The Loveless Church
1 “To theangel of the church of Ephesus write,
# ‘These things saysHe who holds the seven stars in His right hand,who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2 “I know your works, your labor, yourpatience, and that you cannotbear those who are evil. Andyou have tested thosewho say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and havenot become weary.
4 Nevertheless I havethisagainst you, that you have left your first love.
5 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 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will giveto eat fromthe tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
The Persecuted Church
8 “And to theangel of the church in Smyrna write,
# ‘These things saysthe First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you arerich); andI knowthe blasphemy ofthose who say they are Jews and are not,butareasynagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throwsomeof you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.Be faithful until death, and I will give youthe crown of life.
11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt bythe second death.” ’
The Compromising Church
12 “And to theangel of the church in Pergamos write,
# ‘These things saysHe who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throneis.And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which AntipaswasMy faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine ofBalaam, 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 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,which thing I hate.
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly andwill fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “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 hiddenmanna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stonea new name written which no one knows except him who receivesit.” ’
The Corrupt Church
18 “And to theangel 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 works, love,service, faith,and yourpatience; andasfor your works, the lastaremore than the first.
20 Nevertheless I havea few things against you, because you allowthat womanJezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,to teach and seduceMy servantsto commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her timetorepent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent oftheirdeeds.
23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He whosearchesthe minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 “Now to you I say,andto the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known thedepths of Satan, as they say,Iwillput on you no other burden.
25 But hold fastwhat you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keepsMy works until the end,to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘Heshall 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 and I will give himthe morning star.
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’