1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (路15:24; 提前5:6; 启1:4; 启1:16)2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. (徒14:26)3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. (太24:43; 帖前5:2; 帖前5:4; 提后1:13; 彼后3:10; 启2:5; 启16:15)4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. (传9:8; 路20:35; 犹1:23; 启6:11; 启7:9)5The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. (出32:32; 太10:32; 路12:8; 腓4:3; 启2:7; 启13:8; 启17:8; 启20:12; 启20:15; 启21:27)6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (启2:7)
To the Church in Philadelphia
7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. (伯12:14; 赛22:22; 太16:19; 路1:32; 约一5:20; 启3:14; 启6:10; 启19:11)8“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you 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. (徒14:27; 林前16:9; 林后2:12; 西4:3)9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. (赛43:4; 赛45:14; 赛49:23; 赛60:14; 启2:9)10Because 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 those who dwell on the earth. (彼后2:9; 启1:9; 启6:10; 启8:13; 启11:10; 启13:8; 启13:14; 启17:8)11I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. (启2:10; 启2:25; 启22:7; 启22:12; 启22:20)12The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (王上7:21; 代下3:17; 诗23:6; 诗27:4; 耶1:18; 结48:35; 加2:9; 加4:26; 來12:22; 启2:7; 启2:17; 启14:1; 启21:2; 启21:10; 启22:4)13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (启2:7)
To the Church in Laodicea
14“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. (箴8:22; 林后1:20; 西1:15; 西1:18; 启1:5; 启3:7; 启19:11; 启21:6; 启22:6; 启22:13)15“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! (彼后2:21)16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (何12:8; 亚11:5; 约9:39; 林前4:8; 弗1:18)18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. (箴8:19; 赛55:1; 太13:44; 太25:9; 启3:4; 启3:17; 启16:15; 启19:8)19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (來12:6)20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (歌5:2; 路12:36; 路24:29; 约14:23)21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (太19:28; 约12:26; 约16:33; 提后2:12; 启2:7; 启2:26; 启5:5; 启6:2; 启17:14; 启20:4)22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (启2:7)