Revelation 2
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
“Write this to the angel of the Ephesus church: This is what the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand says, the one who walks among the seven golden candlesticks:
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
I know what you've accomplished, your hard work and perseverance. I know you can't tolerate evil people, and how you investigated those who claimed to be apostles but are not, and discovered they were frauds.
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
I know about your patience, and what you endured for my sake—and that you didn't give up!
4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
But I have something against you: you have neglected your first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
So remember how far you've fallen—repent and go back to what you were doing at first. Otherwise I'll come to you and I will remove your candlestick from where it is—unless you repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
However, you do have this to your credit: you hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. I will give to those who are victorious the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the Paradise of God.
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Write this to the angel of the Smyrna church: This is what the first and last says, the one who was dead and came back to life:
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
I know the troubles you are going through, and how poor you are (but you are rich), and the abuse from those who say they are Jews but are not, but belong to Satan's synagogue.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Don't be afraid about what you are going to suffer. Yes, the devil will throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Just remain faithful, even if it means death, and I will give you the crown of life!
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. The second death will not harm those who are victorious.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Write this to the angel of the Pergamum church: This is what the one holding the sharp two-edged sword says:
13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
I know you're living where Satan has his throne, and that you have stayed true to me. You have not denied your trust in me, even when my faithful witness Antipas was killed right among you there where Satan lives!
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
But I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak how to entrap the children of Israel by means of eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual sins.
15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Similarly you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
So repent, or soon I will come to you and fight against them using the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it.]
If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches. I will give the hidden manna to those who are victorious. I will give them a white stone with a new name written on it that nobody knows except those who receive it.
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;
Write this to the angel of the Thyatira church: This is what the Son of God says, the one who has eyes like flaming fire and feet like polished brass.
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.
I know what you have accomplished, your love and faithfulness and service and perseverance, and that you are doing more now than when you first believed.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
But I have something against you: you are allowing the woman called Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach my followers, leading them astray into sexual sins, and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
I gave her time to repent of her sexual sins, but she's not willing to repent.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
So I'm throwing her into a bed together with her adulterous partners and they will suffer terribly unless they repent of what they have done with her.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
I will put her children to death. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines thoughts and motives. I will repay each of you according to what you've done.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
For the rest of you there in Thyatira who don't follow this teaching, who have not learned Satan's ‘deep depravities’ as they are called, I don't place on you any other burden. I say to you,
25 But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
‘Just hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
I will give authority over the nations to those who are victorious and who do what I say until the end.
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
He will rule the nations with an iron rod, breaking them into pieces like clay pots. In the same way that I received authority from my Father,
28 And I will give him the morning star.
I will give them the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit is telling the churches.”
