5. So remember the high point from which you have fallen. Change your hearts and lives and do the things you did at first. If you don’t, I’m coming to you. I will move your lampstand from its place if you don’t change your hearts and lives.
6. But you have this in your favor: you hate what the Nicolaitans are doing, which I also hate.
7. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. I will allow those who emerge victorious to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise.
8. “Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life:
9. I know your hardship and poverty (though you are actually rich). I also know the hurtful things that have been spoken about you by those who say they are Jews (though they are not, but are really Satan’s synagogue).
10. Don’t be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison in order to test you. You will suffer hardship for ten days. Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Those who emerge victorious won’t be hurt by the second death.
12. “Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: These are the words of the one who has the sharp, two-edged sword:
13. I know that you are living right where Satan’s throne is. You are holding on to my name, and you didn’t break faith with me even at the time that Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed among you, where Satan lives.
14. But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who follow Balaam’s teaching. Balaam had taught Balak to trip up the Israelites so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
15. In the same way, you have some who follow the Nicolaitans’ teaching.
16. So change your hearts and lives. If you don’t, I am coming to you soon, and I will make war on them with the sword that comes from my mouth.
17. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. I will give those who emerge victorious some of the hidden manna to eat. I will also give to each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, which no one knows except the one who receives it.
18. “Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira: These are the words of God’s Son, whose eyes are like a fiery flame, and whose feet are like fine brass.
19. I know your works, your love and faithfulness, your service and endurance. I also know that the works you have done most recently are even greater than those you did at first.