1 To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write:
"He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among of the
seven golden lampstands says these things:
2 "I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't
tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and
they are not, and found them false. 3 You have perseverance and have
endured for my name's sake, and have*1 not
grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the
first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand
out of its place, unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate
the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will
give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
8 "To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write:
"The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these
things:
9 "I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and
the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a
synagogue of Satan. 10 Don't be afraid of the things which you are about
to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that
you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be
faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes
won't be harmed by the second death.
12 "To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write:
"He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13 "I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You
hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith in the days of Antipas my
witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who
hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block
before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to
commit sexual immorality. 15 So you also have some who hold to the
teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise*2 . 16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly,
and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has
an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who
overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna,*3 and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name
written, which no one knows but he who receives it.
18 "To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write:
"The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like
burnished brass, says these things:
19 I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and
that your last works are more than the first. 20 But I have this against
you, that you tolerate your*4
woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my
servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual
immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit
adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent of her works.
23 I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know
that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of
you according to your deeds. 24 But to you I say, to the rest who are in
Thyatira, as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call
'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden
on you. 25 Nevertheless, hold firmly that which you have, until I
come. 26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I
will give authority over the nations. 27 He will rule them with a rod of
iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:
28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
1 TR adds "have labored and" 2 TR reads "which I hate" instead of
"likewise" 3 Manna is
supernatural food, named after the Hebrew for "What is it?". See Exodus
11:7-9. 4 TR, NU read "that" instead of "your"
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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