2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following:¹

“This is the solemn pronouncement of² the One who has a firm grasp on³ the seven stars in his right hand⁴—the One who walks among the seven golden⁵ lampstands: 2:2 ‘I know your works as well as your⁶ labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate⁷ evil. You have even put to the test⁸ those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. 2:3 I am also aware⁹ that you have persisted steadfastly,¹⁰ endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. 2:4 But I have this against you: you have departed¹¹ from your first love! 2:5 Therefore, remember from what high state¹² you have fallen and repent! Do¹³ the deeds you did at the first;¹⁴ if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—that is, if you do not repent.¹⁵ 2:6 But you do have this going for you ¹⁶: you hate what the Nicolaitans¹⁷ practice¹⁸—practices I also hate. 2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,¹⁹ I will permit²⁰ him to eat from the tree of life that is²¹ in the paradise of God.’²²

2:8 “To²³ the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following:²⁴

“This is the solemn pronouncement of²⁵ the One who is the first and the last, the One who was dead, but²⁶ came to life: 2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering²⁷ and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know²⁸ the slander against you²⁹ by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 2:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown³⁰ into prison so you may be tested,³¹ and you will experience suffering³² for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.³³ 2:11 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers³⁴ will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

2:12 “To³⁵ the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following:³⁶

“This is the solemn pronouncement of³⁷ the One who has the sharp double-edged sword³⁸: 2:13 ‘I know³⁹ where you reside, where Satan’s throne is. Yet⁴⁰ you continue to cling⁴¹ to my name and you have not denied your⁴² faith in me,⁴³ even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,⁴⁴ who was killed in your city⁴⁵ where Satan dwells. 2:14 But I have a few things against you: you have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block⁴⁶ before the people⁴⁷ of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.⁴⁸ 2:15 In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.⁴⁹ 2:16 Therefore,⁵⁰ repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people⁵¹ with the sword of my mouth. 2:17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,⁵² I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white⁵³ stone,⁵⁴ and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand⁵⁵ except the one who receives it.’

2:18 “To⁵⁶ the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following:⁵⁷

“This is the solemn pronouncement of⁵⁸ the Son of God, the One who has eyes like a fiery flame⁵⁹ and whose feet are like polished bronze:⁶⁰ 2:19 ‘I know your deeds: your love, faith,⁶¹ service, and steadfast endurance.⁶² In fact,⁶³ your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. 2:20 But I have this against you: you tolerate that⁶⁴ woman⁶⁵ Jezebel,⁶⁶ who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives⁶⁷ my servants⁶⁸ to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.⁶⁹ 2:21 I⁷⁰ have given her time to repent, but⁷¹ she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. 2:22 Look out!⁷² I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness,⁷³ and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering,⁷⁴ unless they repent of her deeds. 2:23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers⁷⁵ with a fatal illness,⁷⁶ and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay⁷⁷ each one of you⁷⁸ what your deeds deserve.⁷⁹ 2:24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching⁸⁰ (who have not learned the so-called ‘deep secrets⁸¹ of Satan’), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you. 2:25 However, hold on to what you have until I come. 2:26 And to the one who conquers⁸² and who continues in⁸³ my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations:⁸⁴

2:27 He⁸⁵ will rule⁸⁶ them with an iron rod⁸⁷
and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,⁸⁸

2:28 just as I have received the right to rule⁸⁹ from my Father, and I will give him the morning star.⁹⁰ 2:29 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’