Revelation 2

1Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus: These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand. He walks among the seven gold lampstands.

2I know what you do. I know your hard work and your patience. I know you cannot put up with evil people. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars.

3You have kept going and have suffered for my name, and you have not given up.

4But I have this against you: you have left the love you had at first.

5Remember how high you once stood before you fell! Repent and return to the deeds you did at first. If you refuse to repent, I will come quickly! I will snatch away your lampstand and close your church!

6But you do have this in your favor: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who wins the victory, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

8Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: These are the words of the First and the Last. He is the One who died and came back to life.

9I know your agonizing trials and extreme poverty. Yet in reality, you are spiritually rich! I know the vicious slander spoken against you. Liars claim to be true Jews, but they are not. They are actually a gathering that belongs to Satan!

10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer intense persecution for ten days. Stay faithful, even if enemies murder your physical body! Then I will crown you with eternal life.

11Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Whoever conquers will never be harmed by the second, eternal death!

12Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: These are the words of the One who has the sharp double-edged sword.

13I know where you live: right where Satan has his ruling throne! Yet you hold tightly to my holy name. You refused to deny your faith in me. You stood firm even when they murdered Antipas, my faithful witness!

14But I have a few things against you. Some of your people hold to the teaching of Balaam. Balaam taught Balak to lead the people of Israel into sin. They ate food offered to idols. They also committed sexual sin.

15You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16So turn back from your sin! If you do not, I will come to you soon and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To whoever conquers, I will give secret heavenly manna. I will also give that person a polished white stone. Engraved on that stone is a brand-new secret name! No one knows that name except the person who receives it.

18Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira: These are the words of the Son of God. His eyes are like flames of fire. His feet are like polished bronze.

19I know what you do: your love, your faith, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first.

20You tolerate that wicked woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet! She misleads my servants into sexual sin and eating idol food.

21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to change.

22So I will throw her onto a bed of agonizing sickness! I will make her unfaithful lovers suffer terrible disaster.

23I will strike her children dead. Then every church will know that I examine minds and hearts! I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

24Now I speak to the rest of you in Thyatira. You do not follow her teaching. You have not learned what some call the deep secrets of Satan. I will not put any other burden on you.

25Just hold on to what you have until I come.

26To whoever conquers and obeys my will to the end: I will give royal authority over the rebellious nations.

27They will shatter them like fragile clay pots using an iron rod! They will rule just as my Father gave authority to me.

28And I will also give them the radiant Morning Star!

29Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.