Revelation 2 - Easy To Read Version

¹ “Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus:

² I know what you do. You work hard, and you never quit. I know that you don’t accept evil people. You have tested those people who say that they are apostles {\cf2\super [12]} but are really not. You found that they are liars.

³ You continue to try without quitting. You endured \{troubles\} for my name. And you have not become tired of doing this.

⁴ “But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning.

⁵ So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do the things you did at first. If you don’t change, I will come to you. I will take away your lampstand from its place.

⁶ But there is something you do \{that is right\}: You hate the things that the Nicolaitans {\cf2\super [13]} do. I also hate what they do.

⁷ “Every person that hears these things should listen to what the Spirit {\cf2\super [14]} says to the churches. To the person that wins the victory I will give the right to eat \{the fruit\} from the tree of life. This tree is in the garden of God.

⁸ “Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna:

⁹ I know your troubles, and I know that you are poor. But really you are rich! I know the bad things that some people say \{about you\}. Those people say they are Jews. But they are not true Jews. They are a synagogue (group) that belongs to Satan (the devil).

¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of the things that will happen to you. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison. He will do this to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But be faithful, even if you have to die. If you continue faithful, then I will give you the crown of life.

¹¹ “Every person that hears these things should listen to what the Spirit {\cf2\super [15]} says to the churches. The person that wins the victory will not be hurt by the second death.

¹² “Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum:

¹³ I know where you live. You live where Satan (the devil) has his throne. But you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas. Antipas was my faithful witness {\cf2\super [16]} who was killed in your city. Your city is where Satan lives.

¹⁴ “But I have a few things against you: You have people there \{in your group\} who follow the teaching of Balaam. Balaam taught Balak how to make the people of Israel {\cf2\super [17]} sin. Those people sinned by eating food offered to idols {\cf2\super [18]} and by doing sexual sins.

¹⁵ It is the same \{in your group\}. You have people who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. {\cf2\super [19]}

¹⁶ So change your hearts! If you don’t change, I will come to you quickly and fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.

¹⁷ “Every person that hears these things should listen to what the Spirit {\cf2\super [20]} says to the churches!

¹⁸ “Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira:

¹⁹ I know the things you do. I know about your love, your faith, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first.

²⁰ But I have this against you: You let that woman named Jezebel do what she wants. She says that she is a prophet. {\cf2\super [22]} But she is leading my people away with her teaching. Jezebel leads my people to do sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols. {\cf2\super [23]}

²¹ I have given her time to change her heart and turn away from her sin. But she does not want to change.

²² And so I will throw her on a bed \{of suffering\}. And all the people who do the sin of adultery {\cf2\super [24]} with her will suffer greatly. I will do this now if they don’t turn away from the things she does.

²³ I will also kill her followers. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who knows what people feel and think. And I will repay each of you for the things you have done.

²⁴ “But you other people in Thyatira have not followed her teaching. You have not learned the things that they call Satan’s (the devil’s) deep secrets. This is what I say to you: I will not put any other burden on you.

²⁵ Only continue the way you are until I come.

²⁶ “I will give power to every person that wins the victory and continues until the end to do the things I want. I will give that person power over the nations:

²⁷ ‘He will rule them with an iron rod.\par He will break them to pieces like clay pots.’\par \i (Psalm 2:9)\i0 \par

²⁸ This is the same power I received from my Father. I will also give that person the morning star.

²⁹ Every person that hears these things should listen to what the Spirit {\cf2\super [25]} says to the churches.