| 2:1 | “To the angel of the church in Ephesus,* write the following:* “This is the solemn pronouncement of* the one who has a firm grasp on* the seven stars in his right hand* – the one who walks among the seven golden* lampstands: |
| 2:2 | ‘I know your works as well as your* labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate* evil. You have even put to the test* those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. |
| 2:3 | I am also aware* that you have persisted steadfastly,* endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. |
| 2:4 | But I have this against you: You have departed* from your first love! |
| 2:5 | Therefore, remember from what high state* you have fallen and repent! Do* the deeds you did at the first;* if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent.* |
| 2:6 | But you do have this going for you:* You hate what the Nicolaitans* practice* – practices I also hate. |
| 2:7 | The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,* I will permit* him to eat from the tree of life that is* in the paradise of God.’* |
| 2:8 | “To* the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following:* “This is the solemn pronouncement of* the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but* came to life: |
| 2:9 | ‘I know the distress you are suffering* and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know* the slander against you* by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue* of Satan. |
| 2:10 | Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown* into prison so you may be tested,* and you will experience suffering* for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.* |
| 2:11 | The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers* will in no way be harmed by the second death.’ |
| 2:12 | “To* the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following:* “This is the solemn pronouncement of* the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:* |
| 2:13 | ‘I know* where you live – where Satan’s throne is. Yet* you continue to cling* to my name and you have not denied your* faith in me,* even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,* who was killed in your city* where Satan lives. |
| 2:14 | But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam,* who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block* before the people* of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.* |
| 2:15 | In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.* |
| 2:16 | Therefore,* repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people* with the sword of my mouth. |
| 2:17 | The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,* I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white* stone,* and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand* except the one who receives it.’ |
| 2:18 | “To* the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following:* “This is the solemn pronouncement of* the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame* and whose feet are like polished bronze:* |
| 2:19 | ‘I know your deeds: your love, faith,* service, and steadfast endurance.* In fact,* your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. |
| 2:20 | But I have this against you: You tolerate that* woman* Jezebel,* who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives* my servants* to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.* |
| 2:21 | I* have given her time to repent, but* she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. |
| 2:22 | Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness,* and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering,* unless they repent of her deeds. |
| 2:23 | Furthermore, I will strike her followers* with a deadly disease,* and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay* each one of you* what your deeds deserve.* |
| 2:24 | But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching* (who have not learned the so-called “deep secrets* of Satan”), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you. |
| 2:25 | However, hold on to what you have until I come. |
| 2:26 | And to the one who conquers* and who continues in* my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations* – |
| 2:27 | he* will rule* them with an iron rod* and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,* |
| 2:28 | just as I have received the right to rule* from my Father – and I will give him the morning star.* |
| 2:29 | The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ |
Revelation 2 - NET Bible [draft]
