Revelation 2
Contemporary English Version
The Letter to Ephesus
2 This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Ephesus:
I am the one who holds the seven stars in my right hand, and I walk among the seven gold lampstands. Listen to what I say.
2 I know everything you have done, including your hard work and how you have endured. I know you won't put up with anyone who is evil. When some people pretended to be apostles, you tested them and found out they were liars. 3 You have endured and gone through hard times because of me, yet you have not given up.
4 But I do have something against you! And it is this: You don't have as much love as you used to. 5 Think about where you have fallen from, and then turn back and do as you did at first. If you don't turn back, I will come and take away your lampstand. 6 But there is one thing you are doing right. You hate what the Nicolaitans[a] are doing, and so do I.
7 (A) If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will let everyone who wins the victory eat from the life-giving tree in God's wonderful garden.
The Letter to Smyrna
8 (B) This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Smyrna:
I am the first and the last. I died, but now I am alive! Listen to what I say.
9 I know how much you suffer and how poor you are, but you are rich. I also know the cruel things being said about you by people who claim to be God's people. But they are not really God's people. They are a group that belongs to Satan.
10 Don't worry about what you will suffer. The devil will throw some of you into jail, and you will be tested and made to suffer for ten days. But if you are faithful until you die, I will reward you with a glorious life.[b]
11 (C) If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Whoever wins the victory will not be hurt by the second death.[c]
The Letter to Pergamum
12 This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Pergamum:
I am the one who has the sharp double-edged sword! Listen to what I say.
13 I know you live where Satan has his throne.[d] But you have kept true to my name. Right there where Satan lives, my faithful witness Antipas[e] was taken from you and put to death. Even then you did not give up your faith in me.
14 (D) I do have a few things against you. Some of you are following the teaching of Balaam.[f] Long ago he told Balak to teach the people of Israel to eat food that had been offered to idols and to be immoral. 15 Now some of you are following the teaching of the Nicolaitans.[g] 16 Turn back! If you don't, I will come quickly and fight against these people. And my words will cut like a sword.
17 (E) If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who wins the victory, I will give some of the hidden food.[h] I will also give each one a white stone[i] with a new name[j] written on it. No one will know that name except the one who is given the stone.
The Letter to Thyatira
18 This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Thyatira:
I am the Son of God! My eyes are like flames of fire, and my feet are like bronze. Listen to what I say.
19 I know everything about you, including your love, your faith, your service, and how you have endured. I know you are doing more now than you have ever done before. 20 (F) But I still have something against you because of that woman Jezebel.[k] She calls herself a prophet, and you let her teach and mislead my servants to do immoral things and to eat food offered to idols. 21 I gave her a chance to turn from her sins, but she did not want to stop doing these immoral things.
22 I am going to strike down Jezebel. Everyone who does these immoral things with her will also be punished, if they don't stop. 23 (G) I will even kill her followers.[l] Then all the churches will see that I know everyone's thoughts and feelings. I will treat each of you as you deserve.
24 Some of you in Thyatira don't follow Jezebel's teaching. You don't know anything about what her followers call the “deep secrets of Satan.” So I won't burden you down with any other commands. 25 But until I come, you must hold firmly to the teaching you have.
26 (H) I will give power over the nations to everyone who wins the victory and keeps on obeying me until the end. 27-28 I will give each of them the same power my Father has given me. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash those nations to pieces like clay pots. I will also give them the morning star.[m]
29 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
Footnotes
- 2.6 Nicolaitans: Nothing else is known about these people, though it is possible that they claimed to be followers of Nicolaus from Antioch (see Acts 6.5).
- 2.10 a glorious life: The Greek text has “a crown of life.” In ancient times an athlete who had won a contest was rewarded with a crown of flowers as a sign of victory.
- 2.11 second death: The first death is physical death, and the “second death” is eternal death.
- 2.13 where Satan has his throne: The meaning is uncertain, but it may refer to the city as a center of pagan worship or of Emperor worship.
- 2.13 Antipas: Nothing else is known about this man, who is mentioned only here in the New Testament.
- 2.14 Balaam: According to Numbers 22–24, Balaam refused to disobey the Lord. But in other books of the Old Testament, he is spoken of as evil (see Deuteronomy 23.4,5; Joshua 13.22; 24.9,10; Nehemiah 13.2).
- 2.15 Nicolaitans: See the note at 2.6.
- 2.17 hidden food: When the people of Israel were going through the desert, the Lord provided a special food for them. Some of this was placed in a jar and stored in the sacred chest (see Exodus 16). According to later Jewish teaching, the prophet Jeremiah rescued the sacred chest when the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. He hid the chest in a cave, where it would stay until God came to save his people.
- 2.17 white stone: The meaning of this is uncertain, though it may be the same as a ticket that lets a person into God's banquet where the “hidden food” is eaten. Or it may be a symbol of victory.
- 2.17 a new name: Either the name of Christ or God or the name of the follower who is given the stone.
- 2.20 Jezebel: Nothing else is known about her. This may have been her real name or a name that was given to her because she was like Queen Jezebel, who opposed the Lord (see 1 Kings 19.1,2; 21.1-26).
