1 A nd to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: These things saith he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Sardis: ‘The One Who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: I know what you are doing. I know people think you are alive, but you are dead.

2 B e watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die, for I have not found thy works complete before my God.

Wake up! Make stronger what you have before it dies. I have not found your work complete in God’s sight.

3 R emember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and keep and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come upon thee.

So remember what you have received and heard. Keep it. Be sorry for your sins and turn from them. If you will not wake up, I will come as a robber. You will not know at what time I will come.

4 B ut thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy.

But there are a few people in the church in the city of Sardis whose clothes are not dirty with sins. They will walk with Me wearing white clothes. They have done what they should.

5 H e that overcomes, he shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, and will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Everyone who has power and wins will wear white clothes. I will not take his name from the book of life. I will speak of his name before My Father and His angels.

6 H e that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Words to the Church in Philadelphia

7 A nd to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: These things saith the holy, the true; he that has the key of David, he who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open:

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Philadelphia: ‘He Who is holy and true, Who holds the key of David, Who opens and no man can shut, Who shuts and no man can open, says this:

8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an opened door, which no one can shut, because thou hast a little power, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

I know what you are doing. See! You do not have much power, but you have obeyed My Word. You have not turned against Me. So I have given you an open door that no man can shut.

9 B ehold, I make them of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie; behold, I will cause that they shall come and shall do homage before thy feet, and shall know that I have loved thee.

See! There are some who belong to Satan. They say they are Jews, but they are not. They are liars. See! I will make them come to you and get down at your feet. Then they will know that I love you.

10 B ecause thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee out of the hour of trial, which is about to come upon the whole habitable world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

I will keep you from the time of trouble. The time to test everyone is about to come to the whole world. I will do this because you have listened to Me and have waited long and have not given up.

11 I come quickly: hold fast what thou hast, that no one take thy crown.

I am coming very soon. Hold on to what you have so no one can take your crown.

12 H e that overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more at all out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven, from my God, and my new name.

I will make the one who has power and wins an important part that holds up the house of God. He will never leave it again. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God. It is the new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem will come down from My God out of heaven. I will write My new name on him.

13 H e that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

You have ears! Then listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Words to the Church in Laodicea

14 A nd to the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

“Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Laodicea: ‘The One Who says, Let it be so, the One Who is faithful, the One Who tells what is true, the One Who made everything in God’s world, says this:

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot.

I know what you are doing. You are not cold or hot. I wish you were one or the other.

16 T hus because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spue thee out of my mouth.

But because you are warm, and not hot or cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

17 B ecause thou sayest, I am rich, and am grown rich, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art the wretched and the miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;

You say that you are rich and that you need nothing, but you do not know that you are so troubled in mind and heart. You are poor and blind and without clothes.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold purified by fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white garments, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not be made manifest; and eye-salve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

You should buy gold from Me that has been tested by fire that you may be rich. Buy white clothes to dress yourself so the shame of not wearing clothes will be taken away. Buy medicine to put on your eyes so you can see.

19 I rebuke and discipline as many as I love; be zealous therefore and repent.

I speak strong words to those I love and I punish them. Have a strong desire to please the Lord. Be sorry for your sins and turn from them.

20 B ehold, I stand at the door and am knocking; if any one hear my voice and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him, and he with me.

See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and we will eat together.

21 H e that overcomes, to him will I give to sit with me in my throne; as I also have overcome, and have sat down with my Father in his throne.

I will allow the one who has power and wins to sit with Me on My throne, as I also had power and won and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 H e that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

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