THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE
CHAPTER 2
He that overcomes shall gain eternal life, avoid the second death, inherit the celestial kingdom, and rule many kingdoms.
UNTO the aangel of the church of Ephesus bwrite; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
I aknow 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 bapostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my names sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first alove.
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 acandlestick out of his place, except thou brepent.
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the aNicolaitans, which I also hate.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the aSpirit saith unto the churches; To him that bovercometh will I give to eat of the ctree of life, which is in the midst of the dparadise of God.
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the ablasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Fear none of those things which thou shalt asuffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be btried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto cdeath, and I will dgive thee a ecrown of life.
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 adeath.
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp asword with two edges;
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satans seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful amartyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of aBalaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit bfornication.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that aovercometh will I give to eat of the hidden bmanna, and will give him a cwhite dstone, and in the stone a new ename written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
And unto the aangel of the church in bThyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his ceyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
I know thy works, and charity, and aservice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
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.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her ainto a bed, and them that commit badultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which asearcheth the breins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
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.
But that which ye have already ahold fast till I come.
aAnd he that bovercometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give cpower over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a arod of iron; as the bvessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
And I will give him the morning astar.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
|