“I know how much you suffer for the Lord, and I know all about your poverty (but you have heavenly riches!). I know the slander of those opposing you, who say that they are Jews—the children of God—but they aren’t, for they support the cause of Satan.

Stop being afraid of what you are about to suffer—for the devil will soon throw some of you into prison to test you. You will be persecuted for ‘ten days.’ Remain faithful even when facing death and I will give you the crown of life—an unending, glorious future.

Let everyone who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: He who is victorious shall not be hurt by the Second Death.

“Write this letter to the leader of the church in Pergamos: “This message is from him who wields the sharp and double-bladed sword.

I am fully aware that you live in the city where Satan’s throne is, at the center of satanic worship; and yet you have remained loyal to me and refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you by Satan’s devotees.

“And yet I have a few things against you. You tolerate some among you who do as Balaam did when he taught Balak how to ruin the people of Israel by involving them in sexual sin and encouraging them to go to idol feasts.

Yes, you have some of these very same followers of Balaam among you!

“Change your mind and attitude, or else I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

“Let everyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: Everyone who is victorious shall eat of the hidden manna, the secret nourishment from heaven; and I will give to each a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one else knows except the one receiving it.

“Write this letter to the leader of the church in Thyatira: “This is a message from the Son of God, whose eyes penetrate like flames of fire, whose feet are like glowing brass.

“I am aware of all your good deeds—your kindness to the poor, your gifts and service to them; also I know your love and faith and patience, and I can see your constant improvement in all these things.

“Yet I have this against you: You are permitting that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach my servants that sex sin is not a serious matter; she urges them to practice immorality and to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols.

I gave her time to change her mind and attitude, but she refused.

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches deep within men’s hearts, and minds; I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.

“As for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, really), I will ask nothing further of you; only hold tightly to what you have until I come.

“To everyone who overcomes—who to the very end keeps on doing things that please me—I will give power over the nations.

You will rule them with a rod of iron just as my Father gave me the authority to rule them; they will be shattered like a pot of clay that is broken into tiny pieces.

“Let all who can hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

“To the leader of the church in Sardis write this letter: “This message is sent to you by the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars. “I know your reputation as a live and active church, but you are dead.

Now wake up! Strengthen what little remains—for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God.

Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come suddenly upon you, unexpected as a thief, and punish you.

“Yet even there in Sardis some haven’t soiled their garments with the world’s filth; they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

Everyone who conquers will be clothed in white, and I will not erase his name from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that he is mine.

“Let all who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

“Write this letter to the leader of the church in Philadelphia. “This message is sent to you by the one who is holy and true and has the key of David to open what no one can shut and to shut what no one can open.