Message to Ephesus: Lost First Love
Study note
The church in Ephesus is commended for its hard work, perseverance, and discernment against false apostles. However, Christ rebukes them for abandoning their first love and warns that their lampstand may be removed unless they repent. The promise of eating from the tree of life awaits those who overcome.
1 "Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus: This message comes from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand. He walks among the seven golden lampstands." Unto the angel 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 see everything you do -- how hard you work and how you keep going. I know you cannot stand people who do evil. You put people who claimed to be apostles to the test, and you found out they were fakes." I know thy works, and thy labour, 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 "You have stayed strong and pushed through hard times because of me, and you have not quit." And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 "But here is my problem with you: you have walked away from the love you had at the beginning." Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 "Think about how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and start doing the things you did at first. If you refuse, I will come and take your lampstand away." Remember therefore from whence thou art 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 here is something good about you: you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing, and I hate it too." But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches. To everyone who wins the victory, I will let them eat from the tree of life that stands in God's paradise." 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.
Message to Smyrna: Faithful in Suffering
Study note
To the suffering church in Smyrna, Christ offers only encouragement and no rebuke. Though materially poor, they are spiritually rich. Christ warns of coming persecution but promises the crown of life to those faithful unto death, assuring them the second death will not harm overcomers.
8 "Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: This message comes from the first and the last -- the one who died and came back to life." And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 "I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich), and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan." 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 "Don't be afraid of what you are about to go through. The devil is going to throw some of you in prison to test you, and you will face trouble for ten days. Stay faithful even if it costs you your life, and I will give you the crown of life as your reward." 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 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches. The person who wins the victory will not be touched by the second death." 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.
Message to Pergamos: Compromise with the World
Study note
The church in Pergamos is commended for holding fast to Christ's name even where Satan's throne is. Yet some tolerate the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, leading to idolatry and immorality. Christ calls for repentance and promises hidden manna and a white stone with a new name to overcomers.
12 "Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamos: This message comes from the one who carries the sharp sword with two edges." And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13 "I know where you live -- right where Satan has set up his throne. Even so, you hold on to my name and have not given up your faith in me. This was true even when my faithful witness Antipas was killed there in your city, the place where Satan lives." 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 do have a few things against you. Some of your people hold to the teaching of Balaam, who showed Balac how to set a trap for the people of Israel by getting them to eat food offered to idols and to commit sexual sin." But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 "You also have people who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which I hate." So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 "Turn back to me! If you do not, I will come quickly and fight against them with the sword that comes from my mouth." Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches. To the one who wins the victory, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give them a white stone with a new name carved on it that only the person who receives it will know." 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 knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Message to Thyatira: Tolerating False Teaching
Study note
Thyatira is praised for its love, faith, service, and growth, but rebuked for tolerating 'Jezebel,' a false prophetess promoting immorality and idolatry. Christ promises severe consequences for the unrepentant but encourages the faithful to hold fast. Overcomers are promised authority over the nations and the morning star.
18 "Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira: This message comes from the Son of God. His eyes blaze like fire and his feet gleam like polished bronze." And unto the angel 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 all about your love, your faith, your service, and your patience. I can see that you are doing even more now than when you first started." 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 "But this is what I have against you: you are putting up with that woman Jezebel. She calls herself a prophet and is teaching and misleading my followers into sexual sin and eating food offered to idols." 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 "I gave her time to change her ways, but she refuses to turn away from her sexual sin." And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 "So watch! I am going to throw her onto a bed of sickness. And everyone who sins with her will go through terrible suffering -- unless they turn away from what they are doing." Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 "I will strike her followers with death. Then every church will know that I am the one who sees into the deepest parts of people's minds and hearts. I will give each of you exactly what you deserve." 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 some of you in Thyatira have not followed her teaching. You have not looked into what they call Satan's deep secrets. I will not put any extra load on you." 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 "Hold on tightly to what you have until I come." But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 "To the one who wins and keeps doing my work until the very end, I will give power over the nations." And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 "That person will rule them with an iron scepter. They will be shattered like pieces of clay pottery -- the same authority I received from my Father." And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 "And I will give that person the morning star." And I will give him the morning star.
29 "If you have ears, pay attention to what the Spirit is telling the churches." He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.