Revelation 2

1 “To the angel [messenger of God] of the church [assembly, community of believers] in Ephesus [a city in Asia Minor] write: These are the words of Him who holds [grasps, firmly possesses] the seven stars in His right [symbolizing strength, authority] hand and walks [lives, dwells] among [in the midst of] the seven golden [valuable, precious] lampstands [a holder for a lamp]. word study 2 I know your deeds [works, accomplishments], your labor [toil, perseverance], and your perseverance [endurance, patiently waiting]. I know that you cannot tolerate [bear, endure] those who are evil [wicked, harmful], and you have tested [tried, examined] and exposed as liars [false, deceitful] those who falsely claim [say they are, pretend to be] to be apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ]. word study 3 Without growing weary [or fainting, becoming exhausted], you have persevered [patiently waiting] and endured [borne, labored] many things for the sake of My name [My character, authority, and reputation]. word study 4 But [nevertheless, however] I have [possess, hold] this against you: You have [didst leave, abandoned] abandoned your first [foremost] love [unconditional affection, agape] [that you had at the beginning, your initial devotion]. word study 5 Therefore, keep in mind [remember, recall to your thoughts] how far you have fallen [collapsed, spiritually failed]. Repent [change your mind, turn away from sin] and perform the deeds [first works, initial acts of faith] you did at first [initially, in the beginning]. But if you do not repent [change your heart, feel remorse], I will come to you [swiftly, without delay] and remove your lampstand [candlestick] from its place [position, location]. word study 6 But you have [to your credit, as a positive aspect] this [specific characteristic] to your credit: You [as a body of believers] hate [detest, love less] the works [deeds, actions] of the Nicolaitans [followers of Nicolaus, a false teacher], which [in the same way] I also [emphatically, as well] hate [abhor, reject]. word study 7 He who has an ear [spiritually attuned], let him hear [listen and obey] what the Spirit [the divine Breath] says to the churches [assemblies of believers]. To the one who overcomes [conquers through faith], I will grant the right [privilege and authority] to eat from the tree of life [physical and spiritual existence] in the Paradise [heavenly garden] of God [the supreme Creator]. word study 8 To the angel [messenger of God] of the church [assembly of believers] in Smyrna [a city in Asia Minor] write: These are the words [sayings, teachings] of the First [who has no beginning] and the Last [who has no end], who died [was lifeless, spiritually and physically] and returned to life [was resurrected, lived again]. word study 9 I know your [trials and hardships, tribulation] affliction and your [state of need, poverty] poverty—though you are [spiritually wealthy, rich] rich! And I am aware of the slander [slander and blasphemy, evil-speaking] of those who [falsely claim, say they are] falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact [a gathering of Satan’s followers, a synagogue] a synagogue of [the adversary, Satan] Satan. word study 10 Do not fear [be alarmed or intimidated] what you are about to suffer [experience pain or hardship]. Look, the devil [the adversary, Satan] is about to throw [cast with force] some of you into prison [a place of confinement or testing] to test [try or prove] you, and you will suffer [endure] tribulation [pressure or affliction] for ten [a decade, a period of testing] days. Be faithful [loyal, trustworthy] even unto death [physical or spiritual], and I will give [bestow, grant] you the crown [a wreath, a symbol of honor] of life [eternal, spiritual existence]. word study 11 He who has an ear [spiritual hearing, the ability to understand], let him hear [listen and obey] what the Spirit [the divine breath, the vital principle] says [speaks, communicates] to the churches [assemblies, communities of believers]. The one who overcomes [conquers, subdues] will not be harmed [injured, wronged] by the second death [separation from God, eternal punishment]. word study 12 To the angel [messenger of God] of the church [assembly of believers] in Pergamum [a city in Asia Minor] write: These are the words [sayings, teachings] of the One who holds [possesses, wields] the sharp [swift, swift-cutting], double-edged [having two cutting edges] sword [a long, broad sword]. word study 13 I know where you live [in the place of spiritual darkness], where the throne [seat of authority] of Satan [the adversary, accuser] sits. Yet you have held fast [firmly grasped, clung to] to My name [My character, reputation] and have not denied [rejected, refused to acknowledge] your faith [trust, confidence] in Me, even in the day [time of trial, period of testing] when My faithful [loyal, trustworthy] witness [martyr, one who testifies] Antipas was killed [slain, put to death] among you, where Satan [the enemy, deceiver] dwells [resides, has his home]. word study 14 But I have [some] a few things against you, because some of you hold to [the false doctrine] the teaching of Balaam [the prophet who led Israel astray], who taught Balak [the king of