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Revelation 2:1–3:22

To the Church in Ephesus

2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus,1 write the following:2

“This is the solemn pronouncement of3 the one who has a firm grasp on4 the seven stars in his right hand5—the one who walks among the seven golden6 lampstands: 2:2 ‘I know your works as well as your7 labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate8 evil. You have even put to the test9 those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. 2:3 I am also aware10 that you have persisted steadfastly,11 endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. 2:4 But I have this against you: You have departed12 from your first love! 2:5 Therefore, remember from what high state13 you have fallen and repent! Do14 the deeds you did at the first;15 if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—that is, if you do not repent.16 2:6 But you do have this going for you:17 You hate what the Nicolaitans18 practice19—practices I also hate. 2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,20 I will permit21 him to eat from the tree of life that is22 in the paradise of God.’23

To the Church in Smyrna

2:8 “To24 the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following:25

“This is the solemn pronouncement of26 the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but27 came to life: 2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering28 and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know29 the slander against you30 by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue31 of Satan. 2:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown32 into prison so you may be tested,33 and you will experience suffering34 for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.35 2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers36 will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

To the Church in Pergamum

2:12 “To37 the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following:38

“This is the solemn pronouncement of39 the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:40 2:13 ‘I know41 where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet42 you continue to cling43 to my name and you have not denied your44 faith in me,45 even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,46 who was killed in your city47 where Satan lives. 2:14 But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam,48 who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block49 before the people50 of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.51 2:15 In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.52 2:16 Therefore,53 repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people54 with the sword of my mouth. 2:17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,55 I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white56 stone,57 and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand58 except the one who receives it.’

To the Church in Thyatira

2:18 “To59 the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following:60

“This is the solemn pronouncement of61 the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame62 and whose feet are like polished bronze:63 2:19 ‘I know your deeds: your love, faith,64 service, and steadfast endurance.65 In fact,66 your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. 2:20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that67 woman68 Jezebel,69 who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives70 my servants71 to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.72 2:21 I73 have given her time to repent, but74 she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. 2:22 Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness,75 and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering,76 unless they repent of her deeds. 2:23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers77 with a deadly disease,78 and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay79 each one of you80 what your deeds deserve.81 2:24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching82 (who have not learned the so-called “deep secrets83 of Satan”), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you. 2:25 However, hold on to what you have until I come. 2:26 And to the one who conquers84 and who continues in85 my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations86

2:27 he87 will rule88 them with an iron rod89

and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,90

2:28 just as I have received the right to rule91 from my Father—and I will give him the morning star.92 2:29 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Sardis

3:1 “To1 the angel of the church in Sardis write the following:2

“This is the solemn pronouncement of3 the one who holds4 the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputation5 that you are alive, but6 in reality7 you are dead. 3:2 Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about8 to die, because I have not found your deeds complete9 in the sight10 of my God. 3:3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard,11 and obey it,12 and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never13 know at what hour I will come against14 you. 3:4 But you have a few individuals15 in Sardis who have not stained16 their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed17 in white, because they are worthy. 3:5 The one who conquers18 will be dressed like them19 in white clothing,20 and I will never21 erase22 his name from the book of life, but23 will declare24 his name before my Father and before his angels. 3:6 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Philadelphia

3:7 “To25 the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following:26

“This is the solemn pronouncement of27 the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors28 no one can shut, and shuts doors29 no one can open: 3:8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put30 in front of you an open door that no one can shut.)31 I know32 that you have little strength,33 but34 you have obeyed35 my word and have not denied my name. 3:9 Listen!36 I am going to make those people from the synagogue37 of Satan—who say they are Jews yet38 are not, but are lying—Look, I will make39 them come and bow down40 at your feet and acknowledge41 that I have loved you. 3:10 Because you have kept42 my admonition43 to endure steadfastly,44 I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away45 your crown.46 3:12 The one who conquers47 I will make48 a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I49 will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God),50 and my new name as well. 3:13 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Laodicea

3:14 “To51 the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:52

“This is the solemn pronouncement of53 the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator54 of God’s creation: 3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.55 I wish you were either cold or hot! 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going56 to vomit57 you out of my mouth! 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth,58 and need nothing,” but59 do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,60 poor, blind, and naked, 3:18 take my advice61 and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me62 white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness63 will not be exposed, and buy eye salve64 to put on your eyes so you can see! 3:19 All those65 I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! 3:20 Listen!66 I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home67 and share a meal with him, and he with me. 3:21 I will grant the one68 who conquers69 permission70 to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered71 and sat down with my Father on his throne. 3:22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

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