Revelation 2:1-17

GOD’S WORD Translation

A Letter to the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write:

The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says: ² I know what you have done—how hard you have worked and how you have endured. I also know that you cannot tolerate wicked people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not apostles. You have discovered that they are liars. ³ You have endured, suffered trouble because of my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴ However, I have this against you: The love you had at first is gone. ⁵ Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don’t change. ⁶ But you have this in your favor—you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing. I also hate what they’re doing.

⁷ “Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.

A Letter to the Church in Smyrna

⁸ “To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write: The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says:

⁹ I know how you are suffering, how poor you are—but you are rich. I also know that those who claim to be Jews slander you. They are the synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. Your suffering will go on for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Everyone who wins the victory will never be hurt by the second death.

A Letter to the Church in Pergamum

¹² “To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write: The one who holds the sharp two-edged sword says:

¹³ I know where you live. Satan’s throne is there. You hold on to my name and have not denied your belief in me, even in the days of Antipas. He was my faithful witness who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against you: You have among you those who follow what Balaam taught Balak. Balak trapped the people of Israel by ⌞encouraging⌟ them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to sin sexually. ¹⁵ You also have some who follow what the Nicolaitans teach. ¹⁶ So return to me and change the way you think and act, or I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword from my mouth. ¹⁷ Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give each person a white stone with a new name written on it, a name that is known only to the person who receives it.