Study Desk

But I still have something against you because of that woman Jezebel. She calls herself a prophet, and you let her teach and mislead my servants to do immoral things and to eat food offered to idols.

I gave her a chance to turn from her sins, but she did not want to stop doing these immoral things.

But until I come, you must hold firmly to the teaching you have.

This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Sardis: I have the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. Listen to what I say. I know what you are doing. Everyone may think you are alive, but you are dead.

I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers.

Now you will see what I will do with those people who belong to Satan's group. They claim to be Jews, but they are liars. I will make them come and kneel down at your feet. Then they will know that I love you.

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

You claim to be rich and successful and to have everything you need. But you don't know how bad off you are. You are pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

I heard what sounded like a voice from somewhere among the four living creatures. It said, "A quart of wheat will cost you a whole day's wages! Three quarts of barley will cost you a day's wages too. But don't ruin the olive oil or the wine."

The locusts were allowed to make them suffer for five months, but not to kill them. The suffering they caused was like the sting of a scorpion.

In those days people will want to die, but they will not be able to. They will hope for death, but it will escape from them.

The first horrible thing has now happened! But wait. Two more horrible things will happen soon.

After the thunder stopped, I was about to write what it had said. But a voice from heaven shouted, "Keep it secret! Don't write these things."

When I went over to ask the angel for the little scroll, the angel said, "Take the scroll and eat it! Your stomach will turn sour, but the taste in your mouth will be as sweet as honey."

I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. The taste was as sweet as honey, but my stomach turned sour.

But don't measure the courtyard outside the temple building. Leave it out. It has been given to those people who don't know God, and they will trample all over the holy city for forty-two months.

But three and a half days later, God will breathe life into their bodies. They will stand up, and everyone who sees them will be terrified.

The second horrible thing has now happened! But the third one will be here soon.

But the dragon lost the battle. It and its angels were forced out of their places in heaven

The heavens should rejoice, together with everyone who lives there. But pity the earth and the sea, because the devil was thrown down to the earth. He knows his time is short, and he is very angry."