Revelation 2

The Letters to the Seven Churches

The Letter to Ephesus

1 "Write to the angel* 2:1 Or messenger, also in vv. 8,12,18of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:* 2:1 Ac 21:11; Rv 1:16,202 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,* 2:2 Rv 2:19; 3:1,8,15and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not,* 2:2 2Co 11:13and you have found them to be liars.* 2:2 1Jn 4:13 I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name,* 2:3 Mt 24:9and you have not grown weary.4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.* 2:4 Jr 2:25 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.* 2:5 Heb 10:32Otherwise, I will come to you* 2:5 Other mss add quicklyand remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give* 2:7 1Jn 5:4–5the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in* 2:7 Other mss read in the midst ofthe paradise of God.* 2:7 Gn 2:8–9; Lk 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Rv 22:2,14,19

The Letter to Smyrna

8 "Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last,* 2:8 Rv 1:17the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your* 2:9 Other mss add works andaffliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.* 2:9 Rv 3:9–1010 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil* 2:10 Mt 4:1; Eph 4:27; 6:11; 1Tm 3:6; Jms 4:7; 1Pt 5:8; Rv 12:9,12; 20:2is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days.* 2:10 Dn 1:12,14Be faithful to the point of death,* 2:10 Mt 10:22; 24:13; Rv 12:11and I will give you the crown* 2:10 Or wreathof life.* 2:10 1Co 9:25; Jms 1:12; Rv 3:11

11 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.* 2:11 Rv 20:6,14; 21:8

The Letter to Pergamum

12 "Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:* 2:12 Is 49:2; Heb 4:12; Rv 1:16; 2:16; 19:1513 I know* 2:13 Other mss add your works andwhere you live — where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me,* 2:13 Or deny my faith,* 2:13 1Tm 5:8even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness* 2:13 Ac 22:20who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam,* 2:14 2Pt 2:15who taught Balak to place a stumbling block* 2:14 Or to place a trapin front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols* 2:14 Ac 15:29; 1Co 8:10; 10:19and to commit sexual immorality.* 2:14 Nm 25:1; 31:16; 1Co 10:815 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.* 2:15 Other mss add which I hate16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly* 2:16 Rv 22:7and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.* 2:16 2Th 2:8

17 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna.* 2:17 Other mss add to eat,* 2:17 Ex 16:32–34I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name* 2:17 Is 55:13; 56:5; 62:2is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

The Letter to Thyatira

18 "Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God,* 2:18 Ps 2:7–9the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:* 2:18 Rv 1:14–1519 I know your works — your love, faithfulness,* 2:19 Or faithservice, and endurance.* 2:19 1Th 1:3; Rv 2:2I know that your last works are greater than the first.20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel,* 2:20 1Kg 16:30–33; 21:25; 2Kg 9:7,30–37who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols.* 2:20 2Kg 9:22; Ac 15:29; 1Co 10:2021 I gave her time to repent,* 2:21 Rm 2:4; 2Pt 3:9but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.* 2:21 Rv 9:20–21; 16:9,11 22 Look, I will throw her into a sickbed* 2:22 2Kg 9:22and those who commit adultery with her* 2:22 Rv 17:2; 18:9into great affliction.* 2:22 Mt 24:21; Ac 7:11Unless they repent of her* 2:22 Other mss read theirworks,23 I will strike her children dead.* 2:23 Or with a plague,* 2:23 Ezk 33:27Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts,* 2:23 Ps 7:9; 26:2; 139:1; Jr 11:20; 17:10; Mt 16:27; Lk 16:15; Ac 1:24; Rm 8:27and I will give to each of you according to your works.* 2:23 Rm 2:6; 2Co 11:15; 2Tm 4:14; Rv 18:6; 20:12–1324 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known "the so-called secrets* 2:24 Or the secret things,* 2:24 2Co 2:10of Satan"* 2:24 Rv 2:9— as they say — I am not putting any other burden on you.* 2:24 Mt 11:30; Ac 15:28; 24:4; 1Jn 5:325 Only hold on to what you have until I come.* 2:25 Rv 3:1126 The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations —

27 and he will rule* 2:27 Or shepherd,* 2:27 Rv 19:15them with an iron scepter;

he will shatter them like pottery* 2:27 Ps 2:9,* 2:27 Ps 2:9—

28 just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.* 2:28 Is 14:12; 2Pt 1:19; Rv 22:1

29 "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.