Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹² Nebuzaradan was the commander of the king of Babylon’s special guard. He was one of the king’s most important officials while at Jerusalem. He came to Jerusalem on the tenth day of the fifth month, in the 19th year that Nebuchadnezzar^[a] was king. ¹³ Nebuzaradan burned the Lord’s Temple, the king’s palace, and every important building in Jerusalem, as well as all the houses. ¹⁴ All the Babylonian soldiers that were with the commander broke down the walls around Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Commander Nebuzaradan took the people who were still in Jerusalem^[b] and those who had surrendered earlier and made them captives. He took them and the skilled craftsmen who were left in Jerusalem as captives to Babylon. ¹⁶ But Nebuzaradan left some of the poorest people behind in the land. He left them to work in the vineyards and the fields.

¹⁷ The Babylonian army broke up the bronze columns of the Lord’s Temple. They also broke up the stands and the bronze tank^[c] that were in the Lord’s Temple. They carried all that bronze to Babylon. ¹⁸ The army of Babylon also took these things from the Temple: pots, shovels, lamp snuffers, large bowls, pans, and all the bronze things that were used in the Temple service. ¹⁹ The commander of the king’s special guards took these things away: basins, firepans, large bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and bowls used for drink offerings. He took everything that was made of gold or silver. ²⁰ The two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the moveable stands were very heavy. King Solomon had made those things for the Lord’s Temple. The bronze that those things were made of was so heavy it could not be weighed.

²¹ Each of the bronze pillars was 31 feet^[d] tall. Each pillar was almost 21 feet^[e] around. Each pillar was hollow. The wall of each pillar was 3 inches^[f] thick. ²² The bronze capital on top of the first pillar was over 5 feet^[g] tall. It was decorated with a net design and bronze pomegranates all around it. The other pillar had pomegranates too. It was like the first pillar. ²³ There were 96 pomegranates on the sides of the pillars. All together, there were 100 pomegranates above the net design that went around the pillars.

²⁴ The commander of the king’s special guards took Seraiah the high priest and Zephaniah the next highest priest as prisoners. The three doorkeepers were also taken as prisoners. ²⁵ The commander of the king’s special guards also took the officer in charge of the fighting men. He also took seven of the king’s advisors as prisoners. They were still there in Jerusalem. He also took the scribe who was in charge of putting people in the army. And he took 60 of the ordinary people who were there in the city. ^26-27 Nebuzaradan, the commander, took all these officials and brought them to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon was at the city of Riblah. Riblah is in the country of Hamath. There at the city of Riblah, the king ordered all of them to be killed.

So the people of Judah were taken from their country. ²⁸ This is how many people Nebuchadnezzar carried into captivity:

In all, 4600 people were taken captive.

Jesus’ Letter to the Church in Pergamum

¹² “Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum:

“Here is a message from the one who has the sharp two-edged sword.

¹³ “I know where you live. You live where Satan has his throne, but you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas. Antipas was my faithful witness^[a] who was killed in your city, the city where Satan lives.

¹⁴ “But I have a few things against you. You have people there who follow the teaching of Balaam. Balaam taught Balak how to make the people of Israel sin. They sinned by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sins. ¹⁵ It is the same in your group. You have people who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ So change your hearts! If you don’t change, I will come to you quickly and fight against these people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.

¹⁷ “Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

“I will give the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give each one a white stone that has a new name written on it. And no one will know this name except the one who gets the stone.

Jesus’ Letter to the Church in Thyatira

¹⁸ “Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira:

“Here is a message from the Son of God, the one who has eyes that blaze like fire and feet like shining brass.

¹⁹ “I know what you do. I know about your love, your faith, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first. ²⁰ But I have this against you: You let that woman Jezebel do what she wants. She says that she is a prophet,^[b] but she is leading my people away with her teaching. Jezebel leads my people to commit sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols. ²¹ I have given her time to change her heart and turn away from her sin, but she does not want to change.

²² “So I will throw her on a bed of suffering. And all those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly. I will do this now if they don’t turn away from the things she does. ²³ I will also kill her followers. Then all the churches will see that I am the one who knows what people feel and think. And I will repay each of you for what you have done.

²⁴ “But others of you in Thyatira have not followed her teaching. You have not learned the things they call ‘Satan’s deep secrets.’ This is what I say to you: I will not put any other burden on you. ²⁵ Only hold on to the truth you have until I come.

²⁶ “I will give power over the nations to all those who win the victory and continue until the end to do what I want. ²⁷ They will rule the nations with an iron rod. They will break them to pieces like clay pots.^{[c] 28} They will have the same power I received from my Father, and I will give them the morning star. ²⁹ Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.