Revelation 1:17-2:5

New International Version

¹⁷When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(A) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(B) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(C) I am the First and the Last.^(D) ¹⁸I am the Living One; I was dead,^(E) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(F) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(G)

¹⁹“Write, therefore, what you have seen,^(H) what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand^(I) and of the seven golden lampstands^(J) is this: The seven stars are the angels^[a] of the seven churches,^(K) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.^(L)

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel^[b] of the church in Ephesus^(M) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand^(N) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.^(O) ²I know your deeds,^(P) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested^(Q) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.^(R) ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,^(S) and have not grown weary.

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.^(T) ⁵Consider how far you have fallen! Repent^(U) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand^(V) from its place.