1 T o the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands:

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked and have tested and critically appraised those who call apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

4 B ut I have this against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5 R emember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously, or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

6 Y et you have this: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I Myself also detest.

But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 H e who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

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

8 A nd to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again:

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

9 I know your affliction and distress and pressing trouble and your poverty—but you are rich! and how you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 F ear nothing that you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Do 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. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 H e who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death.

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

12 T hen to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him Who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword:

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13 I know where you live—a place where Satan sits enthroned. you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst—where Satan dwells.

“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 N evertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

15 Y ou also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate.

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 R epent! Or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 H e who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it.

“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 manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. ”’ The Corrupt Church

18 A nd to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, Who has eyes that flash like a flame of fire, and Whose feet glow like bright and burnished and white-hot bronze:

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

19 I know your record and what you are doing, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your recent works are more numerous and greater than your first ones.

“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

20 B ut I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality and refuses to do so.

And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

22 T ake note: I will throw her on a bed '> of anguish], and those who commit adultery with her I will bring down to pressing distress and severe affliction, unless they turn away their minds from conduct hers and repent of their doings.

Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

23 A nd I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the hearts, and I will give to each of you as your work deserves.

I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

24 B ut to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they say—I tell you that I do not lay upon you any other burden:

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

25 O nly hold fast to what you have until I come.

But hold fast what you have till I come.

26 A nd he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the end, I will give him authority and power over the nations;

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

27 A nd he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and like that which I Myself have received from My Father;

‘He shall 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 A nd I will give him the Morning Star.

and I will give him the morning star.

29 H e who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches).

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