Moab] to place [throw, cast] a stumbling block [a trap, an obstacle] before the Israelites [the children of God] so they would eat food [meat, sacrifices] sacrificed to idols [false gods, images] and commit [engage in, practice] sexual immorality [fornication, lewdness]. word study 15 In the same way [similarly, in like manner], some of you also hold [grasp, seize] to the teaching [instruction, doctrine] of the Nicolaitans [followers of Nicolaus, a false teacher]. word study 16 Therefore [in consequence of this, as a result] repent [change your mind, turn away from sin]! Otherwise [if not, unless you do] I will come [arrive, appear suddenly] to you shortly [quickly, without delay] and wage war [fight, make war] against them with the sword [a long, broad sword] of My mouth [the words I speak, My command]. word study 17 He who has an ear [spiritual understanding, the ability to hear], let him hear [listen carefully, obey] what the Spirit [the divine breath, God’s presence] says to the churches [assemblies, communities of believers]. To the one who overcomes [conquers, subdues], I will give [bestow, grant] the hidden [concealed, secret] manna. I will also give him a white [pure, clean] stone [small stone, pebble, or counter] inscribed with a new [fresh, renewed] name [character, authority], known only to the one who receives [accepts, takes] it. word study 18 To the angel [messenger of God] of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son [having God’s nature] of God, whose eyes [organs of spiritual insight] are like a blazing fire [flame of divine judgment] and whose feet are like polished bronze [burnished copper]. word study 19 I know your deeds [works, acts of service]—your love [unconditional, selfless affection], your faith [trust, confidence in God], your service [ministry, helping others], your perseverance [endurance, patiently waiting]—and your latter deeds [last works, final actions] are greater [more abundant, exceeding] than your first [initial, beginning efforts]. word study 20 But I have this against you: You tolerate [allow, permit] that woman [a female prophet, a false teacher] Jezebel [a queen of Israel, known for wickedness], who calls [claims to be, professes] herself a prophetess [one who speaks God’s message, a female messenger]. By her teaching [instruction, guidance] she misleads [deceives, leads astray] My servants [My followers, those who serve Me] to be sexually immoral [to commit fornication, to sin against their own bodies] and to eat food [partake of meals, consume] sacrificed to idols [offered to false gods, dedicated to pagan deities]. word study 21 Even though I have given [granted, bestowed] her time [a period, an opportunity] to repent [change her mind, turn away] of her immorality [sexual sin, fornication], she is unwilling [refuses, does not desire to repent]. word study 22 Behold [see, perceive], I will cast her onto a bed [couch, place of rest] of sickness [affliction, illness], and those who commit adultery [fornication, unfaithfulness] with her will suffer great [intense, severe] tribulation [pressure, distress] unless they repent [change their mind, turn away] of her deeds [works, actions]. word study 23 Then I will strike her children [her spiritual offspring, those who follow her] dead, and all the churches [assemblies, congregations] will know that I am the One [the only true God, He who is] who searches [examines, investigates] minds [thoughts, intentions] and hearts [the seat of emotions, will], and I will repay [give, reward] each of you according to your deeds [works, actions, the fruit of your labor]. word study 24 But I say to the rest [remaining ones, those who are left] of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching [doctrine, instruction] and have not learned the so-called [as they speak, supposedly] deep [profound, mysterious] things of Satan [the adversary, the accuser]: I will place no further [additional, extra] burden [weight, load] upon you. word study 25 Nevertheless [but, however], hold fast [keep safe, grasp firmly] to what [that which] you have [possess, hold] until [till the time] I come [arrive, be present]. word study 26 And to the one who overcomes [conquers, is victorious] and continues [keeps, observes] in My work [tasks, deeds] until [to the very end, completely] the end, I will give [bestow, grant] authority [power, freedom to act] over [upon, against] the nations [Gentiles, people]. word study 27 He will rule [with absolute authority, firmly] them with an iron [made of strong metal, unyielding] scepter [rod of power, staff] and shatter [break into pieces, crush completely] them like pottery [vessels of clay, fragile] —just as I have received [taken, accepted] authority [power, right to command] from My Father [the one who has given me power, the supreme authority]. word study 28 And [also, as a connecting word] I will give [bestow, grant] him [the one who overcomes] the morning [at dawn, early part of the day] star [a celestial body]. word study 29 He who has [possesses, is given] an ear [the ability to hear and understand], let him hear [listen carefully, obey] what the Spirit [the vital principle, breath of God] says [speaks, declares] to the churches [assemblies, communities of believers]. word study