1 T o the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Ephesus: ‘The One Who holds the seven stars in His right hand and the One Who walks among the seven lights made of gold, says this:

2 I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;

I know what you have done and how hard you have worked. I know how long you can wait and not give up. I know that you cannot put up with sinful men. I know that you have put men to the test who call themselves missionaries. You have found they are not missionaries but are false.

3 a nd thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.

You have waited long and have not given up. You have suffered because of Me. You have kept going on and have not become tired.

4 B ut I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

But I have this one thing against you. You do not love Me as you did at first.

5 R emember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

Remember how you once loved Me. Be sorry for your sin and love Me again as you did at first. If you do not, I will come to you and take your light out of its place. I will do this unless you are sorry for your sin and turn from it.

6 B ut this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

But you have this: You hate what the Nicolaitans do. I hate what they do also.

7 H e that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the fruit of the tree of life in the garden of God to everyone who has power and wins.’ Words to the Church in Smyrna

8 A nd to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Smyrna: ‘The One Who is First and Last, the One Who died and came to life again, says this:

9 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

I know of your troubles. I know you are poor. But still you are rich! I know the bad things spoken against you by those who say they are Jews. But they are not Jews. They belong to the devil.

10 F ear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

Do not be afraid of what you will suffer. Listen! The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will be in trouble for ten days. Be faithful even to death. Then I will give you the crown of life.

11 H e that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The person who has power and wins will not be hurt by the second death!’ Words to the Church in Pergamum

12 a nd to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Pergamum: ‘The One Who has the sharp sword that cuts both ways, says this:

13 I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.

I know where you live. It is the place where Satan sits. I know that you are true to Me. You did not give up and turn away from your faith in Me, even when Antipas was killed. He was faithful in speaking for Me. He was killed in front of you where Satan is.

14 B ut I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

But I have a few things against you. You have some people who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak to set a trap for the Jews. He taught them to eat food that had been given as a gift in worship to false gods and to do sex sins.

15 S o hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

You also have some who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans in the same way.

16 R epent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Be sorry for your sins and turn from them. If you do not, I will come to you right away. I will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 H e that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the hidden bread from heaven to everyone who has power and wins. I will give each of them a white stone also. A new name will be written on it. No one will know the name except the one who receives it!’ Words to the Church in Thyatira

18 A nd to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Thyatira: ‘The Son of God Who has eyes like fire and Whose feet are like shining brass, says this:

19 I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.

I know what you are doing. I know of your love and faith. I know how you have worked and how you have waited long and have not given up. I know that you are working harder now than you did at first.

20 B ut I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

But I have this against you: You are allowing Jezebel who calls herself a preacher to teach my servants. She is leading them in the wrong way and they are doing sex sins. And they are eating food that has been given as a gift in worship to false gods.

21 A nd I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.

I gave her time to be sorry for her sins and turn from them. She does not want to turn from her sex sins.

22 B ehold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.

See! I will throw her on a bed. Those who do sex sins with her will suffer much trouble and pain. I will let them suffer unless they are sorry for the sins they have done with her and turn from them.

23 A nd I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

And I will kill her children. All the churches will know that I am the One Who looks deep into the hearts and minds. I will give you whatever is coming to you because of your work.

24 B ut to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

But the rest of you there in the city of Thyatira have not followed this false teaching. You have not learned what they call the secrets of Satan. So I will put no other load on you.

25 N evertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.

But hold on to what you have until I come.

26 A nd he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:

To the one who has power and wins and does what I want him to do, I will give the right and the power over the nations.

27 a nd he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:

He will be leader over them using a piece of iron. And they will be broken in pieces like pots of clay. My Father has given Me this right and power.

28 a nd I will give him the morning star.

And I will give him the Morning Star.

29 H e that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!’