The Loveless Church

“To the [a]angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says (A)He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, (B)who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: (C)“I know your works, your labor, your [b]patience, and that you cannot [c]bear those who are evil. And (D)you have tested those (E)who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have (F)not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, (G)or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

(H)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give (I)to eat from (J)the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Persecuted Church

“And to the [d]angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says (K)the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are (L)rich); and I know the blasphemy of (M)those who say they are Jews and are not, (N)but are a [e]synagogue of Satan. 10 (O)Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. (P)Be faithful until death, and I will give you (Q)the crown of life.

11 (R)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by (S)the second death.” ’

The Compromising Church

12 “And to the [f]angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says (T)He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of (U)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, (V)to eat things sacrificed to idols, (W)and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [g]which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and (X)will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden (Y)manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone (Z)a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The Corrupt Church

18 “And to the [h]angel of the church in Thyatira write,

‘These things says the Son of God, (AA)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 (AB)“I know your works, love, [i]service, faith, and your [j]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have [k]a few things against you, because you allow [l]that woman (AC)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, [m]to teach and seduce My servants (AD)to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time (AE)to [n]repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [o]their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who (AF)searches[p] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

24 “Now to you I say, [q]and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the (AG)depths of Satan, as they say, (AH)I [r]will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast (AI)what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps (AJ)My works until the end, (AK)to him I will give power over the nations—

27 ‘He(AL) shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him (AM)the morning star.

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 2:2 perseverance
  3. Revelation 2:2 endure
  4. Revelation 2:8 Or messenger
  5. Revelation 2:9 congregation
  6. Revelation 2:12 Or messenger
  7. Revelation 2:15 NU, M likewise.
  8. Revelation 2:18 Or messenger
  9. Revelation 2:19 NU, M faith, service
  10. Revelation 2:19 perseverance
  11. Revelation 2:20 NU, M against you that you tolerate
  12. Revelation 2:20 M your wife Jezebel
  13. Revelation 2:20 NU, M and teaches and seduces
  14. Revelation 2:21 NU, M repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
  15. Revelation 2:22 NU, M her
  16. Revelation 2:23 examines
  17. Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit and
  18. Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit will

To the malach (angel) of the Kehillah (Congregation) in Ephesus, write: These things says the One holding shivat hakokhavim (seven stars) in the yad yamin (right hand) of him, the One walking in the midst of the sheva menorot hazahav (seven golden menorahs):

I have da’as of your ma’asim (deeds) and your amal (toil) and the savlanut (patient endurance) of you [pl.] and that you cannot bear anshei resha (evil men), and have tested the ones making the claim that they are "Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s shlichim" and are not, and found them kozvim (liars).

And you have savlanut (patient endurance), and you have persevered because of ha-Shem of me and have not become weary.

But I have this against you, that you abandoned your Ahavah HaRishonah. [YIRMEYAH 2:2]

Therefore, let there be zikaron (remembrance) of from where you have fallen and make teshuva (repentance, turning from sin to G-d) and do the Ma’asim HaRishonim; but, if not, I am coming to you [pl.] and I will remove your menorah from its place, unless you make teshuva.

But this you have, that you loathe the ma’asim ra’im (evil deeds) of the Nicolaitans, which also I loathe. [TEHILLIM 139:21]

The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot; To the one who wins the nitzachon (victory) I will give to him to eat of the Etz HaChayyim (Tree of Life), which is in the Gan-Eden of Hashem, [BERESHIS 2:9; 3:22,24; also BERESHIS 2:8; YECHEZKEL 28:1; 31:8,9 TARGUM HA-SHIVIM)]

And to the malach (angel) of the Kehillah in Smyrna, write: These things says HaRishon and HaAcharon, who became niftar (deceased) and had his histalkus (passing), and came back to Chayyim (Life): [YESHAYAH 44:6; 48:12]

I have da’as of your tzarah (Mt 24:15) and oni poverty)‖but you are oisher (rich)‖and the loshon hora of the ones making the claim and declaring themselves to be Bnei Brit, and are not [of the Brit Chadasha], but are a Shul [deluded by] Hasatan.

10 Have no pachad (terror) at all of the things you are about to suffer. Hinei, Hasatan is about to cast some of you into beit hasohar that you may be tested and you will have tzarah aseret yamim (ten days). Be ne’eman ad haMavet (faithful unto death), and I will give you the ateret HaChayyim (the diadem of Life). [DANIEL 1:12,14]

11 The one having [spiritual] ears, let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot. The one who wins the nitzachon (victory) never will be hurt by the Mavet HaSheyni (the Second Death).

