001:016 In His right hand He held seven stars, and a sharp, two-edged sword was seen coming from His mouth; and His glance resembled the sun when it is shining with its full strength. 001:017 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand upon me and said, "Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living One. 001:018 I died; but I am now alive until the Ages of the Ages, and I have the keys of the gates of Death and of Hades! 001:019 Write down therefore the things you have just seen, and those which are now taking place, and those which are soon to follow: 001:020 the secret meaning of the seven stars which you have seen in My right hand, and of the seven lampstands of gold. The seven stars are the ministers of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches. 002:001 "To the minister of the Church in Ephesus write as follows: "'This is what He who holds the seven stars in the grasp of His right hand says--He who walks to and fro among the seven lampstands of gold. 002:002 I know your doings and your toil and patient suffering. And I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, but have put to the test those who say that they themselves are Apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars. 002:003 And you endure patiently and have borne burdens for My sake and have never grown weary. 002:004 Yet I have this against you--that you no longer love Me as you did at first. 002:005 Be mindful, therefore, of the height from which you have fallen. Repent at once, and act as you did at first, or else I will surely come and remove your lampstand out of its place-- unless you repent. 002:006 Yet this you have in your favor: you hate the doings of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 002:007 "'Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To him who overcomes I will give the privilege of eating the fruit of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.' 002:008 "To the minister of the Church at Smyrna write as follows: "'This is what the First and the Last says--He who died and has returned to life. 002:009 Your sufferings I know, and your poverty--but you are rich-- and the evil name given you by those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are Satan's synagogue. 002:010 Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor's Wreath of Life.