给以弗所教会的信

“你要写信告诉以弗所教会的天使,那位右手拿着七颗星、往来于七个金灯台中间的主说,

‘我知道你的行为、劳碌和坚忍,也知道你疾恶如仇,曾查验出那些假冒的使徒,揭穿他们的虚假。 你曾坚定不移地为我的名受苦,没有气馁。 但有一件事我要责备你,就是你把起初的爱心丢弃了。 因此,要回想你在哪里跌倒了,并且悔改,照起初所行的去行。否则,我就要到你那里,将你的灯台从原处拿走。 然而你还有一点可取之处,就是你跟我一样痛恨尼哥拉党人的行径。

‘圣灵对各教会所说的话,凡有耳朵的都应当听。我必将上帝乐园中生命树上的果子赐给得胜者吃。’

给士每拿教会的信

“你要写信告诉士每拿教会的天使,那位首先的、末后的、死而复活的主说,

‘我知道你遭受的苦难和贫穷,其实你是富足的。我也知道那些人对你的毁谤,他们自称为犹太人,其实不是,而是撒旦的同伙[a] 10 你不要害怕将要遭受的苦难。魔鬼要将你们当中的一些人下在监里,试炼你们,你们必遭受十天的迫害。但你要至死忠心,我必赐给你生命的冠冕。

11 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话,凡有耳朵的都应当听。得胜者必不被第二次死亡所害。’

给别迦摩教会的信

12 “你要写信告诉别迦摩教会的天使,那位有两刃利剑的主说,

13 ‘我知道你住在撒旦称王的地方。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们这撒旦盘踞之处殉道的时候,你仍然坚守我的名,仍然信靠我。 14 不过有几件事我要责备你,你那里有人随从巴兰的教导。这巴兰从前教巴勒在以色列人面前布下网罗,使他们吃祭过偶像的食物、犯淫乱的罪。 15 同样,你们当中也有人附从尼哥拉党的教导。 16 所以你要悔改,否则我必迅速到你那里,用我口中的剑攻击他们。

17 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话,凡有耳朵的都应当听。我必将隐藏的吗哪赐给得胜者。我也要赐给他一块白石,石上刻着一个新名字,除了那领受的人以外,没有人认识。’

给推雅推喇教会的信

18 “你要写信告诉推雅推喇教会的天使,那位双目如火焰、双脚像闪亮精铜的上帝的儿子说,

19 ‘我知道你的行为、爱心、信心、事奉、坚忍,也知道你末后所做的善事比起初更多。 20 可是有一件事我要责备你,就是你容许那自称是先知的妇人耶洗别教导我的众奴仆,引诱他们淫乱、吃祭过偶像的食物。 21 我曾给她悔改的机会,她却不肯悔改、离弃自己的淫乱行为, 22 所以我必叫她卧病在床。那些与她有染的人若不悔改,也必遭受极大的苦难。 23 我要击杀她的爪牙[b],使众教会都知道我洞察人的心思意念,我要照你们各人的行为对待你们。

24 ‘至于你们其余在推雅推喇的人,就是不听那邪说,没有学习所谓的撒旦玄学的人,我告诉你们,我不会将别的重担放在你们身上。 25 但你们要好好持守自己已经得到的,一直到我来。 26 至于那得胜又遵守我命令到底的人,我必赐给他统治列国的权柄, 27 正如我从我父得到的权柄。他必用铁杖管辖列国,将他们如同陶器一般打得粉碎。 28 我也要把晨星赐给他。

29 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话,凡有耳朵的都应当听。’

Footnotes

  1. 2:9 撒旦的同伙”希腊文是“撒旦的会众”,用以表达与“耶和华的会众”对立。
  2. 2:23 爪牙”希腊文是“儿女”。

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: (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; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have (F)not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 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. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

(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

“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: “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

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger
  2. Revelation 2:2 perseverance
  3. Revelation 2:2 endure
  4. Revelation 2:8 Or messenger
  5. Revelation 2:9 congregation
  6. Revelation 2:12 Or messenger
  7. Revelation 2:15 NU, M likewise.
  8. Revelation 2:18 Or messenger
  9. Revelation 2:19 NU, M faith, service
  10. Revelation 2:19 perseverance
  11. Revelation 2:20 NU, M against you that you tolerate
  12. Revelation 2:20 M your wife Jezebel
  13. Revelation 2:20 NU, M and teaches and seduces
  14. Revelation 2:21 NU, M repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
  15. Revelation 2:22 NU, M her
  16. Revelation 2:23 examines
  17. Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit and
  18. Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit will

And to the angel of the church of Ephesus write thou, These things saith he, that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, which walketh [that walketh] in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks.