12 And to the malach (angel) of the Kehillah at Pergamum, write: These things says the one having the sharp two-edged cherev: [YESHAYAH 49:2]

13 I have da’as of where you make your ma’on (residence), where the kes (throne) of Hasatan is, and you hold fast to ha-Shem of me and did not make hakhchashah (denial) of my (Moshiach’s) emunah (faith), even in the days of Antipas my ed hane’eman (my faithful witness) who died alkiddush ha-Shem, killed among you as a martyr where Hasatan makes his ma’on (residence).

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there ones holding to "the torah of Bil’am," who was teaching Balak to put a michshol (stumbling block) before Bnei Yisroel. [BAMIDBAR 31:16; 25:1-2]

15 So also you have ones eating okhel (food) sacrificed to elilim (idols) and who commit zenut (fornication). You also have ones holding the "torah of the Nicolaitans."

16 Likewise, therefore, make teshuva (repentance, turning from sin to G-d)! But if not, I am coming to you quickly and will war against them by the cherev of my mouth. [YESHAYAH 49:2]

17 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot. To the one who wins the nitzachon (victory), I will give him some of the Manna having been nistar (hidden), and I will give him an even levanah (a white stone) and upon it a Shem Chadash (New Name), of which no one has da’as, except the one receiving it. [TEHILLIM 78:24; YESHAYAH 62:2; 65:15; 56:5]

18 And to the malach of the Kehillah in Thyatira, write: These things says the Ben HaElohim, the One having his eynayim (eyes) like a flame of eish (fire), [DANIEL 7:9] and the feet of him like burnished bronze: [DANIEL 10:6]

19 I have da’as of your ma’asim (deeds) and the ahavah and the emunah and the tzedek [DANIEL 9:25] and the savlanut (patient endurance) of you, and that your ma’asim ha’acharonim are more than harishonim of you.

20 But I have this against you, that you are being permissive toward that isha Izevel (Jezebel), the one calling herself a nevi’ah (prophetess) who teaches and deceives my avadim to commit zenut and to eat okhel (food) sacrificed to elilim (idols). [MELACHIM ALEF 16:31; 21:25; MELACHIM BAIS 9:7-22; BAMIDBAR 25:1-2]

21 And I gave her time that she might make teshuva and she does not wish to make teshuva of her zenut. [MELACHIM ALEF 16:31; MELACHIM BAIS 9:22; BAMIDBAR 25:1-2]

22 Hinei, I am throwing her into a bed of suffering, and the ones committing ni’uf (adultery) with her into Tzarah Gedolah (Great Tribulation, Mt. 24:21), unless they make teshuva of her ma’asim (deeds).

23 And her yeladim (children, those who become like her in her doctrine) I will kill with Mavet, and all the kehillot will have da’as that I am the One searching their musar klayot valev (pangs of conscience and heart), and I will give to you, each one, according to what you have done. [TEHILLIM 7:9; 62:12; 139:1; 2:23; MISHLE 21:2; 24:12; YIRMEYAH 11:20; 17:10; SHMUEL ALEF 16:7; MELACHIM ALEF 8:39]

24 But I say to you, the rest, to the ones in Thyatira, as many as have not this "torah" (teaching), who did not have da’as of, as they say, "the tiefe (deep, profound) things of Hasatan.” I am putting on you no other burden.

25 Al kol panim (nevertheless), what you have, hold fast until I come.

26 And the one who wins the nitzachon and the one until HaKets keeping shomer over ma’asei mitzvot of Me, him will I give samchut (authority) over the Goyim,

27 To rule them with a SHEVET BARZEL (scepter of iron, TEHILLIM 2:9) KIKH’LI YOTZER TENAPTZEM ("as the vessel of pottery are broken") [TEHILLIM 2:8,9; YESHAYAH 30:14; YIRMEYAH 19:11]

28 Even as I also have received from HaAv of me and I will give him the Kokhav (Star BAMIDAR 24:17) haNogah (of Brightness, Venus, the Morning Star. 2K 1:19).

29 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.

To the Church in Ephesus

“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) 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) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(G) and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(H) 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. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(K) which I also hate.

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

“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) 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.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
  2. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9