Revelation 2-3
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Message to Ephesus
2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘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 patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then from what 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 you have, you hate the works of the Nicola′itans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
The Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days[a] you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.’
The Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in Per′gamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of An′tipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. 15 So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicola′itans. 16 Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war 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 conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.’
The Message to Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyati′ra write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jez′ebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality[b] and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality.[c] 22 Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyati′ra, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan,[d] to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; 25 only hold fast what you have, until I come. 26 He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.[e] 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Message to Sardis
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. 2 Awake, 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; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. 11 I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.[f] 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Message to Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the church in La-odice′a write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Notas al pie
- 2.10 ten days: Not literally. It means the persecution will be short.
- 2.20-21 immorality here seems to mean idolatry rather than sexual excess.
- 2.20-21 immorality here seems to mean idolatry rather than sexual excess.
- 2.24 deep things of Satan: The doctrine of the Nicolaitans. They called them the “deep things of God.”
- 2.28 morning star: Probably Christ himself.
- 3.12 new name: cf. Is 62.2. Perhaps it was “the Word,” or perhaps it is not to be revealed till the last day.
Revelation 2-3
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.” ’
The Dead Church
3 “And to the [s]angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who (AN)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 [t]God. 3 (AO)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (AP)repent. (AQ)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (AR)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 [u]You have (AS)a few names [v]even in Sardis who have not (AT)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me (AU)in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes (AV)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not (AW)blot out his name from the (AX)Book of Life; but (AY)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 (AZ)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Faithful Church
7 “And to the [w]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says (BA)He who is holy, (BB)He who is true, (BC)“He who has the key of David, (BD)He who opens and no one shuts, and (BE)shuts and no one opens”: 8 (BF)“I know your works. See, I have set before you (BG)an open door, [x]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make (BH)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed (BI)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [y]My command to persevere, (BJ)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon (BK)the whole world, to test those who dwell (BL)on the earth. 11 [z]Behold, (BM)I am coming quickly! (BN)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take (BO)your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him (BP)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall (BQ)go out no more. (BR)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the (BS)New Jerusalem, which (BT)comes down out of heaven from My God. (BU)And I will write on him My new name.
13 (BV)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the [aa]angel of the church [ab]of the Laodiceans write,
(BW)‘These things says the Amen, (BX)the Faithful and True Witness, (BY)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (BZ)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [ac]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (CA)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you (CB)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (CC)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 (CD)As many as I love, I rebuke and (CE)chasten.[ad] Therefore be [ae]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (CF)I stand at the door and knock. (CG)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (CH)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (CI)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 (CJ)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Notas al pie
- 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 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
- Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
- Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
- Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
- Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
- Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
- Revelation 3:19 discipline
- Revelation 3:19 eager
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
