Chapter 2

"To the angel of the church at Ephesus write: Thus says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp-stands:

I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men; but hast tried them who say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them false.

And thou hast patience and hast endured for my name, and hast not grown weary.

"But I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore whence thou hast fallen, and repent and do the former works; or else I will come to thee, and will move thy lamp-stand out of its place, unless thou repentest.

But this thou hast: thou hatest the works of the Nicolaites, which I also hate.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: He who overcomes I will permit to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God. To the Church at Smyrna

"And to the angel of the church at Smyrna write: Thus says the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive:

I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich; and that thou art slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Fear none of those things that thou art about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. To the Church at Pergamum

"And to the angel of the church at Pergamum write: Thus says he who has the sharp two-edged sword:

I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name and didst not disown my faith, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was slain among you where Satan dwells.

"But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, that they might eat and commit fornication.

So thou hast also some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaites.

In like manner repent, or else I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: To him who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble, and upon the pebble a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it. To the Church of Thyatira

"And to the angel of the church at Thyatira write: Thus says the Son of God, who has eyes like to a flame of fire, and whose feet are like fine brass:

I know thy works, thy faith, thy love, thy ministry, thy patience and thy last works, which are more numerous than the former.

"But I have against thee that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sacrificed to idols.

And I gave her time that she might repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.

Behold, I will cast her upon a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

And her children I will strike with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches desires and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. "But to you I say,

to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not hold this teaching and do not know the depths of Satan, as they call them, I will not put upon you any other burden.

But that which you have, hold fast till I come.

And to him who overcomes, and who keeps my works unto the end, I will give authority over nations.

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and like the potter's vessel they shall be dashed to pieces,

as I also have received from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.