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:

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger

Message to Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in (A)Ephesus write:

The One who holds (B)the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks [a](C)among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Lit in the middle of

Message to Ephesus

“To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Ephesus write:

“These are the words of the One who holds [firmly] the seven stars [which are the angels or messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches):

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Ephesus, the largest city in Roman-controlled Asia Minor, developed into a major trade center because of its access to the Aegean Sea. It was the primary center for the worship of the goddess Artemis (Diana). The Temple of Artemis, the largest building in ancient times, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The open-air theatre in Ephesus could accommodate 25,000 spectators and was used for both drama and gladiatorial combat.

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;

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Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, (A)or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

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Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and (A)repent, and (B)do the [a]deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your (C)lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:5 Lit first deeds

So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.

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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.

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The Compromising Church

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

‘These things says (A)He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:12 Or messenger

Message to Pergamum

12 “And to the angel of the church in (A)Pergamum write:

The One who has (B)the sharp two-edged sword says this:

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Message to Pergamum

12 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Pergamum write:

“These are the words of Him who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword [in judgment]:

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:12 Pergamum (modern Bergama, Turkey) was built on a promontory about sixteen miles from the Aegean Sea. It was famous as a worship center for many pagan gods including Zeus (Jupiter, king of gods), Dionysus (Bacchus, god of wine and intoxication), and Asklepios (god of healing). The enormous altar dedicated to Zeus is on display in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Pergamum also had an important temple dedicated to the worship of Caesar. Refusal to take part in the imperial cult was considered treason. A culturally sophisticated city as well as a center for pagan worship, Pergamum’s library, believed to contain over 200,000 volumes, was second only to the Library of Alexandria.

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

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16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and (A)will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

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16 Therefore (A)repent; or else (B)I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with (C)the sword of My mouth.

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16 Therefore repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment].

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

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The Corrupt Church

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

‘These things says the Son of God, (A)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 (B)“I know your works, love, [b]service, faith, and your [c]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have [d]a few things against you, because you allow [e]that woman (C)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, [f]to teach and seduce My servants (D)to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time (E)to [g]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 [h]their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who (F)searches[i] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

24 “Now to you I say, [j]and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the (G)depths of Satan, as they say, (H)I [k]will put on you no other burden.

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Footnotes

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

Message to Thyatira

18 “And to the angel of the church in (A)Thyatira write:

(B)The Son of God, (C)who has [a]eyes like a flame of fire, and [b]feet like burnished bronze, says this:

19 (D)I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and [c]perseverance, and that your [d]deeds of late are greater than [e]at first. 20 But (E)I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman (F)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they (G)commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 (H)I gave her time to repent, and she (I)does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who (J)commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [f]her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with [g]plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who (K)searches the [h]minds and hearts; and (L)I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 But I say to you, the rest who are in (M)Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the (N)deep things of Satan, as they call them—I (O)place no other burden on you.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:18 Lit His eyes
  2. Revelation 2:18 Lit His feet
  3. Revelation 2:19 Or steadfastness
  4. Revelation 2:19 Lit last deeds
  5. Revelation 2:19 Lit the first
  6. Revelation 2:22 One early ms their
  7. Revelation 2:23 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
  8. Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys; i.e., inner man

Message to Thyatira

18 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Thyatira write:

“These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes [that flash] like a flame of fire [in righteous judgment], and whose feet are like burnished [white-hot] bronze:(A)

19 ‘I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your last deeds are more numerous and greater than the first. 20 But I have this [charge] against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and she teaches and misleads My bond-servants so that they commit [acts of sexual] immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols.(B) 21 I gave her time to repent [to change her inner self and her sinful way of thinking], but she has no desire to repent of her immorality and refuses to do so. 22 [b]Listen carefully, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her [I will bring] into great anguish, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children (followers) with [c]pestilence [thoroughly annihilating them], and all the churches will know [without any doubt] that I am He who searches the [d]minds and hearts [the innermost thoughts, purposes]; and I will give to each one of you [a reward or punishment] according to your deeds.(C) 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the [e]depths of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you,

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:18 Thyatira (modern Akhisar, Turkey) was famous for its dyeing and indigo trade. It was the home of Lydia, the seller of purple fabrics, who was converted under the ministry of Paul (Acts 16:14). Located in a valley, midway between Pergamum and Sardis, it was originally established as a military base by one of the generals in the army of Alexander the Great.
  2. Revelation 2:22 Lit Behold.
  3. Revelation 2:23 Lit death.
  4. Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys, i.e. inner man. In Jewish thought, the kidneys were considered a source of wisdom (cf Ps 16:7).
  5. Revelation 2:24 I.e. participated in and experienced evil.

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.

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The Dead Church

“And to the [a]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who (A)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before [b]God. (B)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (C)repent. (D)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (E)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God

Message to Sardis

“To the angel of the church in (A)Sardis write:

He who has [a](B)the seven spirits of God and (C)the seven stars, says this: ‘(D)I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are (E)dead. Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So (F)remember [b]what you have received and heard; and [c]keep it, and (G)repent. Then if you are not alert, (H)I will come (I)like a thief, and you will not know at (J)what hour I will come to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  2. Revelation 3:3 Lit how
  3. Revelation 3:3 Or follow

Message to Sardis

“To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Sardis write:

“These are the words of Him who has [b]the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds; you have a name (reputation) that you are alive, but [in reality] you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements. So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Sardis (modern Sart, Turkey), in Roman times, was a wealthy city known for the manufacture and dyeing of woolen fabric and carpets. Originally, it was the capital of the ancient Lydian Empire and was the first city to mint coinage (600 b.c.). A stream that flowed through its market place carried gold dust from a nearby mountain. King Croesus of Lydia (560-546 b.c.) financed the building of the great Temple of Artemis in Ephesus (550 b.c.). The city was conquered twice, under Cyrus the Great and under Antiochus, due to lack of adequate watchfulness.
  2. Revelation 3:1 See note 1:4.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

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The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the [a]angel of the church [b]of the Laodiceans write,

(A)‘These things says the Amen, (B)the Faithful and True Witness, (C)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (D)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [c]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (E)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
  3. Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold

Message to Laodicea

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

(B)The Amen, (C)the faithful and true Witness, (D)the [a]Origin of the creation of God, says this:

15 (E)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; (F)I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “(G)I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:14 Or Beginning; i.e., Originator

Message to Laodicea

14 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in [a]Laodicea write:

“These are the words of the Amen, the trusted and faithful and true Witness, the [b]Beginning and Origin of God’s creation:

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are [c]neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were [d]cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:14 Laodicea, located beside the Lycus River, was a prosperous city about forty miles south of Philadelphia. It had a well-respected financial center, thriving textile production industry (specializing in black wool), and a leading medical school that produced a famous eye salve. Two other cities were in this general area: Colossae, known for its mountain spring of cold, fresh water; and Hierapolis, a site famous for its hot, therapeutic mineral springs.
  2. Revelation 3:14 I.e. Origin of Source.
  3. Revelation 3:15 This phrase and the word lukewarm in v 16 form a metaphor that is probably based on the quality of the water supply of Laodicea, which was delivered by aqueduct from the hot mineral springs about five miles away. During its journey, the water cooled to a warm or lukewarm temperature.
  4. Revelation 3:15 I.e. alive, productive—beneficial in one way or the other.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

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