1Write this to the messenger of the church in Ephesus: “The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands says this:
2I know your actions, your hard work, and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars.
3You have persevered and endured hardships for my sake, and you have not given up.
4But I have this against you: you have left your first love.
5So remember how far you have fallen. Turn back to me and do the things you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your ways.
6But you do have this commendable trait: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who overcome, I will allow them to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.”
8Write this to the messenger of the church in Smyrna: “The first and the last, who was dead and has come back to life, says this:
9I know your hard work, your suffering, and your poverty (though you are spiritually rich). I also know the insults from those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are a meeting place for Satan.
10Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer for ten days. Stay faithful even if it means death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who win will not be harmed by the second death.
12Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: “The one who has the sharp, two-edged sword says this:
13I know where you live, in the city where Satan has his throne. You remain loyal to my name and did not lose faith in me, even during the time of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you where Satan lives.
14But I have a few things against you: you have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to trick the people of Israel into eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual sin.
15In the same way, you also have some people who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16So change your ways, or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who overcome, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. I will also give them a white stone with a new name written on it, a name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”
18Write this to the messenger of the church in Thyatira: “The Son of God, whose eyes are like a flame of fire and whose feet are like polished bronze, says this:
19I know your actions—your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. I also know that your most recent works are greater than your first.
20But I have this against you: you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet, to teach and mislead my servants into sexual sin and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21I gave her time to change her ways, but she refuses to turn away from her sexual sin.
22So, I am about to throw her onto a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her into intense suffering, unless they turn away from her evil deeds.
23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines people's thoughts and deepest desires. I will repay each of you according to what you have done.
24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not follow this teaching and have not learned what some call 'Satan's deep secrets,' I say: I will not put any other burden on you.
25However, hold on firmly to what you have until I come.
26To those who overcome and continue to do my will until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27They will rule them with an iron scepter, shattering them like pottery, just as I received authority from my Father.
28And I will give them the morning star.
29Anyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.