1 T he Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John;

the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John,

2 w ho bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw.

Who has testified to and vouched for all that he saw '> in his visions], the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3 B lessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who reads aloud the word of this prophecy; and blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who hear and who keep themselves true to the things which are written in it, for the time is near.

4 J ohn to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;

John to the seven assemblies (churches) that are in Asia: May grace (God’s unmerited favor) be granted to you and spiritual peace ( the peace of Christ’s kingdom) from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits '> the sevenfold Holy Spirit] before His throne,

5 a nd from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;

And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood,

6 a nd he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

7 B ehold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so. Amen (so be it).

8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).

9 I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

I, John, your brother and companion (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, on account of the Word of God and the testimony (the proof, the evidence) for Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet,

11 s aying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia —to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

12 A nd I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

13 a nd in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.

And in the midst of the lampstands like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast.

14 A nd his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

His head and His hair were white like white wool, as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.

15 a nd his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.

His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.

16 A nd he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday.

17 A nd when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last,

18 a nd the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

And the Ever-living One. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

19 W rite therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;

Write therefore the things you see, what they are and what is to take place hereafter.

20 t he mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.

As to the hidden meaning (the mystery) of the seven stars which you saw on My right hand and the seven lampstands of gold: the seven stars are the seven angels (messengers) of the seven assemblies (churches) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.