1 T he Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to 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 bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to 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 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

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 which 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 who 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, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own 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 has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever 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 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.

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, 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

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, 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.

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 loud 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, “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.”

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 T hen I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

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 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.

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 H is head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like 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 H is feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound 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 H e 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.

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 dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; 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 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.

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 the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

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 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.

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.