Turkey - Letters to the Seven Churches
The letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor mentioned in the Book of Revelation contain praise and warnings, addressing the strengths and weaknesses of each congregation. These letters reflect the challenges and
Turkey - Letters to the Seven Churches
Message to Ephesus
Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands says: I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. You tolerate no evil among you; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are liars. You have endured for My name's sake and not grown weary. Yet I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Remember from where you have fallen! Repent and return to your first works! If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, as I do. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches! To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in God's paradise.
Message to Smyrna
Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: The First and the Last, who died and came to life, says: I know your afflictions and poverty—yet you are rich! I am aware of the slander from those who falsely claim to be Jews but belong to Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will endure persecution for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches! The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
Message to Pergamum
Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says: I know you dwell where Satan's throne is. Yet you remain true to My name and did not renounce your faith even when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you. But I have this against you: Some among you follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice Israel to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual immorality. Likewise, some of you follow the Nicolaitans. Repent! If not, I will soon come and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches! To the one who overcomes, I will give hidden manna and a white stone with a new name known only to its recipient.
Message to Thyatira
Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: The Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire and whose feet gleam like burnished bronze, says: I know your deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance—your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you: You tolerate Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She misleads My servants into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses. Therefore, I will cast her onto a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will face great tribulation unless they repent. I will strike her children dead, and all churches will know that I search hearts and minds. I will repay each according to their deeds. To the rest of you in Thyatira who do not follow her "deep secrets of Satan": I place no other burden on you. Hold fast until I come! To the one who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations—to rule them with an iron scepter and dash them like pottery—just as I received authority from My Father. I will also give them the Morning Star. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Sardis
Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: The One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know your reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains before it dies. I have found your deeds incomplete in My God's sight. Remember what you received and heard; obey it and repent! If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour. Yet a few in Sardis have not soiled their garments. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who overcomes will be clothed in white, their name never erased from the Book of Life. I will confess their name before My Father and His angels. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Philadelphia
Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: The Holy and True One, who holds the key of David (what He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open), says: I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. Though you have little strength, you have kept My word and not denied My name. I will make those of Satan's synagogue—who claim to be Jews but are liars—bow at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of trial coming upon the whole world. I am coming soon! Hold fast so no one takes your crown. To the one who overcomes, I will make a pillar in My God's temple. I will write on them God's name, the name of the New Jerusalem (descending from heaven), and My new name. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Laodicea
Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Originator of God's creation, says: I know your deeds; you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of My mouth. You say, "I am rich; I need nothing," yet you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy gold refined by fire, white garments to cover your shame, and salve to anoint your eyes so you may see. Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Be earnest and repent! Here I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens, I will come in and dine with them, and they with Me. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Ephesus
Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands says: I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. You tolerate no evil among you; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are liars. You have endured for My name's sake and not grown weary. Yet I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Remember from where you have fallen! Repent and return to your first works! If you do not repent, I will remove your lampstand. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, as I do. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches! To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in God's paradise.
Message to Smyrna
Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: The First and the Last, who died and came to life, says: I know your afflictions and poverty—yet you are rich! I am aware of the slander from those who falsely claim to be Jews but belong to Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will endure persecution for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches! The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
Message to Pergamum
Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says: I know you dwell where Satan's throne is. Yet you remain true to My name and did not renounce your faith even when My faithful witness Antipas was killed among you. But I have this against you: Some among you follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice Israel to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual immorality. Likewise, some of you follow the Nicolaitans. Repent! If not, I will soon come and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches! To the one who overcomes, I will give hidden manna and a white stone with a new name known only to its recipient.
Message to Thyatira
Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: The Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire and whose feet gleam like burnished bronze, says: I know your deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance—your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you: You tolerate Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She misleads My servants into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses. Therefore, I will cast her onto a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will face great tribulation unless they repent. I will strike her children dead, and all churches will know that I search hearts and minds. I will repay each according to their deeds. To the rest of you in Thyatira who do not follow her "deep secrets of Satan": I place no other burden on you. Hold fast until I come! To the one who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations—to rule them with an iron scepter and dash them like pottery—just as I received authority from My Father. I will also give them the Morning Star. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Sardis
Write to the angel of the church in Sardis: The One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says: I know your reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains before it dies. I have found your deeds incomplete in My God's sight. Remember what you received and heard; obey it and repent! If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour. Yet a few in Sardis have not soiled their garments. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who overcomes will be clothed in white, their name never erased from the Book of Life. I will confess their name before My Father and His angels. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Philadelphia
Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: The Holy and True One, who holds the key of David (what He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open), says: I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. Though you have little strength, you have kept My word and not denied My name. I will make those of Satan's synagogue—who claim to be Jews but are liars—bow at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of trial coming upon the whole world. I am coming soon! Hold fast so no one takes your crown. To the one who overcomes, I will make a pillar in My God's temple. I will write on them God's name, the name of the New Jerusalem (descending from heaven), and My new name. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!
Message to Laodicea
Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Originator of God's creation, says: I know your deeds; you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of My mouth. You say, "I am rich; I need nothing," yet you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy gold refined by fire, white garments to cover your shame, and salve to anoint your eyes so you may see. Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Be earnest and repent! Here I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens, I will come in and dine with them, and they with Me. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches!