Revelation 2-3
New American Standard Bible
Message to Ephesus
2 “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:
2 ‘(D)I know your deeds and your labor and [b]perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have (E)put those who call themselves (F)apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have [c]perseverance and have endured (G)on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have (H)left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and (I)repent, and (J)do the [d]deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your (K)lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the (L)Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 (M)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (N)To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from (O)the tree of life, which is in the (P)Paradise of God.’
Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in (Q)Smyrna write:
(R)The first and the last, who [e](S)was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your (T)tribulation and your (U)poverty (but you are (V)rich), and the [f]slander by those who (W)say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of (X)Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be (Y)tested, and you will have tribulation (Z)for ten days. [g]Be (AA)faithful until death, and I will give you (AB)the crown of life. 11 (AC)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AD)The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the (AE)second death.’
Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in (AF)Pergamum write:
The One who has (AG)the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where (AH)Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny (AI)My faith even in the days of Antipas, My (AJ)witness, My (AK)faithful one, who was killed among you, (AL)where Satan dwells. 14 But (AM)I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the (AN)teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a [h]stumbling block before the sons of Israel, (AO)to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the (AP)Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore (AQ)repent; or else (AR)I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with (AS)the sword of My mouth. 17 (AT)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (AU)To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden (AV)manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a (AW)new name written on the stone (AX)which no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Message to Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in (AY)Thyatira write:
(AZ)The Son of God, (BA)who has [i]eyes like a flame of fire, and [j]feet like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‘(BB)I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and [k]perseverance, and that your [l]deeds of late are greater than [m]at first. 20 But (BC)I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman (BD)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they (BE)commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 (BF)I gave her time to repent, and she (BG)does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who (BH)commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [n]her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with [o]plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who (BI)searches the [p]minds and hearts; and (BJ)I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 But I say to you, the rest who are in (BK)Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the (BL)deep things of Satan, as they call them—I (BM)place no other burden on you. 25 Nevertheless (BN)what you have, hold firmly (BO)until I come. 26 (BP)The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds (BQ)until the end, (BR)I will give him authority over the [q]nations; 27 and he shall [r](BS)rule them with a rod of iron, (BT)as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him (BU)the morning star. 29 (BV)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Message to Sardis
3 “To the angel of the church in (BW)Sardis write:
He who has [s](BX)the seven spirits of God and (BY)the seven stars, says this: ‘(BZ)I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are (CA)dead. 2 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. 3 So (CB)remember [t]what you have received and heard; and [u]keep it, and (CC)repent. Then if you are not alert, (CD)I will come (CE)like a thief, and you will not know at (CF)what hour I will come to you. 4 But you have a few [v](CG)people in (CH)Sardis who have not (CI)soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me (CJ)in white, for they are worthy. 5 (CK)The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in (CL)white garments; and I will not (CM)erase his name from the book of life, and (CN)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 (CO)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in (CP)Philadelphia write:
(CQ)He who is holy, (CR)who is true, who has (CS)the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘(CT)I know your [w]deeds. Behold, I have put before you (CU)an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and (CV)have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I [x]will make those of (CW)the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them (CX)come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that (CY)I have loved you. 10 Because you have (CZ)kept (DA)My [y]word of perseverance, (DB)I also will keep you from the hour of the [z](DC)testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole [aa](DD)world, to [ab]test (DE)those who live on the earth. 11 (DF)I am coming quickly; (DG)hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your (DH)crown. 12 (DI)The one who overcomes, I will make him a (DJ)pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the (DK)name of My God, and (DL)the name of the city of My God, (DM)the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My (DN)new name. 13 (DO)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Message to Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in (DP)Laodicea write:
(DQ)The Amen, (DR)the faithful and true Witness, (DS)the [ac]Origin of the creation of God, says this:
15 ‘(DT)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; (DU)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, “(DV)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, 18 I advise you to (DW)buy from Me (DX)gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and (DY)white garments so that you may clothe yourself and (DZ)the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 (EA)Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and (EB)repent. 20 Behold, I stand (EC)at the door and (ED)knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (EE)I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 (EF)The one who overcomes, I will grant to him (EG)to sit with Me on My throne, as (EH)I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 (EI)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Footnotes
- Revelation 2:1 Lit in the middle of
- Revelation 2:2 Or steadfastness
- Revelation 2:3 Or steadfastness
- Revelation 2:5 Lit first deeds
- Revelation 2:8 Lit became
- Revelation 2:9 Or blasphemy
- Revelation 2:10 Or Prove yourself faithful
- Revelation 2:14 I.e., a temptation to sin
- Revelation 2:18 Lit His eyes
- Revelation 2:18 Lit His feet
- Revelation 2:19 Or steadfastness
- Revelation 2:19 Lit last deeds
- Revelation 2:19 Lit the first
- Revelation 2:22 One early ms their
- Revelation 2:23 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
- Revelation 2:23 Lit kidneys; i.e., inner man
- Revelation 2:26 Or Gentiles
- Revelation 2:27 Lit shepherd
- Revelation 3:1 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
- Revelation 3:3 Lit how
- Revelation 3:3 Or follow
- Revelation 3:4 Lit names
- Revelation 3:8 Or deeds (behold...shut), that you have
- Revelation 3:9 Lit give
- Revelation 3:10 Or instruction
- Revelation 3:10 Or temptation
- Revelation 3:10 Lit inhabited earth
- Revelation 3:10 Or tempt
- Revelation 3:14 Or Beginning; i.e., Originator
