Revelation 2:1-7
2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
(ESV)
Letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3
| Church | Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamum | Thyatira | Sardis | Philadelphia | Laodicea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addressed to the angel of the church | 2:1 | 2:8 | 2:12 | 2:18 | 3:1 | 3:7 | 3:14 |
| Some aspect of vision of Christ in ch. 1 related to the church | 2:1 | 2:8 | 2:12 | 2:18 | 3:1 | 3:7 | 3:14 |
| Commendation and/or encouragement of the church | 2:2-3, 6 | 2:9 | 2:13 | 2:19, 24-25 | 3:4 | 3:8-10 | |
| Correction of the church | 2:4 | 2:14-15 | 2:20-23 | 3:2 | 3:14-18 | ||
| Call to repent and threat of judgment | 2:5 | 2:16 | 2:21 | 3:3 | 3:19 | ||
| Call to listen to the message of the Spirit | 2:7 | 2:11 | 2:17 | 2:29 | 3:6 | 3:13 | 3:22 |
| Promise to "conqueror" (one who perseveres) | 2:7 | 2:11 | 2:17 | 2:26-28 | 3:5 | 3:11-12 | 3:21 |
(Table adapted from Thomas R. Schreiner, ESV Expository Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews-Revelation, 569)