- 2.23 her followers: Or “her children.”
- 2.27,28 the morning star: Probably thought of as the star that signals the end of night and the beginning of day. In 22.16 Christ is called the “morning star.”
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
Apocalipse 2
Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009
Cartas às sete igrejas da Ásia. Primeira carta, à igreja de Éfeso
2 Escreve ao anjo da igreja que está em Éfeso: Isto diz aquele que tem na sua destra as sete estrelas, que anda no meio dos sete castiçais de ouro:
2 Eu sei as tuas obras, e o teu trabalho, e a tua paciência, e que não podes sofrer os maus; e puseste à prova os que dizem ser apóstolos e o não são e tu os achaste mentirosos; 3 e sofreste e tens paciência; e trabalhaste pelo meu nome e não te cansaste. 4 Tenho, porém, contra ti que deixaste o teu primeiro amor. 5 Lembra-te, pois, de onde caíste, e arrepende-te, e pratica as primeiras obras; quando não, brevemente a ti virei e tirarei do seu lugar o teu castiçal, se não te arrependeres. 6 Tens, porém, isto: que aborreces as obras dos nicolaítas, as quais eu também aborreço. 7 Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas: Ao que vencer, dar-lhe-ei a comer da árvore da vida que está no meio do paraíso de Deus.
Segunda carta, à igreja de Esmirna
8 E ao anjo da igreja que está em Esmirna escreve: Isto diz o Primeiro e o Último, que foi morto e reviveu:
9 Eu sei as tuas obras, e tribulação, e pobreza ( mas tu és rico), e a blasfêmia dos que se dizem judeus e não o são, mas são a sinagoga de Satanás. 10 Nada temas das coisas que hás de padecer. Eis que o diabo lançará alguns de vós na prisão, para que sejais tentados; e tereis uma tribulação de dez dias. Sê fiel até à morte, e dar-te-ei a coroa da vida. 11 Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas: O que vencer não receberá o dano da segunda morte.
Terceira carta, à igreja de Pérgamo
12 E ao anjo da igreja que está em Pérgamo escreve: Isto diz aquele que tem a espada aguda de dois fios:
13 Eu sei as tuas obras, e onde habitas, que é onde está o trono de Satanás; e reténs o meu nome e não negaste a minha fé, ainda nos dias de Antipas, minha fiel testemunha, o qual foi morto entre vós, onde Satanás habita. 14 Mas umas poucas coisas tenho contra ti, porque tens lá os que seguem a doutrina de Balaão, o qual ensinava Balaque a lançar tropeços diante dos filhos de Israel para que comessem dos sacrifícios da idolatria e se prostituíssem. 15 Assim, tens também os que seguem a doutrina dos nicolaítas, o que eu aborreço. 16 Arrepende-te, pois; quando não, em breve virei a ti e contra eles batalharei com a espada da minha boca. 17 Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas: Ao que vencer darei eu a comer do maná escondido e dar-lhe-ei uma pedra branca, e na pedra um novo nome escrito, o qual ninguém conhece senão aquele que o recebe.
Quarta carta, à igreja de Tiatira
18 E ao anjo da igreja de Tiatira escreve: Isto diz o Filho de Deus, que tem os olhos como chama de fogo e os pés semelhantes ao latão reluzente:
19 Eu conheço as tuas obras, e o teu amor, e o teu serviço, e a tua fé, e a tua paciência, e que as tuas últimas obras são mais do que as primeiras. 20 Mas tenho contra ti o tolerares que Jezabel, mulher que se diz profetisa, ensine e engane os meus servos, para que se prostituam e comam dos sacrifícios da idolatria. 21 E dei-lhe tempo para que se arrependesse da sua prostituição; e não se arrependeu. 22 Eis que a porei numa cama, e sobre os que adulteram com ela virá grande tribulação, se não se arrependerem das suas obras. 23 E ferirei de morte a seus filhos, e todas as igrejas saberão que eu sou aquele que sonda as mentes e os corações. E darei a cada um de vós segundo as vossas obras. 24 Mas eu vos digo a vós e aos restantes que estão em Tiatira, a todos quantos não têm esta doutrina e não conheceram, como dizem, as profundezas de Satanás, que outra carga vos não porei. 25 Mas o que tendes, retende-o até que eu venha. 26 E ao que vencer e guardar até ao fim as minhas obras, eu lhe darei poder sobre as nações, 27 e com vara de ferro as regerá; e serão quebradas como vasos de oleiro; como também recebi de meu Pai, 28 dar-lhe-ei a estrela da manhã. 29 Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas.
