Greeting the Seven Churches

⁴ John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him ^(A)who is and ^(B)who was and who is to come, ^(C)and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, ^(D)the faithful ^(E)witness, the ^(F)firstborn from the dead, and ^(G)the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him ^(H)who ^[a]loved us ^(I)and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has ^(J)made us ^[b]kings and priests to His God and Father, ^(K)to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

⁷ Behold, He is coming with ^(L)clouds, and every eye will see Him, even ^(M)they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

^8 (N)“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ^[c]the Beginning and the End,” says the ^[d]Lord, ^(O)“who is and who was and who is to come, the ^(P)Almighty.”

The Loveless Church

2 “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: ^2 (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; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have ^(F)not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ 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.

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: 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 ^(B)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, ^(C)to eat things sacrificed to idols, ^(D)and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, ^[b]which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and ^(E)will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

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.

The Dead Church

3 “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. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before ^[b]God. ^3 (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. ^4 [c]You have ^(F)a few names ^[d]even in Sardis who have not ^(G)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me ^(H)in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes ^(I)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not ^(J)blot out his name from the ^(K)Book of Life; but ^(L)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

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— ¹⁸ I counsel you ^(F)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and ^(G)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ^19 (H)As many as I love, I rebuke and ^(I)chasten.^[d] Therefore be ^[e]zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, ^(J)I stand at the door and knock. ^(K)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, ^(L)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

The Persecuted Church

⁸ “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says ^(A)the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹ “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are ^(B)rich); and I know the blasphemy of ^(C)those who say they are Jews and are not, ^(D)but are a ^[b]synagogue of Satan. ^10 (E)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. ^(F)Be faithful until death, and I will give you ^(G)the crown of life.

The Faithful Church

⁷ “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says ^(A)He who is holy, ^(B)He who is true, ^(C)“He who has the key of David, ^(D)He who opens and no one shuts, and ^(E)shuts and no one opens”: ^8 (F)“I know your works. See, I have set before you ^(G)an open door, ^[b]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. ⁹ Indeed I will make ^(H)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed ^(I)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept ^[c]My command to persevere, ^(J)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon ^(K)the whole world, to test those who dwell ^(L)on the earth. ^11 [d]Behold, ^(M)I am coming quickly! ^(N)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take ^(O)your crown.