One Who Looks Like a Son of Man

9I, John, am a believer like you. I am a friend who suffers like you. As members of Jesus’ royal family, we can put up with anything that happens to us.

I was on the island of Patmos because I taught God’s word and what Jesus said. 10The Holy Spirit took complete control of me on the Lord’s Day. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet. 11The voice said, “Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

12I turned around to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 13In the middle of them was someone who looked “like a son of man.” (Daniel 7:13)

He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest. 14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters. 16He held seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword that had two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brightness.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead.

Then he put his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.

19“So write down what you have seen. Write about what is happening now and what will happen later. 20Here is what the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand means. They are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven golden lampstands you saw stand for the seven churches.

The Letter to the Church in Ephesus

2 “Here is what I command you to write to the church in Ephesus.

Here are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand. He also walks among the seven golden lampstands. He says, 2‘I know what you are doing. You work long and hard. I know you can’t put up with those who are evil. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not. You have found out that they are liars. 3You have been faithful and have put up with a lot of trouble because of me. You have not given up.

4‘But here is something I hold against you. You don’t have as much love as you had at first. 5Remember how far you have fallen! Turn away from your sins. Do the things you did at first. If you don’t, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

6‘But you do have this in your favor. You hate the way the Nicolaitans act. I hate it too.

7‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. I will allow those who overcome to eat from the tree of life in God’s paradise.’

The Letter to the Church in Smyrna

8“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Smyrna.

Here are the words of the One who is the First and the Last. He is the One who died and came to life again. He says, 9‘I know that you suffer and are poor. But you are rich! Some people say they are Jews but are not. I know that their words are evil. Their worship is satanic.

10‘Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you. You will be treated badly for ten days. Be faithful, even if it means you must die. Then I will give you a crown. The crown is life itself.

11‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. Those who overcome will not be hurt at all by the second death.’

The Letter to the Church in Pergamum

12“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Pergamum.

Here are the words of the One with the sharp sword that has two edges. He says, 13‘I know that you live where Satan has his throne. But you remain true to me. You did not give up your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness. He was put to death in your city, where Satan lives.

14‘But I have a few things against you. You have people there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak to lead the people of Israel into sin. So they ate food that had been offered to statues of gods. And they committed sexual sins. 15You also have people who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16‘So turn away from your sins! If you don’t, I will come to you soon. I will fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.

17‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches. I will give hidden manna to those who overcome. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it. Only the one who receives that name will know what it is.’

The Letter to the Church in Thyatira

18“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Thyatira.

Here are the words of the Son of God. He is the One whose eyes are like blazing fire. His feet are like polished bronze. He says, 19‘I know what you are doing. I know your love and your faith. I know how well you have served. I know you don’t give up easily. In fact, you are doing more now than you did at first.

20‘But here is what I have against you. You put up with that woman Jezebel. She calls herself a prophet. With her teaching, she has led my servants into sexual sin. She has tricked them into eating food offered to statues of gods.

21‘I’ve given her time to turn away from her sinful ways. But she doesn’t want to. 22She sinned on a bed. So I will make her suffer on a bed. And those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly. Their only way out is to turn away from what she taught them to do. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who searches hearts and minds. I will pay each of you back for what you have done.

24‘I won’t bother the rest of you in Thyatira. You don’t follow the teaching of Jezebel. You haven’t learned what some people call Satan’s deep secrets. 25Just hold on to what you have until I come.

26‘I’ll give authority over the nations to all who overcome and who carry out my plans to the end. 27It is written,

‘ “He will rule them with an iron rod.

He will break them to pieces like clay pots.” (Psalm 2:9)

I have received this authority from my Father. 28I will also give the morning star to all who overcome.

29‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’

The Letter to the Church in Sardis

3 “Here is what I command you to write to the church in Sardis.

Here are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God. He has the seven stars in his hand. He says, ‘I know what you are doing. People think you are alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what is left, or it will die. You have not done all that my God wants you to do.

3‘So remember what you have been taught and have heard. Obey it. Turn away from your sins. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief. You won’t know when I will come to you.

4‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have kept their clothes clean. They will walk with me, dressed in white, because they are worthy. 5Those who overcome will also be dressed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life. I will speak of them by name to my Father and his angels.

6‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’

The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia

7“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Philadelphia.

Here are the words of the One who is holy and true. He holds the key of David. No one can shut what he opens. And no one can open what he shuts. He says, 8‘I know what you are doing. Look! I have put an open door in front of you. No one can shut it. I know that you don’t have much strength. But you have obeyed my word. You have not said no to me.

9‘Some people claim they are Jews but are not. They are liars. Their worship is from Satan. I will make them come and fall down at your feet. I will make them say in public that I love you.

10‘You have kept my command to put up with anything that happens. So I will keep you from the time of suffering that is going to come to the whole world. It will test those who live on the earth.

11‘I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have. Then no one will take away your crown.

12‘I’ll see to it that those who overcome will be pillars in the temple of my God. They will never leave it again. I will write the name of my God on them. I will write the name of the city of my God on them. This is the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God. I will also write my new name on them.

13‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’

The Letter to the Church in Laodicea

14“Here is what I command you to write to the church in Laodicea.

Here are the words of the One who is the Amen. What he gives witness to is faithful and true. He rules over what God has created. He says, 15‘I know what you are doing. I know you aren’t cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16But you are lukewarm. You aren’t hot or cold. So I am going to spit you out of my mouth.

17‘You say, “I am rich. I’ve become wealthy and don’t need anything.” But you don’t realize how pitiful and miserable you have become. You are poor, blind and naked.

18‘So here’s my advice. Buy from me gold made pure by fire. Then you will become rich. Buy from me white clothes to wear. Then you will be able to cover your shameful nakedness. And buy from me healing lotion to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.

19‘I correct and train those I love. So be sincere, and turn away from your sins.

20‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any of you hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.

21‘I’ll give those who overcome the right to sit with me on my throne. In the same way, I overcame. Then I sat down with my Father on his throne.

22‘Those who have ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’ ”