These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, and walks among the seven golden lamps: 2 I know your life, your toil and endurance, and I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers. I know, too, how you tested those who declare that they are apostles, though they are not, and how you proved them false. 3 You possess endurance, and have borne much for my name, and have never grown weary. 4 But this I have against you – You have abandoned your first love. 5 Therefore remember from what you have fallen, and repent, and live the life that you lived before; or else, I will come and remove your Lamp from its place, unless you repent. 6 But this is in your favour – You hate the life lived by the Nikolaitans, and I also hate it. 7 Anyone with ears should hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To him who conquers – to him I will give the right to eat the fruit of the Tree of life, which stands in the Paradise of God.Titleless Section Break

8 ‘To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died, but is restored to life: 9 I know your persecution and your poverty – yet you are rich! I know, too, the slander that comes from those who declare that they are God’s people, [fn]though they are not, but are a congregation of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tempted, and may undergo persecution for ten days. Be faithful even to death, and I will give you the Crown of life. 11 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who conquer will suffer no hurt from the Second Death.Titleless Section Break

12 ‘To the angel of the church in Pergamus write:

These are the words of him who holds the sharp two-edged sword: 13 I know where you live, where the throne of Satan stands. And yet you hold to my name, and you did not disown my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death among you where Satan dwells. 14 Yet I have a few things against you – You have among you those who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put temptations in the way of the Israelites, so that they should eat idol-offerings and commit licentious acts. 15 Again you have among you those who hold in the same way to the teaching of the Nikolaitans. 16 Therefore repent, or else, I will come quickly and contend with such people with words that will cut like a sword. 17 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To those who conquer – to them I will give a share of the mystic manna, and I will give them a white stone; and on the stone will be inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the person who receives it.Titleless Section Break

18 ‘To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire, and whose feet are like brass: 19 I know your life, your love, faith, service, and endurance; and I know that your life of late has been better than it was at first. 20 Yet I have this against you – You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who declares that she is a prophet, and misleads my servants by her teaching, until they commit licentious acts and eat idol-offerings. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she is determined not to turn from her licentiousness. 22 Therefore I am laying her on a bed of sickness, and bringing great suffering on those who are unfaithful with her, unless they repent and turn from a life like hers. 23 I will also put her children to death; and all the churches will learn that I am he who looks into people’s hearts and souls; and I will give to each one of you what their life deserves. 24 But I say to the rest of you at Thyatira – all who do not accept such teaching, whose who did not learn the secrets of Satan, as people call them – I am not laying on you any further burden; 25 only hold fast to what you have received, until I come. 26 To those who conquer and are careful to live my life to the end – to them I will give authority over the nations, 27 and they will rule them with an iron rod, as when earthen vessels are broken in pieces (as I myself have received from my Father) 28 and I will give them the morning star. 29 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Titleless Section Break

3 ‘To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars; – I know your life, and that people say of you that you are living, though you are dead. 2 Be on the watch, and strengthen what still survives, though once it was all but dead; for I have not found your life perfect in the eyes of my God. 3 Therefore remember what you have received and heard, and lay it to heart and repent. Unless you are on the watch, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I am coming to you. 4 Yet there are some few among you at Sardis who did not soil their robes; they will walk with me, robed in white, for they are worthy. 5 Those who conquer will be clothed in these white robes, and I will not strike their name out of the book of life; but I will own them before my Father, and before his angels. 6 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.Titleless Section Break

7 ‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the Key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and shuts and no one opens: 8 I know your life (see, I have set a door open before you which no one is able to shut), I know that, though you have but little strength, you kept my teaching in mind, and did not disown my name. 9 Listen, I give some of the congregation of Satan, the people who declare that they are God’s people, [fn]though they are not, but are lying – I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will learn that I loved you. 10 Because you kept in mind the story of my endurance, I will keep you in the hour of trial that is about to come on the whole world, the hour that will test all who are living on earth. 11 I will come quickly. Hold to what you have received so that no one may take your crown. 12 Those who conquer – I will make them a pillar in the Temple of my God; and never more will they leave it; and I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God, and I will write on them my new name. 13 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.Titleless Section Break

14 ‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Unchanging One, the witness faithful and true, the beginning of the Creation of God: 15 I know your life; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. If only you were either cold or hot! 16 But now, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say “I am rich and have grown rich, and I want for nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked! 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold which has been refined by fire so that you may grow rich; and white robes, so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness be hidden; and ointment to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 All whom I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be in earnest and repent. 20 I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in, and will feast with them, and they will feast with me. 21 To those who conquer – to them I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, as I, when I conquered, took my seat beside my Father on his throne. 22 Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’