Revelation 2-3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Message to Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 “I know your works, your toil and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them to be false.(A) 3 I also know that you are enduring and bearing up for the sake of my name and that you have not grown weary.(B) 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember, then, from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.(C)
The Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life:(D)
9 “I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.(E) 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.(F) 11 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.(G)
The Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:(H)
13 “I know where you are living, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me[a] even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, 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 put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and engage in sexual immorality.[b](I) 15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent, then. If not, I will come to you soon and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.(J) 17 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.(K)
The Message to Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze:(L)
19 “I know your works: your love, faith, service, and endurance. I know that your latest works are greater than the first. 20 But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to engage in sexual immorality[c] and to eat food sacrificed to idols.(M) 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.[d](N) 22 Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.(O) 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call ‘the deep things of Satan,’ to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden;(P) 25 only hold fast to what you have until I come. 26 To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end,
I will give authority over the nations,(Q)
27 to rule[e] them with an iron scepter,
as when clay pots are shattered—(R)
28 “even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star.(S) 29 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
The Message to Sardis
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:
“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead.(T) 2 Wake up and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard; obey it and repent. 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.(U) 4 Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.(V) 5 If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not erase your name from the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels.(W) 6 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
The Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of the Holy One, the True One,
who has the key of David,
who opens and no one will shut,
who shuts and no one opens:(X)
8 “I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door that no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(Y) 9 I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not but are lying—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.(Z) 10 Because you have kept my word of endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.(AA) 11 I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one takes away your crown. 12 If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.(AB) 13 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
The Message to Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin[f] of God’s creation:(AC)
15 “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.(AD) 18 Therefore I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white robes to clothe yourself and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.(AE) 19 I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.(AF) 20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.(AG) 21 To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.(AH) 22 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Revelation 2-3
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
2 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And thou hast patience, and hast endured for my name, and hast not fainted.
4 But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity.
5 Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaites, which I also hate.
7 He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him, that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God.
8 And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive:
9 I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them that 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 will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life.
11 He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death.
12 And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things, saith he, that hath the sharp two edged sword:
13 I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have against thee a few things: 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, and to commit fornication:
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites.
16 In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to 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 to the churches: To him that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna, and will give him a white counter, and in the counter, a new name written, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it.
18 And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet like to fine brass.
19 I know thy works, and thy faith, and thy charity, and thy ministry, and thy patience, and thy last works which are more than the former.
20 But I have against thee a few things: because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her a time that she might do penance, and she will not repent of her fornication.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed: and they that commit adultery with her shall be in very great tribulation, except they do penance from their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your works. But to you I say,
24 And to the rest who are at Thyatira: Whosoever have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will not put upon you any other burthen.
25 Yet that, which you have, hold fast till I come.
26 And he that shall overcome, and keep my works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations.
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and as the vessel of a potter they shall be broken,
28 As I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
3 And to the angel of the church of Sardis, write: These things saith he, that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast the name of being alive: and thou art dead.
2 Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die. For I find not thy works full before my God.
3 Have in mind therefore in what manner thou hast received and heard: and observe, and do penance. If then thou shalt not watch, I will come to thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come to thee.
4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy.
5 He that shall overcome, shall thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia, write: These things saith the Holy One and the true one, he that hath the key of David; he that openeth, and no man shutteth; shutteth, and no man openeth:
8 I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will bring of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and adore before thy feet. And they shall know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of the temptation, which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; and he shall go out no more; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
14 And to the angel of the church of Laodicea, write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is 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 But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest: I am rich, and made wealthy, and have need of nothing: and knowest not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold fire tried, that thou mayest be made rich; and mayest be clothed in white garments, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore, and do penance.
20 Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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