Revelation 1

Introduction and Benediction

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servantsthings which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Greeting the Seven Churches

4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Vision of the Son of Man

9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,11 saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and, What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

Revelation 1

The Prologue

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ,t which God gave him to show his servantst what must happen very soon.t He made it cleart by sending his angel to his servantt John,2 who thent testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony aboutt Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of thist prophecy aloud,t and blessed aret those who hear and obeyt the things written in it, because the time is near!s
4 From John,t to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia:t Grace and peace to yout from “he who is,”s and who was, and who is still to come,t and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,5 and from Jesus Christ – the faithfult witness,s the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us freest from our sins at the cost oft his own blood

6 and has appointedt us as a kingdom,t as priestst serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever!s Amen.

7 (Look! He is returning with the clouds,s
and every eye will see him,
eventthose who pierced him,s
and all the tribest on the earth will mourn becauset of him.
This will certainly come to pass!t Amen.)s

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”s says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!t
9 I, John, your brother and the one who sharest with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance thatt are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.t10 I was in the Spiritt on the Lord’s Dayt whent I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

11 saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches – to Ephesus,s Smyrna,t Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12 It turned to see whose voice was speaking to me,t and when I did so,t I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man.t He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden beltt around his chest.14 Hist head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow,t and his eyes were like a fieryt flame.15 His feet were like polished bronzet refinedt in a furnace, and his voice was like the roart of many waters.16 He heldt seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. Hist face shone like the sun shining at full strength.17 Whent I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, butt he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last,18 and the one who lives! It was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!ts19 Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.t

20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this:t The seven stars are the angelst of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.