Revelation 2

Messages to the Churches

The Church in Ephesus

1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this down: The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the One walking among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2 Listen, I know your hustle, the way you grind, and how you hang tough. You do not put up with fake people, and you tested those who said they were apostles but were lying, you saw right through them.

3 You have been holding it down, handling the struggle for my name, and you did not throw in the towel.

4 But I got one thing against you: you lost that first love, that fire you had for me.

5 So, remember where you fell off, switch up, and do what you did at first. If not, I will come through and move your lampstand out of its spot, unless you change your ways.

6 But props for this, you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing, just like I do.

7 Anyone with ears, listen up to what the Spirit’s saying to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will let them eat from the tree of life in God’s paradise."

The Church in Smyrna

8 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna, write this: The First and the Last, who died and came back to life, says this:

9 I know your suffering and your poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander from those who claim to be Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Do not be scared of what you are about to face. The devil is going to throw some of you all in lockup to test you, and you will go through ten days of heat. But stay loyal, even if it costs you your life, and I will hook you up with the crown of life.

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."

The Church in Pergamum

12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write this: The One with the sharp, double-edged sword says this:

13 I know where you live, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold firmly to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days when Antipas, My faithful witness, was killed among you, where Satan lives.

14 But I have a few things against you. Some among you follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

15 You also got folks following the Nicolaitans' teaching. I cannot stand that stuff.

16 So change it up, or else I will come through quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give them hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name on it that only they will know."

The Church in Thyatira

18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira, write this: The Son of God, with eyes like flames and feet like polished bronze, says this:

19 I see your hustle, your love, faith, service, and the way you are steady improving.

20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols.

21 I gave her time to switch up, but she is not tryna change.

22 So I am going to lay her out on a sickbed, and anyone wilding with her, if they do not change, they will get caught up in her drama.

23 And I will take out her kids, everyone is going to know I am the One who sees minds and hearts. I will give you all what you got coming, based on your actions.

24 But to the rest of you all in Thyatira, who are not getting down with that mess and have not learned Satan’s so-called “deep secrets”, I am not putting no extra weight on you.

25 Just hold tight to what you got till I come through.

26 To the one who conquers and keeps doing what I say till the end, I will give them power over nations.

27 They will rule with an iron rod, breaking things down like clay pots, just like I got authority from my Father.

28 And I will give them the morning star.

29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."