Study Desk

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him ^(a)who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "‘I know your works. You have the reputation ^(b)of being alive, ^(c)but you are dead.

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works ^(d)complete in the sight of my God.

^(e)Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, ^(f)I will come ^(g)like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not ^(h)soiled their garments, and they will walk with me ⁽ⁱ⁾in white, for they are ^(j)worthy.

^(k)The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never ^(l)blot his name out of ^(m)the book of life. ⁽ⁿ⁾I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

^(o)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of ^(p)the holy one, ^(q)the true one, ^(r)who has the key of David, ^(s)who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

"‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you ^(t)an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Behold, I will make those of ^(u)the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, ^(v)I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that ^(w)I have loved you.

^(x)Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try ^(y)those who dwell on the earth.

^(z)I am coming soon. ^(aa)Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize ^(ab)your crown.

^(ac)The one who conquers, I will make him ^(ad)a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him ^(ae)the name of my God, and ^(af)the name of the city of my God, ^(ag)the new Jerusalem, ^(ah)which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own ^(ai)new name.

^(aj)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the ^(ak)Amen, ^(al)the faithful and true witness, ^(am)the beginning of God's creation.

"‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. ^(an)Would that you were either cold or hot!

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

^(ao)For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, ^(ap)blind, and naked.

I counsel you ^(aq)to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and ^(ar)white garments so that you may clothe yourself and ^(as)the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, ^(at)so that you may see.

^(au)Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and ^(av)knock. ^(aw)If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, ^(ax)I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

^(ay)The one who conquers, ^(az)I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as ^(ba)I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

^(bb)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"