Revelation 2
New King James Version
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. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 (H)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give (I)to eat from (J)the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
The Persecuted Church
8 “And to the [d]angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says (K)the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are (L)rich); and I know the blasphemy of (M)those who say they are Jews and are not, (N)but are a [e]synagogue of Satan. 10 (O)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. (P)Be faithful until death, and I will give you (Q)the crown of life.
11 (R)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by (S)the second death.” ’
The Compromising Church
12 “And to the [f]angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says (T)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 (U)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, (V)to eat things sacrificed to idols, (W)and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [g]which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and (X)will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden (Y)manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone (Z)a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
The Corrupt Church
18 “And to the [h]angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, (AA)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 (AB)“I know your works, love, [i]service, faith, and your [j]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have [k]a few things against you, because you allow [l]that woman (AC)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, [m]to teach and seduce My servants (AD)to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time (AE)to [n]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 [o]their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who (AF)searches[p] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 “Now to you I say, [q]and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the (AG)depths of Satan, as they say, (AH)I [r]will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast (AI)what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps (AJ)My works until the end, (AK)to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘He(AL) shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him (AM)the morning star.
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Footnotes
- Revelation 2:1 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:2 perseverance
- Revelation 2:2 endure
- Revelation 2:8 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:9 congregation
- Revelation 2:12 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:15 NU, M likewise.
- Revelation 2:18 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:19 NU, M faith, service
- Revelation 2:19 perseverance
- Revelation 2:20 NU, M against you that you tolerate
- Revelation 2:20 M your wife Jezebel
- Revelation 2:20 NU, M and teaches and seduces
- Revelation 2:21 NU, M repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
- Revelation 2:22 NU, M her
- Revelation 2:23 examines
- Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit and
- Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit will
Revelation 3:1-6
New King James Version
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.
6 (M)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
Hosea 3-6
New King James Version
Israel Will Return to God
3 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a (A)lover[a] and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.”
2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You shall (B)stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.”
4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days (C)without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without (D)ephod or (E)teraphim. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and (F)seek the Lord their God and (G)David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the (H)latter days.
God’s Charge Against Israel
4 Hear the word of the Lord,
You children of Israel,
For the Lord brings a (I)charge[b] against the inhabitants of the land:
“There is no truth or mercy
Or (J)knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing and lying,
Killing and stealing and committing adultery,
They break all restraint,
With bloodshed [c]upon bloodshed.
3 Therefore (K)the land will mourn;
And (L)everyone who dwells there will waste away
With the beasts of the field
And the birds of the air;
Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.
4 “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another;
For your people are like those (M)who contend with the priest.
5 Therefore you shall stumble (N)in the day;
The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night;
And I will destroy your mother.
6 (O)My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
(P)Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7 “The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
(Q)I[d] will change [e]their glory into shame.
8 They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their [f]heart on their iniquity.
9 And it shall be: (R)like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And [g]reward them for their deeds.
10 For (S)they shall eat, but not have enough;
They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
Because they have ceased obeying the Lord.
The Idolatry of Israel
11 “Harlotry, wine, and new wine (T)enslave the heart.
12 My people ask counsel from their (U)wooden idols,
And their [h]staff informs them.
For (V)the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray,
And they have played the harlot against their God.
13 (W)They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops,
And burn incense on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
Because their shade is good.
(X)Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,
And your brides commit adultery.
14 “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,
Nor your brides when they commit adultery;
For the men themselves go apart with harlots,
And offer sacrifices with a (Y)ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.
15 “Though you, Israel, play the harlot,
Let not Judah offend.
(Z)Do not come up to Gilgal,
Nor go up to (AA)Beth[i] Aven,
(AB)Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—
16 “For Israel (AC)is stubborn
Like a stubborn calf;
Now the Lord will let them forage
Like a lamb in [j]open country.
17 “Ephraim is joined to idols,
(AD)Let him alone.
