Charges to the elders of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira.

¹⁾Unto the servant of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

²⁾I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars;

³⁾And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.

⁴⁾Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

⁵⁾Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

⁶⁾But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷⁾He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

⁸⁾And unto the servant of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

⁹⁾I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

¹⁰⁾Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.

¹¹⁾He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

¹²⁾And to the servant of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

¹³⁾I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

¹⁴⁾But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

¹⁵⁾So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

¹⁶⁾Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

¹⁷⁾He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knowest saving he that receiveth it.

¹⁸⁾And unto the servant of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

¹⁹⁾I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

²⁰⁾Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

²¹⁾And I gave her space to repent of her fornications; and she repented not.

²²⁾Behold, I will cast her into hell, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

²³⁾And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

²⁴⁾But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

²⁵⁾But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come.

²⁶⁾And to him who overcometh, and keepeth my commandments unto the end, will I give power over many kingdoms;

²⁷⁾And he shall rule them with the word of God; and they shall be in his hands as the vessels of clay in the hands of a potter; and he shall govern them by faith, with equity and justice, even as I received of my Father.

²⁸⁾And I will give him the morning star.

²⁹⁾He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.