The Revelation of St. John the Divine

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Acts 19:8–12; Ephesians 1:1–2)

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And thou hast patience, and hast endured for my name, and hast not fainted.

But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity.

Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaites, which I also hate.

He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him, that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God.

To the Church in Smyrna

And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive:

I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life.

He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death.

To the Church in Pergamum

And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things, saith he, that hath the sharp two edged sword:

I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit fornication:

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites.

In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to 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 to the churches: To him that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna, and will give him a white counter, and in the counter, a new name written, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it.

To the Church in Thyatira

(Acts 16:11–15)

And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet like to fine brass.

I know thy works, and thy faith, and thy charity, and thy ministry, and thy patience, and thy last works which are more than the former.

But I have against thee a few things: because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sacrificed to idols.

And I gave her a time that she might do penance, and she will not repent of her fornication.

Behold, I will cast her into a bed: and they that commit adultery with her shall be in very great tribulation, except they do penance from their deeds.

And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your works. But to you I say,

And to the rest who are at Thyatira: Whosoever have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will not put upon you any other burthen.

Yet that, which you have, hold fast till I come.

And he that shall overcome, and keep my works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations.

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and as the vessel of a potter they shall be broken,

As I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the morning star.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

(Acts 19:8–12; Ephesians 1:1–2)

“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:

“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.

You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have (a) not grown weary.

But I have this against you, that you left your first love.

Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent.

But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.

To the Church in Smyrna

“To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things:

“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.

To the Church in Pergamum

“To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:

“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

So also you likewise have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (b)

Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, (c) and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows but he who receives it.

To the Church in Thyatira

(Acts 16:11–15)

“To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:

“I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.

But I have this against you, that you tolerate your (d) woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

Behold, I will throw her and those who commit adultery with her into a bed of great oppression, unless they repent of her works.

I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira—as many as don’t have this teaching, who don’t know what some call ‘the deep things of Satan’—to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.

Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.

He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.

He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots, (e) as I also have received of my Father;

and I will give him the morning star.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

Footnotes

(a)2:3 TR adds “have labored and”

(b)2:15 TR reads “which I hate” instead of “likewise”

(d)2:20 TR, NU read “that” instead of “your”

(e)2:27 ℘ Psalms 2:9