Rev 2 | ISV | STEP | The Letter to the Church in Ephesus“To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write:‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands, says this:

Revelation of John 2

1 The Letter to the Church in Ephesus

“To the messenger ^{▼▼Or angel} of the church in Ephesus, write:Rev 1:13, 16, 20

‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands, says this:

2 ‘I know your works, your toil, and your endurance. I also know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false.Ps 1:6; 2Cor 11:13; 2Pet 2:1; 1John 4:1; Rev 1:9, 13, 19 3 You have endured and suffered because of my name, yet you have not grown weary.Gal 6:9; Heb 12:3, 5 4 However, I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Therefore, remember how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. If you don't, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.Matt 21:41, 43 6 But this is to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.Rev 2:15

7 ‘Let the person who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’”Gen 2:9; Matt 11:15; Rev 3:6, 13, 22

8 The Letter to the Church in Smyrna“To the messenger ^{▼▼Or angel} of the church in Smyrna, write:Rev 1:8, 17-18

‘The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this:

9 ‘I know your suffering, your poverty—though you are rich—and the slander on the part of those who claim to be Jews but aren't. They are the synagogue of Satan.Luke 12:21; Rom 2:17, 28-29; 9:6; 1Tim 6:18; James 2:5; Rev 2:2; 3:9 10 Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor's crown of life.Matt 10:22; 24:13; James 1:12; Rev 3:11

11 ‘Let the person who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be hurt by the second death.’”Rev 2:7; 2:9; 20:14; 21:8

12 The Letter to the Church in Pergamum“To the messenger ^{▼▼Or angel} of the church in Pergamum, write:Rev 1:16

‘The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword, says this:

13 ‘I know where you live. Satan's throne is there. Yet you hold on to my name and have not denied your faith in me, ^{▼▼Or my faith} even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives.Rev 2:2, 9 14 But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, the one who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality.Num 24:14; 25:1; 31:16; Acts 15:29; 1Cor 6:13; 8:9-10; 10:19-20; 2Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11; Rev 1:20 15 You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.Rev 2:6 16 So repent. If you don't, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.Isa 11:4; 2Thes 2:8; Rev 1:16

17 ‘Let the person who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it.’Rev 2:7, 11; 3:12; 19:12

18 The Letter to the Church in Thyatira“To the messenger ^{▼▼Or angel} of the church in Thyatira, write:Rev 1:14-15

‘The Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this:

19 ‘I know your works—your love, faithfulness, ^{▼▼Or faith} service, and endurance—and that your last works are greater than the first.Rev 2:2 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.Exod 34:15; 1Kings 16:31; 21:25; 2Kings 9:7; Acts 15:20, 29; 1Cor 10:19-20; Rev 2:14 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refused to repent of her immorality.Rom 2:4; Rev 9:20 22 Look! I am going to throw her into a sickbed. Those who commit adultery with her will also have great suffering, unless they repent of her works. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will reward each of you as your works deserve.1Sam 16:7; 1Chr 28:9; 29:17; 2Chr 6:30; Ps 7:9; 62:12; Jer 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Matt 16:27; John 2:24-25; Acts 1:24; Rom 2:6; 8:27; 14:12; 2Cor 5:10; Gal 6:5; Rev 20:12

24 ‘But as for the rest of you in Thyatira—you who do not hold on to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan—I won't lay on you any other burden.Acts 15:28 25 Just hold on to what you have until I come.Rev 3:11 26 To the person who conquers and continues to do my works to the end I will give authority over the nations.Matt 19:28; Luke 22:29-30; John 6:29; 1Cor 6:3; 1John 3:23; Rev 3:21; 20:4 27 He will rule them with an iron scepter, as when clay pots are shattered.Ps 2:8-9; 49:14; Dan 7:22; Rev 12:5; 19:15 28 Just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star.2Pet 1:19; Rev 22:16

29 ‘Let the person who has an ear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.’Rev 2:7