2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this: The one who firmly holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says: 2 I recognize your works, your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and have found that they are false. 3 I know that you have persevered and endured for the sake of my name,[1580] and have not grown weary.  4 But I have this against you: you have left your first love.  5 Therefore remember the state you have fallen from, and repent and do the works you did at first. Otherwise I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place — if you do not repent.  6 But you have this in your favor: you hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Let everyone who has ears listen to what the spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. [1581]
    8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna, write this: The first and last, the one who was dead but came to life, says:  9 I recognize your suffering and poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have trouble for ten days. Prove yourself faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  11 Let everyone who has ears listen to what the spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
    12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write this: The one who has the sharp double-edged sword says:  13 I know where you live, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold firmly to my name; my faith[1582] you did not renounce, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.  14 But I have a few things against you: you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.  15 In the same way you also have some holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  16 Therefore repent, or else I am coming to you quickly and will make war against those people with the sword of my mouth.  17 Let everyone who has ears listen to what the spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one can understand except the one who receives it.
    18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira, write this: The Son of God,[1583] who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like polished bronze, says:  19 I know your works — your love, faith, service and perseverance. I also know that your recent works are greater than your first. 20 But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. With her teaching she deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Look! I am about to throw her on a bed of severe illness, and those who commit adultery with her into great suffering, unless they repent of her practices. 23 And I will kill her followers with disease, and then all the churches will know that I am he who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned the ‘deep things’ of Satan, as they call them, to you I say: I am putting no additional burden on you. 25 But hold on to what you have firmly until I come. 26 To the one who overcomes and continues in my works until the end, I will give authority over the nations. [1584] 27 He will govern them with a rod of iron, and shatter them like clay pots, just as I have received the right to rule from my Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 Let everyone who has ears listen to what the spirit says to the churches.”