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Revelation 2-3
Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Letters to the Seven Churches

The Letter to Ephesus

2 “Write to the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus:

“The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you[b] and 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 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor(A) the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in[c] God’s paradise.(B)

The Letter to Smyrna

8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna:

“The First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life, says: 9 I know your[d] affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown[e] of life.

11 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor will never be harmed by the second death.(C)

The Letter to Pergamum

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum:

“The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword(D) says: 13 I know[f] where you live—where Satan’s throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me,[g] even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness who was killed 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, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block[h] in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.[i] 15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.[j] 16 Therefore repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna.[k](E) I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name(F) is 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:

“The Son of God, the One whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze,[l] says: 19 I know your works—your love, faithfulness,[m] service, and endurance. Your last works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives My slaves to commit sexual immorality[n] and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.[o] 22 Look! I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her[p] practices. 23 I will kill her children with the plague.[q](G) Then all the churches will know that I am the One who examines minds[r] and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known the deep things[s] of Satan—as they say—I do not put any other burden on you. 25 But hold on to what you have until I come.(H) 26 The one who is victorious and keeps My works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—

27 and he will shepherd[t](I) them with an iron scepter;
he will shatter them like pottery(J)[u]—

just as I have received this from My Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star.(K)

29 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Letter to Sardis

3 “Write to the angel of the church in Sardis:

“The One who has the seven spirits of God(L) and the seven stars says: I know your works; you have a reputation[v] for being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be alert and strengthen[w] what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before My God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come[x] like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you.[y] 4 But you have a few people[z] in Sardis who have not defiled[aa] their clothes, and they will walk with Me in white, because they are worthy. 5 In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life(M) but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Letter to Philadelphia

7 “Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia:

“The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens(N) says: 8 I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close. 9 Take note! I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying—note this—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.(O) 10 Because you have kept My command to endure,[ab] I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have,(P) so that no one takes your crown. 12 The victor: I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God—and My new name.(Q)

13 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Letter to Laodicea

14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea:

“The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator[ac](R) of God’s creation says: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit[ad] you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed[ae] and repent. 20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. 21 The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger here and elsewhere
  2. Revelation 2:5 Other mss add quickly
  3. Revelation 2:7 Other mss read in the midst of
  4. Revelation 2:9 Other mss add works and
  5. Revelation 2:10 Or wreath
  6. Revelation 2:13 Other mss add your works and
  7. Revelation 2:13 Or deny My faith
  8. Revelation 2:14 Or to place a trap
  9. Revelation 2:14 Or commit fornication
  10. Revelation 2:15 Other mss add which I hate
  11. Revelation 2:17 Other mss add to eat
  12. Revelation 2:18 Probably gleaming white hot; Rv 1:15
  13. Revelation 2:19 Or faith
  14. Revelation 2:20 Or commit fornication
  15. Revelation 2:21 Or her fornication
  16. Revelation 2:22 Other mss read their
  17. Revelation 2:23 Or I will surely kill her children
  18. Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys
  19. Revelation 2:24 Or the secret things
  20. Revelation 2:27 Or rule; see 19:15
  21. Revelation 2:27 Ps 2:9
  22. Revelation 3:1 Lit have a name
  23. Revelation 3:2 Other mss read guard
  24. Revelation 3:3 Other mss add upon you
  25. Revelation 3:3 Or upon you
  26. Revelation 3:4 Lit few names
  27. Revelation 3:4 Or soiled
  28. Revelation 3:10 Lit My word of endurance
  29. Revelation 3:14 Or Ruler, or Source, or Beginning
  30. Revelation 3:16 Or spit
  31. Revelation 3:19 Or be zealous
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Revelation 2-3
New International Version

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus(A) write:

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

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(H) 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(J) from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(K) which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(N) which is in the paradise(O) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna(P) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(Q) who died and came to life again.(R) 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.(U) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(W) Be faithful,(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(Y)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(AA)

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(AB) write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(AC) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(AD) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(AE) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(AF)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(AG) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(AH) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(AI) and committed sexual immorality.(AJ) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(AK) 16 Repent(AL) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(AM)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AN) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(AO) I will give some of the hidden manna.(AP) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(AQ) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(AR)

To the Church in Thyatira

18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira(AS) write:

These are the words of the Son of God,(AT) whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.(AU) 19 I know your deeds,(AV) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,(AW) who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.(AX) 21 I have given her time(AY) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.(AZ) 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery(BA) with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,(BB) and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.(BC)

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,(BD) 25 except to hold on to what you have(BE) until I come.’(BF)

26 To the one who is victorious(BG) and does my will to the end,(BH) I will give authority over the nations(BI)— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter(BJ) and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b](BK)—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.(BL) 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear(BM) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Sardis

3 “To the angel[c] of the church in Sardis(BN) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[d](BO) of God and the seven stars.(BP) I know your deeds;(BQ) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(BR) 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(BS) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(BT) and you will not know at what time(BU) I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.(BV) They will walk with me, dressed in white,(BW) for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious(BX) will, like them, be dressed in white.(BY) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,(BZ) but will acknowledge that name before my Father(CA) and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CB) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia(CC) write:

These are the words of him who is holy(CD) and true,(CE) who holds the key of David.(CF) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds.(CG) See, I have placed before you an open door(CH) that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(CI) 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,(CJ) who claim to be Jews though they are not,(CK) but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet(CL) and acknowledge that I have loved you.(CM) 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you(CN) from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world(CO) to test(CP) the inhabitants of the earth.(CQ)

11 I am coming soon.(CR) Hold on to what you have,(CS) so that no one will take your crown.(CT) 12 The one who is victorious(CU) I will make a pillar(CV) in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God(CW) and the name of the city of my God,(CX) the new Jerusalem,(CY) which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CZ) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(DA) write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(DB) the ruler of God’s creation.(DC) 15 I know your deeds,(DD) that you are neither cold nor hot.(DE) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(DF) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(DG) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(DH) so you can become rich; and white clothes(DI) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(DJ) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(DK) So be earnest and repent.(DL) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(DM) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(DN) I will come in(DO) and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious,(DP) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(DQ) just as I was victorious(DR) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(DS) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
  2. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9
  3. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
  4. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
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