1 “ And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are 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 W ake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected 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 you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.

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 N evertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for 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 who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I 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 who 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 “ To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:

“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 your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny 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 give some of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

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 you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on 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 am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.

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

12 H e who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on 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 own 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 who 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 “ To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:

“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 your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.

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

16 S o, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you 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 you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, 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 you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may 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 A s many as I love, I reprove and chasten. 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 knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine 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 who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on 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 who 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.’”