18 Their drink [k]is rebellion,
They commit harlotry continually.
(AE)Her [l]rulers [m]dearly love dishonor.
19 (AF)The wind has wrapped her up in its wings,
And (AG)they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Impending Judgment on Israel and Judah
5 “Hear this, O priests!
Take heed, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O house of the king!
For [n]yours is the judgment,
Because (AH)you have been a snare to Mizpah
And a net spread on Tabor.
2 The revolters are (AI)deeply involved in slaughter,
Though I rebuke them all.
3 (AJ)I know Ephraim,
And Israel is not hidden from Me;
For now, O Ephraim, (AK)you commit harlotry;
Israel is defiled.
4 “They[o] do not direct their deeds
Toward turning to their God,
For (AL)the spirit of harlotry is in their midst,
And they do not know the Lord.
5 The (AM)pride of Israel testifies to his face;
Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
Judah also stumbles with them.
6 “With their flocks and herds
(AN)They shall go to seek the Lord,
But they will not find Him;
He has withdrawn Himself from them.
7 They have (AO)dealt treacherously with the Lord,
For they have begotten [p]pagan children.
Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage.
8 “Blow(AP) the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
The trumpet in Ramah!
(AQ)Cry aloud at (AR)Beth Aven,
‘Look behind you, O Benjamin!’
9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke;
Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.
10 “The princes of Judah are like those who (AS)remove a landmark;
I will pour out My wrath on them like water.
11 Ephraim is (AT)oppressed and broken in judgment,
Because he willingly walked by (AU)human precept.
12 Therefore I will be to Ephraim like a moth,
And to the house of Judah (AV)like rottenness.
13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah saw his (AW)wound,
Then Ephraim went (AX)to Assyria
And sent to King Jareb;
Yet he cannot cure you,
Nor heal you of your wound.
14 For (AY)I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
(AZ)I, even I, will tear them and go away;
I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.
15 I will return again to My place
Till they [q]acknowledge their offense.
Then they will seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
A Call to Repentance
6 Come,(BA) and let us return to the Lord;
For (BB)He has torn, but (BC)He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will [r]bind us up.
2 (BD)After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
3 (BE)Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established (BF)as the morning;
(BG)He will come to us (BH)like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
Impenitence of Israel and Judah
4 “O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
And like the early dew it goes away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by (BI)the words of My mouth;
And [s]your judgments are like light that goes forth.
6 For I desire (BJ)mercy[t] and (BK)not sacrifice,
And the (BL)knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 “But like [u]men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
8 (BM)Gilead is a city of evildoers
And [v]defiled with blood.
9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of (BN)priests (BO)murder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit (BP)lewdness.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
There is the [w]harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.
Footnotes
- Hosea 3:1 Lit. friend or husband
- Hosea 4:1 A legal complaint
- Hosea 4:2 Lit. touching
- Hosea 4:7 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; scribal tradition, Syr., Tg. They will change
- Hosea 4:7 So with MT, LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; scribal tradition My glory
- Hosea 4:8 Desires
- Hosea 4:9 repay
- Hosea 4:12 Diviner’s rod
- Hosea 4:15 Lit. House of Idolatry or Wickedness
- Hosea 4:16 Lit. a large place
- Hosea 4:18 Or has turned aside
- Hosea 4:18 Lit. shields
- Hosea 4:18 Heb. difficult; a Jewish tradition shamefully love, ‘Give!’
- Hosea 5:1 Or to you
- Hosea 5:4 Or Their deeds will not allow them to turn
- Hosea 5:7 Lit. strange
- Hosea 5:15 Lit. become guilty or bear punishment
- Hosea 6:1 Bandage
- Hosea 6:5 Or the judgments on you
- Hosea 6:6 Or faithfulness or loyalty
- Hosea 6:7 Or Adam
- Hosea 6:8 Lit. foot-tracked
- Hosea 6:10 Spiritual adultery
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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