2:1–3: “For the messenger of the church in Ephesus write [as follows]: These things says the one who’s gripping the seven stars [= the messengers of the seven churches] in his right [hand], who’s walking around in the midst of the seven gold lampstands: 2 I know your deeds and toil and your perseverance, and that you can’t bear [= put up with] bad people and [that] you’ve tested those who are alleging themselves [to be] apostles (and they aren’t)