To Each and All

To
churches seven,

A
message sent from heaven.

To
each of you I plead

God’s
word to heed.

Ephesus

Innocence
of a child

Thoughts
and actions meek and mild

Spreading
news of God’s salvation

Not
heeding words of Nicolaitans

But
of reproof thou art not bereft;

Thy
first love, thou hast left.

Return!
Repent! It is not yet too late,

To
return to thy first love; don’t wait!

Smyrna

Tabernacle
of tribulation

Oppressed
by many a nation

But
be full of faith and not fear,

For
thy constant Help is always near.

Pergamos

Thou
too are depressed,

Though
less now oppressed.

But
heed my warning sure:

You
are tainted, not pure.

The
Nicolaitans are your doctrinal friend,

And
the Balaam in you will bring your end.

Thyatira

Jezebel,
queen of every harlot

Dressed
in intoxicating scarlet,

Feigns
herself a prophetess.

But
in truth, her house is prophet-less.

But
there are still believers remaining true,

Though
Jezebel’s are many, and they are few.

Sardis

Blot
upon blot is seen on your hands,

Few
of the pure are left in your lands.

Repent!
Repent! Turn from your sins!

For
a sinner is never the one who wins,

When
the day comes like night’s silent thief,

The
devil’s fold will feel fear; God’s fold, relief.

Philadelphia

Blessings
to people who to God remain steadfastly true,

Though
most professors have Satan’s synagogue in their heart’s view.

Blessings
to the steadfast and faithful still standing in God,

Though
under many a tribulation they have been trod.

Truly,
God shall remember each one of you.

Remember
in your heart to always have God in view.

Laodicea

Thou
art lukewarm, neither hot nor cold.

All
of your works doth God behold.

He
offers all of your needs,

But
you pay Him no heed.

The
poor’s chosen riches are but a shade,

Nothing
in match to God’s fire-tried gold that shall never fade.

God’s
reproof is no oppression or defect;

He
chastises  only to make souls perfect.

He
seeks not revenge, but repentance;

Not fearful cries, but loving acceptance.