To Sardis
3 1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven Spirits of our Father and the seven stars. I know your works. You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my Father. 3 Remember, 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. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed like them 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. 6 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.
To Philadelphia
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door that no one can shut. For you have little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my Father, and he will never leave it. I will write on him the name of my Father, and the name of his city, the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from him, and my own new name. a a v12 When Jesus speaks of God here, he names the Father — the one who sent him, whose temple he builds, whose city descends from heaven. 13 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.
To Laodicea
14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of our Father's creation. b b v14 Jesus is the source through whom our Father made all things — not the first thing made, but the one by whom all creation came to be (John 1:3; Col 1:16).
15 I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,' not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich; and white garments, so that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be exposed; and ointment for your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Look, 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. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.