I know thy works, and thy travail, and thy patience, and that thou mayest not suffer evil men [and that thou mayest not sustain evil men]; and thou hast assayed them that say that they be apostles, and be not, and thou hast found them liars;

and thou hast patience, and thou hast suffered for my name [and thou hast sustained for my name], and failedest not.

But I have against thee a few things, that thou hast left thy first charity.

Therefore be thou mindful from whence thou hast fallen, and do penance, and do the first works; or else, I shall come soon to thee, and I shall move thy candlestick from his place [if not, I shall come soon to thee, and shall move thy candlestick of his place], but thou do penance.

But thou hast this good thing, that thou hatedest [for thou hatest] the deeds of Nicolaitanes, which also I hate.

He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, I shall give to eat of the tree of life, that is in the paradise of my God.

And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write thou, These things saith the first and the last, that was dead, and liveth.

I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty, but thou art rich; and thou art blasphemed of them, that say, that they be Jews, and be not, but be the synagogue of Satan.

10 Dread thou nothing of these things, which thou shalt suffer. Lo! the devil shall send some of you into prison, that ye be tempted [that ye be proved]; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful to the death [Be thou faithful unto the death], and I shall give to thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh, shall not be hurt of the second death.

12 And to the angel of the church of Pergamos write thou, These things saith he, that hath the sword sharp on either side [that hath the sword sharp on each side].

13 I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is; and thou holdest my name, and deniedest not my faith. And in those days was Antipas, my faithful witness, that was slain at you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have against thee a few things; for thou hast there men holding the teaching of Balaam, which taught Balac to send cause of stumbling [to send offence] before the sons of Israel, to eat of sacrifices of idols, and to do fornication;

15 so also thou hast men holding the teaching of Nicolaitanes.

16 Also do thou penance; if any thing less [if not], I shall come soon to thee, and I shall fight with them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh I shall give angel meat hid [To the overcoming, I shall give manna hid, or angel meat]; and I shall give to him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, but he that taketh.

18 And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write thou, These things saith the Son of God, that hath eyes as flame of fire, and his feet like latten [and his feet like to the dross of gold, either latten].

19 I know thy works, and faith, and charity, and thy service [and service], and thy patience, and thy last works more than the former.

20 But I have against thee a few things; for thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, which saith that she is a prophetess [the which saith herself for to be a prophetess], to teach and deceive my servants, to do lechery, and to eat of things offered to idols.

21 And I gave to her time, that she should do penance [And I gave to her time, for to do penance], and she would not do penance of her fornication.

22 And lo! [Lo!] I send her into a bed, and they that do lechery with her shall be in most tribulation, but they do penance of her works [but they do penance of their works].

23 And I shall slay her sons into death [And I shall slay her sons in death], and all churches shall know, that I am searching reins and hearts; and I shall give to each man of you after his works.

24 And I say to you, and to others that be at Thyatira, whoever have not this teaching, and that knew not the highness of Satan, how they say, I shall not send on [upon] you another charge;

25 nevertheless hold ye that that ye have, till I come. [nevertheless that that ye have, holdeth till I come.]

26 And to him that shall overcome, and that shall keep till into the end my works, I shall give power on folks, [And to him that shall overcome, and shall keep till into the end my works, I shall give to him power upon folks,]

27 and he shall govern them in an iron rod; and they shall be broken together, as a vessel of a potter, as also I received of my Father;

28 and I shall give to him a morrow star. [and I shall give to him a morn star.]

29 He that hath ears, hear he, what the Spirit saith to the churches.