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给以弗所教会的信

“你要写信给在以弗所教会的使者,说:

 ‘那右手拿着七星,在七个金灯台中间行走的,这样说: 我知道你的行为、你的劳苦、你的忍耐,也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾经试验那些自称是使徒,而其实不是使徒的人,看出他们是假的。 你有忍耐,曾为我的名的缘故忍受一切,并不困倦。 然而有一件事我要责备你,就是你已经离弃了你起初的爱。 所以,你应当回想你是从哪里坠落的,并且要悔改,作起初所作的事。你若不悔改,我就要来到你那里,把你的灯台从原处移去。 不过你有这一个优点,就是你恨恶尼哥拉党的作为,那也是我所恨恶的。 圣灵向众教会所说的话,有耳的就应当听。得胜的,我必定把 神乐园里生命树的果子赐给他吃。’

给士每拿教会的信

“你要写信给在士每拿教会的使者,说:

‘那首先的、末后的、曾经死去而又活过来的,这样说: 我知道你的患难和贫穷,但你却是富足的。我也知道那些自称是犹太人所说毁谤的话,其实他们不是犹太人,而是撒但的党徒。 10 你不要怕你将要受的苦。看哪!魔鬼将要把你们中间几个人下在监里,叫你们受试炼,你们要受患难十天。你要忠心至死,我就把那生命的冠冕赐给你。 11 圣灵向众教会所说的话,有耳的就应当听。得胜的,决不会受第二次死的害。’

给别迦摩教会的信

12 “你要写信给在别迦摩教会的使者,说:

‘那有一把两刃利剑的,这样说: 13 我知道你居住的地方,就是撒但王座所在的地方。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们那里,就是在撒但居住的地方被杀的那些日子,你还持守我的名,没有否认对我的信仰。 14 然而有几件事我要责备你,因为在你那里有些人持守巴兰的教训。这巴兰曾经教导巴勒把绊脚石放在以色列人面前,叫他们吃祭过偶像的食物,并且行淫乱。 15 同样,你也有些人持守尼哥拉党的教训。 16 所以,你应当悔改;如果不悔改,我就很快地来到你们那里,用我口中的剑跟他们作战。 17 圣灵向众教会所说的话,有耳的就应当听。得胜的,我必定把那隐藏的吗哪赐给他,并且赐他一块白石,石上写着新的名字,这名字除了那领受的人以外,是没有人能知道的。’

给推雅推拉教会的信

18 “你要写信给在推雅推拉教会的使者,说:

‘ 神的儿子,那眼睛像火焰、两脚像光铜的,这样说: 19 我知道你的行为,你的爱心、信心、服侍和忍耐,也知道你后来所作的比先前的还要多。 20 然而有一件事我要责备你,就是你容让那自称是先知的妇人耶洗别,教导和引诱我的众仆人行淫乱,吃祭过偶像的食物。 21 我曾给她时间,让她悔改,她却不肯为她的淫行悔改。 22 看哪,我要把她拋在大患难的床上;那些跟她行淫乱的人,如果不为她的行为悔改,我也要把他们拋在大患难中。 23 我必以死亡击杀她的儿女;众教会就都知道我是察验人肺腑心肠的,我要照着你们的行为报应你们各人。 24 至于你们其余在推雅推拉的人,就是不跟从那教训,不认识所谓撒但深奥的事的人,我告诉你们,我不会把别的重担放在你们身上。 25 不过,你们要持守已经得着的,直到我来。 26 得胜的,又遵守我的旨意到底的,

我必把统治列国的权柄赐给他,

27 他必用铁杖治理他们,

好象打碎陶器一样粉碎他们,(“我必把……粉碎他们”引自诗2:8~9)

好象我从父领受了权柄一样; 28 我还要把晨星赐给他。 29 圣灵向众教会所说的话,有耳的就应当听。’”

As the story unfolds, we’re told that the lampstands signify the churches. During harsh times of persecution, the faithful often wonder where their Master is. Is He even aware of what they are experiencing? John’s vision confirms what the gospel already teaches: Jesus is present with them even in their suffering, moving among those who dare to bear the light. Lampstands, of course, are not the light. They only carry the light. The true Light that has come into the world is none other than Jesus, the Son of Man (John 8:28).

