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The Book of Revelation 2

2 Write this message to the angel of the group of believers in the city of Ephesus: ‘I am the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lamp holders. This is what I say to you: 2 “I am aware of all that you have done. I am aware of how hard you have worked for me. I am aware of how patiently you have endured difficult times. I am also aware that you do not accept wicked people. When people falsely claim to be genuine leaders, you prove that they are lying. 3 I am aware of how patiently you have endured. I am also aware that you have suffered for my sake. I am also aware that you have not abandoned your faith in me even though you have suffered. 4 Nevertheless, I must criticize you about something: You no longer love me as you did when you first believed in me. 5 Therefore, remember how you used to love me. Love me again the way you did at first. Now if you do not love me again in that way, I will judge you and I will not allow you to continue being a group of believers. 6 However, I do praise you for something that you are doing well. You refuse to accept what the disciples of Nicolaus are doing. Those disciples eat food that people have sacrificed to idols and they commit sexual sins. I myself completely reject what they are doing. 7 Everyone who is spiritually discerning should pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the groups of believers. I will permit anyone who is victorious to eat fruit from the tree that gives life. That tree is in the garden of God.” ’ 8 Next, write this message to the angel of the group of believers in the city of Smyrna: ‘I am the one who began all things and who will cause all things to end. I am also the one who died and became alive again. This is what I say to you: 9 “I am aware that people have persecuted you. I am aware that you are poor, although you have everything you need spiritually. I am aware that people are insulting you. Those people claim to be Jews, but they are not acting as if they truly belong to God. When they gather together, they help the devil instead of serving God. 10 Those people are going to make you suffer. Do not be afraid, but watch out! The devil will soon lead them to put some of you in jail. The devil wants to show that you will abandon your faith in me if you suffer. You will have to suffer for ten days. But remain loyal to me even if you have to die. If you do, I will give you everlasting life as a reward. 11 Everyone who is spiritually discerning should pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the groups of believers. Whoever is victorious will never die a second time.” ’ 12 Next, write this message to the angel of the group of believers in the city of Pergamum: ‘I am the one who has a sword with two sharp edges. This is what I say to you: 13 “I am aware of where you live. It is a place where Satan controls people. I am also aware that you are very loyal to me. You did not abandon your faith in me even when people attacked your fellow believer Antipas. He told others about me, and he remained loyal to me. People killed him right in front of you, because Satan has such an influence in your city. 14 Nevertheless, I must criticize you about a few things. Some people in your group firmly believe that they should do what the ancient prophet Balaam taught. It was Balaam who showed Balak, the king of Moab, how to tempt the people of Israel to sin. Balak led the Israelites to eat meat that people had sacrificed to idols. Balak also led the Israelites to commit sexual sins. 15 Just as Balak followed Balaam’s advice, some people in your group firmly believe that they may similarly do what the disciples of Nicolaus teach. They eat food that people have sacrificed to idols and they commit sexual sins. 16 But what the disciples of Nicolaus teach is wrong. So everyone in your group must stop doing those things! Now if some of you do not stop, I will immediately judge those people. I will pronounce a sentence of judgment against them and punish them. 17 Everyone who is spiritually discerning should pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the groups of believers. To the one who is victorious I will award some special bread that I have hidden for him. I will also give him a white pebble upon which I have written a new name for him. No one will know what this name is except the one to whom I give it.” ’ 18 Next, write this message to the angel of the group of believers in the city of Thyatira: ‘I am the Son of God, whose eyes shine like a fiery flame and whose feet shine like bronze. This is what I say to you: 19 “I am aware of all that you are doing. I am aware that you love one another because you love me. I am aware that you are very loyal to me. I am aware of how you are serving me. I am aware that you are enduring patiently. Finally, I am aware that you are now doing more than you did when you first believed in me. 20 Nevertheless, I must criticize you about something. You tolerate a woman in your assembly who is like that wicked queen in the Old Testament whose name was Jezebel. She claims falsely that she teaches the truth from God. But in fact, by what she teaches, she is misleading people who believe in me. She is teaching them to commit sexual sins and to eat meat that other people have sacrificed to idols. 21 Although I have allowed her sufficient time to stop teaching these things, she refuses to stop. She continues to act immorally. 22 Pay attention! I am going to punish her with a terrible sickness. I will also cause those who act immorally as she does to suffer greatly if they do not stop doing what she does 23 And as a judgment against her, I will kill the children she has had as a result of her sexual immorality. Then all the groups of believers will recognize that I examine what everyone thinks and desires. I will punish or reward each one of you as you deserve. 24 But the rest of you believers in the city of Thyatira have not obeyed this woman’s teachings. You have not taken part in what she calls the secret practices that Satan taught her. I have something to say to you as well. I am going to ask you to do just one thing. 25 Just continue to obey the true teaching that you have received until I return. 26 To the one who is victorious, who continues to do what I command until he dies, I will give power to rule the people groups on earth. 27 Those to whom I give this authority will rule the people groups with irresistible power. They will destroy evildoers as completely as if they were smashing clay pots. 28 They will rule so powerfully because I will share with them the authority that I myself have received from God my Father. I will also give them the assurance that God is beginning a wonderful new era. 29 Everyone who is spiritually discerning should pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the groups of believers.” ’

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