Introduction and Benediction
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ,which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. AndHe sent and signifieditby His angel to His servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all thingsthat he saw.
3 Blessedishe who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; forthe timeisnear.
Greeting the Seven Churches
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
# Grace to you and peace from Himwho is andwho was and who is to come,and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
5 and from Jesus Christ,the faithfulwitness, thefirstborn from the dead, andthe ruler over the kings of the earth.
# To Himwho loved usand washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6 and hasmade us kings and priests to His God and Father,to Himbeglory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, He is coming withclouds, and every eye will see Him, eventhey 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,theBeginning andtheEnd,”says the Lord,“who is and who was and who is to come, theAlmighty.”
Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, both your brother andcompanion in the tribulation andkingdom 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 onthe Lord’s Day, and I heard behind mea 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 senditto the seven churcheswhich 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 turnedI saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the seven lampstandsOnelike the Son of Man,clothed with a garment down to the feet andgirded about the chest with a golden band.
14 His head andhairwerewhite like wool, as white as snow, andHis eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feetwerelike fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, andHis 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 countenancewaslike the sun shining in its strength.
17 Andwhen I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. ButHe laid His right hand on me, saying to me,“Do not be afraid;I am the First and the Last.
18 IamHe who lives, and was dead, and behold,I am alive forevermore. Amen. AndI have the keys ofHades and of Death.
19 Writethe things which you haveseen,and the things which are,and the things which will take place after this.
20 Themystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars aretheangels of the seven churches, andthe seven lampstandswhich you saware the seven churches.