Letter to Ephesus

The One: Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Ephesus. “These are the words of the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks and moves among the golden lampstands:

“I know your deeds, your tireless labor, and your patient endurance. I know you do not tolerate those who do evil. Furthermore, you have diligently tested those who claim to be emissaries,[a] and you have found that they are not true witnesses. You have correctly found them to be false. I know you are patiently enduring and holding firm on behalf of My name. You have not become faint.

“However, I have this against you: you have abandoned your first love. Do you remember what it was like before you fell? It’s time to rethink and change your ways;[b] go back to how you first acted. However, if you do not return,[c] I will come quickly[d] and personally remove your lampstand from its place. But you do have this to your credit: you despise the deeds of the Nicolaitans and how they concede to evil. I also hate what they do.

“Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. I will allow the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death to eat from the tree of life found in God’s lush paradise.”

Letter to Smyrna

Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Smyrna. “These are the words of the First and the Last, the One who was dead and returned to life:

“I know [your deeds and][e] the difficult ordeal you are enduring and your poverty, although you are actually rich. I am aware of the offensive accusations preached by those who call themselves ‘Jews.’ But these people are not the Jews they pretend to be; they are actually the congregation of Satan. 10 In the face of suffering, do not fear. Watch; the devil will throw some of you into prison shortly so that you might be tested, and you will endure great affliction for 10 days. Be faithful throughout your life, until the day you die, and I will give you the victor’s wreath of life.

11 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. The one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death will escape the second death.”

Letter to Pergamum

12 Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Pergamum. “These are the words of the One with the sharp double-edged sword:

13 “I know [your deeds and][f] where you live. It is where Satan, the adversary, has established his throne. You have stayed true to My name, and you did not deny your trust in Me even in the eventful days of My faithful witness, Antipas. He was killed among you in that place where Satan dwells.

14 “However, I have a few matters against you: some who live among you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to set up a stumbling block before the people of Israel.[g] As a result, some among you are eating food prepared for idol worship and committing immoral sexual acts. 15 You have others who are holding firm to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore, change your ways and turn to Me.[h] If you do not, I will quickly come to where you live and will battle them with the sword of My mouth.

17 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. To the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will feed you with hidden manna and give you a white stone. Upon this stone, a new name is engraved. No one knows this name except for its recipient.”

Letter to Thyatira

18 Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Thyatira. “These are the words of the Son of God, the One whose eyes blaze like flames of fire and whose feet gleam like brightly polished bronze:

19 “I know your deeds, love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your labors greatly increase in quality as you travel along this journey.

20 “However, I have this against you: you have tolerated that woman Jezebel, who is a self-anointed prophetess and who misleads My followers to commit immoral sexual acts and to eat food prepared for idol worship. 21 I have provided her enough time to turn away[i] from her indecency, but she refuses to turn from these immoral acts. 22 Watch; I will throw her back into her sickbed with those who committed adultery with her, and I will make them a bed of great affliction if they do not abandon her indiscretions and turn[j] to follow Me. 23 I will punish her by striking her children dead. Through this all the churches will know I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart, and I will deal with each of you as you deserve according to your acts.

24 “I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held to the teachings of Jezebel and who remain ignorant of the real meaning of what is called the deep things of Satan, I will not burden you with anything more. 25 Just keep on task, and keep the faith until I return.

26 “And as for those who conquer through faithfulness even unto death and continue to labor with Me until the close of the final curtain,

    I will give them authority over the nations.
27     And they will rule the nations with an iron scepter,
        as fragile clay jars are shattered to pieces.[k]

As I received this authority from My Father, 28 I will bestow the morning star to the victor.

29 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

Footnotes

  1. 2:2 Literally, apostles
  2. 2:5 Literally, repent
  3. 2:5 Literally, repent
  4. 2:5 Some manuscripts omit “quickly.”
  5. 2:9 The earliest manuscripts omit this portion.
  6. 2:13 The earliest manuscripts omit this portion.
  7. 2:14 Numbers 22–24
  8. 2:16 Literally, repent
  9. 2:21 Literally, repent
  10. 2:22 Literally, repent
  11. 2:26–27 Psalm 2:8–9

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.