The Loveless Church

2 “To the 1angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says aHe who holds the seven stars in His right hand, bwho walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 c“I know your works, your labor, your 2patience, and that you cannot 3bear those who are evil. And dyou have tested those ewho say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have fnot become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, gor else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 h“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give ito eat from jthe tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Persecuted Church

8 “And to the 4angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says kthe First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are lrich); and I know the blasphemy of mthose who say they are Jews and are not, nbut are a 5synagogue of Satan. 10 oDo not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. pBe faithful until death, and I will give you qthe crown of life.

11 r“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by sthe second death.” ’

The Compromising Church

12 “And to the 6angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says tHe who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of uBalaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, vto eat things sacrificed to idols, wand to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, 7which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and xwill fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden ymanna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone za new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The Corrupt Church

18 “And to the 8angel of the church in Thyatira write,

‘These things says the Son of God, awho has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 b“I know your works, love, 9service, faith, and your 1patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have 2a few things against you, because you allow 3that woman cJezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, 4to teach and seduce My servants dto commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time eto 5repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of 6their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who fsearches 7the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

24 “Now to you I say, 8and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the gdepths of Satan, as they say, hI 9will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast iwhat you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps jMy works until the end, kto him I will give power over the nations—

27 ‘He lshall rule them with a rod of iron;

They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him mthe morning star.

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Dead Church

3 “And to the 1angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who ahas the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before 2God. 3 bRemember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and crepent. dTherefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you eas a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 3You have fa few names 4even in Sardis who have not gdefiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me hin white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes ishall be clothed in white garments, and I will not jblot out his name from the kBook of Life; but lI will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 m“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

7 “And to the 5angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says nHe who is holy, oHe who is true, p“He who has the key of David, qHe who opens and no one shuts, and rshuts and no one opens”: 8 s“I know your works. See, I have set before you tan open door, 6and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make uthose of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed vI will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept 7My command to persevere, wI also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon xthe whole world, to test those who dwell yon the earth. 11 8Behold, zI am coming quickly! aHold fast what you have, that no one may take byour crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him ca pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall dgo out no more. eI will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the fNew Jerusalem, which gcomes down out of heaven from My God. hAnd I will write on him My new name.

13 i“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the 9angel of the church 1of the Laodiceans write,

j‘These things says the Amen, kthe Faithful and True Witness, lthe Beginning of the creation of God: 15 m“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither 2cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, n‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18 I counsel you oto buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and pwhite garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 qAs many as I love, I rebuke and rchasten. 3Therefore be 4zealous and repent. 20 Behold, sI stand at the door and knock. tIf anyone hears My voice and opens the door, uI will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes vI will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 w“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”