Study Desk

But there is something you do that is right—you hate the things that the Nicolaitans do. I also hate what they do.

"I know your troubles, and I know that you are poor, but really you are rich! I know the insults you have suffered from people who say they are Jews. But they are not true Jews. They are a group that belongs to Satan.

Don't be afraid of what will happen to you. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison. He will do this to test you. You will suffer for ten days, but be faithful, even if you have to die. If you continue to be faithful, I will give you the reward of life.

"I know where you live. You live where Satan has his throne, but you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas. Antipas was my faithful witness who was killed in your city, the city where Satan lives.

"But I have a few things against you. You have people there who follow the teaching of Balaam. Balaam taught Balak how to make the people of Israel sin. They sinned by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sins.

But I have this against you: You let that woman Jezebel do what she wants. She says that she is a prophet, but she is leading my people away with her teaching. Jezebel leads my people to commit sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols.

I have given her time to change her heart and turn away from her sin, but she does not want to change.

"But others of you in Thyatira have not followed her teaching. You have not learned the things they call ‘Satan's deep secrets.' This is what I say to you: I will not put any other burden on you.

"Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: "Here is a message from the one who has the seven spirits and the seven stars. "I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead.

"But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy.

"I know what you do. I have put before you an open door that no one can close. I know you are weak, but you have followed my teaching. You were not afraid to speak my name.

Listen! There is a group that belongs to Satan. They say they are Jews, but they are liars. They are not true Jews. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet. They will know that you are the people I have loved.

But you are only warm—not hot, not cold. So I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.

You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don't need anything. But you don't know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it.

But one of the elders said to me, "Don't cry! The Lion from the tribe of Judah has won the victory. He is David's descendant. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Then I heard something that sounded like a voice. The voice came from where the four living beings were. It said, "A quart of wheat or three quarts of barley will cost a full day's pay. But don't harm the supply of olive oil and wine!"

They were not given the power to kill them but only to cause them pain for five months—pain like a person feels when stung by a scorpion.

During those days people will look for a way to die, but they will not find it. They will want to die, but death will hide from them.

The other people on earth were not killed by these plagues. But these people still did not change their hearts and turn away from worshiping the things they had made with their own hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—things that cannot see or hear or walk.