deeds.
Therefore I am laying her upon a bed of sickness, and bringing great suffering upon those who are unfaithful with her, unless they repent and turn from a life like hers.
23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your works. But to you I say,
I will also put her children to death; and all the Churches shall learn that I am he who ‘looks into the hearts and souls of men’; and I will give to each one of you what his life deserves.
24 And to the rest who are at Thyatira: Whosoever have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will not put upon you any other burthen.
But I say to the rest of you at Thyatira — all who do not accept such teaching, whose who did not learn ‘the secrets of Satan,’ as men call them — I am not laying on you any further burden;
25 Yet that, which you have, hold fast till I come.
only hold fast to what you have received, until I come.
26 And he that shall overcome, and keep my works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations.
To him who conquers and is careful to live my life to the end — to him I will give authority over the nations,
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and as the vessel of a potter they shall be broken,
and ‘he shall rule them with an iron rod, as when earthen vessels are broken in pieces’ (as I myself have received from my Father)
28 As I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the morning star.
and I will give him the Morning Star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”
