Revelation 3

To the Church in Sardis

1 “Tot the angel of the church in Sardis write the following:t
“This is the solemn pronouncement ofts the one who holdst the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a reputationt that you are alive, butt in realityt you are dead.2 Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was aboutt to die, because I have not found your deeds completet in the sightt of my God.3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard,t and obey it,t and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will nevert know at what hour I will come againstt you.4 But you have a few individualst in Sardis who have not stainedt their clothes, and they will walk with me dressedt in white, because they are worthy.5 The one who conquerst will be dressed like themt in white clothing,t and I will nevert eraset his name from the book of life, butt will declaret his name before my Father and before his angels.

6 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Philadelphia

7 “Tot the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following:t
“This is the solemn pronouncement ofts the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doorst no one can shut, and shuts doorst no one can open:8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have putt in front of you an open door that no one can shut.)ts I knowt that you have little strength,t butt you have obeyedt my word and have not denied my name.9 Listen!t I am going to make those people from the synagogues of Satan – who say they are Jews yett are not, but are lying – Look, I will maket them come and bow downt at your feet and acknowledget that I have loved you.10 Because you have keptt my admonitiont to endure steadfastly,t I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take awayt your crown.s12 The one who conquerst I will maket a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. It will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God),s and my new name as well.

13 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “Tot the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:t
“This is the solemn pronouncement ofts the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originatort of God’s creation:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.s I wish you were either cold or hot!16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am goingt to vomitt you out of my mouth!17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth,t and need nothing,” butt do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful,t poor, blind, and naked,18 take my advicet and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from met white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakednesst will not be exposed, and buy eye salves to put on your eyes so you can see!19 All thoset I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent!20 Listen!t I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his homets and share a meal with him, and he with me.21 I will grant the onet who conquerst permissiont to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conqueredt and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Revelation 4

The Amazing Scene in Heaven

1 After these things I looked, and there wast a door standing open in heaven!t And the first voice I had heard speaking to met like a trumpets said: “Come up here so thatt I can show you what must happen after these things.”2 Immediately I was in the Spirit,t andt a throne was standingt in heaven with someone seated on it!3 And the one seated on it was like jasperts and carnelians in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emeraldt encircled the throne.4 Int a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They weret dressed in white clothing and had golden crownss on their heads.5 Fromt the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaringt and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God,s were burning in front of the throne

6 and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.t
Int the middle of the thronet and around the throne were four living creaturest full of eyes in front and in back.7 Thet first living creature was like a lion, thet second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.

8 Each one of the four living creatures had six wingst and was full of eyes all around and inside.t They never rest day or night, saying:t
“Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful,ts
Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor,t and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the groundt before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crownss before hist throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
since you created all things,
and because of your will they existed and were created!”s

Revelation 5

The Opening of the Scroll

1 Thent I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and backt and sealed with seven seals.t2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”3 Butt no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.4 Sot I began weeping bitterlyt because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

5 Thent one of the elders saidt to me, “Stop weeping!t Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered;t thus he can opent the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Thent I saw standing in the middle of the thronet and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed.t He hadt seven horns and seven eyes, whichs are the sevens spirits of Gods sent out into all the earth.7 Thent he came and took the scrollt from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne,8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the groundt before the Lamb. Eacht of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).s

9 They were singing a new song:t
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals
because you were killed,t
and at the cost of your own bloodt you have purchaseds for God
personst from every tribe, language,t people, and nation.

10 You have appointedt thems as a kingdom and priestst to servet our God, and they will reigns on the earth.”
11 Thent I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Theirt number was ten thousand times ten thousandt – thousands times thousands –

12 all of whomt were singingt in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the lamb who was killedt
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and praise!”

13 Thent I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing:t
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory, and ruling powert forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the groundt and worshiped.