ヨハネの黙示録 2
Japanese Living Bible
2 エペソにある教会の指導者あてに、次のように書き送りなさい。『七つの教会を巡り、右手で七つの教会の指導者を支えておられる方が、こう言われます。 2 「わたしは、あなたの多くの良い行いと、わたしのための労苦と忍耐とを、これまで見てきました。また、教会内の罪に目をつぶらず、使徒と自称しながら実はそうでない者のうそを注意深く調べて、見破った事実を知っています。 3 あなたはわたしのために、どんな時もじっと耐え、決してくじけませんでした。 4 しかし、一つだけ非難すべき点があります。それは、あなたがわたしを、初めのころのように愛していないことです。 5 どうしてそうなったのか胸に手を当てて考え、初めの愛に立ち返って、以前のように励みなさい。さもないと、わたしは行って、あなたの燭台（教会）を諸教会の中から取り除きます。 6 しかし、ほめられるところもあります。あなたが、わたしと同じように、ニコライ派（異端の一派）の人々のみだらな行いを憎んでいることです。 7 聞く耳のある人は、聖霊が諸教会に言われることを、よく聞きなさい。わたしは勝利を得る者に、神のパラダイスにある、いのちの木の実を食べさせます。」』
8 スミルナにある教会の指導者に、次のように書き送りなさい。『この手紙は、初めであり、終わりであり、死んでのち復活された方からのものです。 9 「わたしは、主のためにあなたが、どんなにひどい苦しみと貧しさに耐えてきたかを知っています。〔しかし、実際は天に宝を得ているのです。〕さらに、自分こそユダヤ人（神に選ばれた者）だと主張する人々から、白い眼で見られ、非難されてきたことも知っています。しかし、あの人たちは悪魔の仲間であって、真のユダヤ人ではありません。 10 これから先、出会うことになる苦しみを、恐れてはなりません。悪魔は、信仰を試そうとして、まもなく、あなたがたのうちの何人かを牢獄に投げ込むでしょう。そして、あなたがたは十日間、苦しむことになります。しかし、たとえ死に直面するようなことになっても、最後までわたしに忠実でありなさい。そうすれば、いのちの冠（終わりのない栄光の未来）をあげましょう。 11 聞く耳のある人は、聖霊が諸教会に言われることを、よく聞きなさい。勝利を得る者は、決して第二の死（最終的な滅び）によって危害を受けません。」』
12 ペルガモにある教会の指導者に、次のように書き送りなさい。『この手紙は、鋭い両刃の剣をふるう方からのものです。 13 「わたしは、あなたを取り巻く環境をよく知っています。そこには憎むべき悪魔の王座があり、悪魔礼拝が盛んです。それでも、あなたはいつも、わたしに従順でした。わたしの忠実な証人アンテパスが、悪魔の弟子の手にかかって殉教した時も、あなたはわたしを捨てませんでした。 14 しかしなお、二、三の非難すべき点があります。教会の中で、バラム（民数22―24章）の信奉者を見過ごしにしているではありませんか。バラムは昔バラクに入れ知恵し、イスラエルの民を性的な罪に巻き込み、偶像礼拝に走らせて、滅びに追いやろうとたくらみました。 15 あなたの教会にも、そのバラムに従う者が巣くっています。 16 だから、心と態度を改めなさい。さもないと、わたしはすぐにでも行って、口の剣で彼らと戦います。 17 聞く耳のある人は、聖霊が諸教会に言われることを、よく聞きなさい。勝利を得る人は天からの食べ物が与えられ、また、めいめいに白い石が与えられます。その石には、本人以外はだれも知らない、新しい名前が刻まれています。」』
18 テアテラにある教会の指導者に、次のように書き送りなさい。『この手紙は、燃える炎のような目と、真鍮のように輝く足を持つ、神の子からのものです。 19 「わたしは、あなたが貧しい人々に親切にし、物資を援助し、めんどうを見てあげたことを知っています。また、あなたの愛と信仰と忍耐とを知っています。そして、これらの点で、着実に成長していることも認めています。 20 しかしなお、非難すべき点があります。あのイゼベルという女を放任しているではありませんか。自ら女預言者と称しているあの女は、不品行など大した罪ではないと、クリスチャンをそそのかしています。しかも、そう口にするだけでなく、実際に不品行を行わせ、偶像への供え物の肉を食べさせようとしているのです。 21 わたしは悔い改める機会を与えましたが、あの女は拒みました。 22 さあ、今、わたしのことばに耳を傾けなさい。わたしはあの女を、激痛を伴う病気にし、彼女の不道徳にならう者も、罪を悔い改めてわたしのもとへ戻らなければ、同じ目に会わせます。 23 また、あの女の子どもたちも打ち殺します。こうしてすべての教会は、わたしが人の心と思いを見通すことを知るのです。わたしは一人一人に、それぞれの行いに応じて報います。 24 テアテラの教会の中で、この誤った教え〔この教えの支持者たちは、これを「深い真理」と呼んでいますが、実際には悪魔の落とし穴です〕に毒されていない人々については、これ以上、何も問いただすつもりはありません。 25 ただ、わたしが行くまで、いま手にしているものをしっかり握りしめていなさい。 26 勝利を得る者、すなわち、最後までわたしの働きを全うする者に、諸国民を支配する権威を与えます。 27 父なる神からそれを与えられたわたしにならって、あなたは、鉄の杖で人々を治めるのです。彼らは、砕けた陶器のように粉みじんになるでしょう。 28 また、あなたに明けの明星を与えます。 29 聞く耳のある人は、聖霊が諸教会に言われることに耳を傾けなさい。」』
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