Revelation 2
1 “Write this to the angel of the Ephesus church: This is what the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand says, the one who walks among the seven golden candlesticks:
“To the messenger of the church in Ephesus write: “These things says He who holds the seven stars on His right hand, who walks about in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know what you've accomplished, your hard work and perseverance. I know you can't tolerate evil people, and how you investigated those who claimed to be apostles but are not, and discovered they were frauds.
‘I know your works, yes the labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot stand those who are evil. And you have tested those who claim to be apostles and are not, and found them to be liars;
3 I know about your patience, and what you endured for my sake—and that you didn't give up!
and you have born up and endured on account of my name, and not grown weary.
4 But I have something against you: you have neglected your first love.
“‘Nevertheless I have against you that you have left your first love.
5 So remember how far you've fallen—repent and go back to what you were doing at first. Otherwise I'll come to you and I will remove your candlestick from where it is—unless you repent.
So think about from where you have drifted and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come at you swiftly and remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you do repent.
6 However, you do have this to your credit: you hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
But you do have this, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.’
7 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. I will give to those who are victorious the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the Paradise of God.
“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of my God.
8 Write this to the angel of the Smyrna church: This is what the first and last says, the one who was dead and came back to life:
“And to the messenger of the church in Smyrna write: “These things says the First and the Last, who became dead and came to life:
9 I know the troubles you are going through, and how poor you are (but you are rich), and the abuse from those who say they are Jews but are not, but belong to Satan's synagogue.
‘I know your works and affliction and poverty (but you are rich), and the slander of those who claim to be Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Don't be afraid about what you are going to suffer. Yes, the devil will throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Just remain faithful, even if it means death, and I will give you the crown of life!
Do not fear any of the things that you are about to suffer: Take note, the devil is really about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have an affliction of ten days. Stay faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.’
11 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. The second death will not harm those who are victorious.
“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. The one who overcomes will absolutely not be harmed by the second death.
12 Write this to the angel of the Pergamum church: This is what the one holding the sharp two-edged sword says:
“And to the messenger of the church in Pergamos write: “These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 I know you're living where Satan has his throne, and that you have stayed true to me. You have not denied your trust in me, even when my faithful witness Antipas was killed right among you there where Satan lives!
‘I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's throne is. And you hold my name fast and did not deny my faith during the days in which Antipas was my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.
14 But I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak how to entrap the children of Israel by means of eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual sins.
“‘Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you have there adepts of the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things offered to idols and to fornicate.
15 Similarly you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Thus you also have adepts of the doctrine of the Nicolaitans as well.
16 So repent, or soon I will come to you and fight against them using the sword of my mouth.
Repent! Or else I will come at you swiftly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.’
17 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. I will give the hidden manna to those who are victorious. I will give them a white stone with a new name written on it that nobody knows except those who receive it.
“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will grant to eat from the hidden manna. And I will give him a white pebble, and on the pebble a new name written, which no one knows except the receiver.
18 Write this to the angel of the Thyatira church: This is what the Son of God says, the one who has eyes like flaming fire and feet like polished brass.
“And to the messenger of the church in Thyatira write: “These things says the Son of God, He who has the eyes like a flame of fire and the feet like fine brass:
19 I know what you have accomplished, your love and faithfulness and service and perseverance, and that you are doing more now than when you first believed.
‘I know your works—the love, the faith, the service—and your endurance; in fact your last works are greater than the first.
20 But I have something against you: you are allowing the woman called Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach my followers, leading them astray into sexual sins, and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
“‘Nevertheless I have against you that you tolerate your wife Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my slaves to fornicate and to eat things offered to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent of her sexual sins, but she's not willing to repent.
I even gave her time so that she might repent, but she does not want to repent of her fornication.
22 So I'm throwing her into a bed together with her adulterous partners and they will suffer terribly unless they repent of what they have done with her.
So, I am throwing her into a sickbed and those adulterating with her into great affliction, unless they repent of her works.
23 I will put her children to death. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines thoughts and motives. I will repay each of you according to what you've done.
And I will execute her children; and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 For the rest of you there in Thyatira who don't follow this teaching, who have not learned Satan's ‘deep depravities’ as they are called, I don't place on you any other burden. I say to you,
“‘Now to the rest of you who are in Thyatira I say—to as many as do not hold this teaching, those who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say—I will not put any other burden on you;
25 ‘Just hold on to what you have until I come.’
just hold fast what you have until I come.
26 I will give authority over the nations to those who are victorious and who do what I say until the end.
And as for the one who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, I will give him authority over the nations;
27 He will rule the nations with an iron rod, breaking them into pieces like clay pots. In the same way that I received authority from my Father,
and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron; they will be smashed like clay pots
28 I will give them the morning star.
—just as I have received from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.’
29 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches.”
“He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
