1   ‘To the angel of the church at Sardis write:

‘“These are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God, the seven stars: I know all your ways; that though you have a name for being alive, you are dead. 2   Wake up, and put some strength into what is left, which must otherwise die! For I have not found any work of yours completed in the eyes of my God. 3   So remember the teaching you received; observe it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I shall come upon you like a thief, and you will not know the moment of my coming. 4   Yet you have a few persons in Sardis who have not polluted their clothing. They shall walk with me in white, for so they deserve. 5   He who is victorious shall thus be robed all in white; his name I will never strike off the roll of the living, for in the presence of my Father and his angels I will acknowledge him as mine. 6   Hear, you who have ears to hear, what the Spirit says to the churches!”

7   ‘To the angel of the church at Philadelphia write:

‘“These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David; when he opens none may shut, when he shuts none may open: 8   I know all your ways; and look, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. Your strength, I know, is small, yet you have observed my commands and have not disowned my name. 9   So this is what I will do: I will make those of Satan's synagogue, who claim to be Jews but are lying frauds, come and fall down at your feet; and they shall know that you are my beloved people. 10   Because you have kept my command and stood fast, I will also keep you from the ordeal that is to fall upon the whole world and test its inhabitants. 11   I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, and let no one rob you of your crown. 12   He who is victorious—I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; he shall never leave it. And I will

A message from Christ to the churches write the name of my God upon him, and the name of the city of my God, that new Jerusalem which is coming down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. 13   Hear, you who have ears to hear, what the Spirit says to the churches!”

14   ‘To the angel of the church at Laodicea write:

‘“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the prime source of all God's creation: 15   I know all your ways; you are neither hot nor cold. How I wish you were either hot or cold! 16   But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17   You say, ‘How rich I am! And how well I have done! I have everything I want.’ In fact, though you do not know it, you are the most pitiful wretch, poor, blind, and naked. 18   So I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, to make you truly rich, and white clothes to put on to hide the shame of your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so that you may see. 19   All whom I love I reprove and discipline. 20   Be on your mettle therefore and repent. Here I stand knocking at the door; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sit down to supper with him and he with me. 21   To him who is victorious I will grant a place on my throne, as I myself was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22   Hear, you who have ears to hear, what the Spirit says to the churches!”’

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