1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants1 what must happen very soon.2 He made it clear3 by sending his angel to his servant4 John, 1:2 who then5 testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about6 Jesus Christ. 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this7 prophecy aloud,8 and blessed are9 those who hear and obey10 the things written in it, because the time is near.11
1:4 From John,12 to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace to you13 from “he who is,”14 and who was, and who is coming,15 and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 1:5 and from Jesus Christ—the faithful16 witness,17 the firstborn from among the dead, and ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free18 from our sins at the cost of his own blood19 1:6 and has appointed20 us as a kingdom,21 as priests22 serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever!23 Amen.
1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”31 says the Lord God—the One who is, and who was, and who is coming—the All-Powerful!32
1:9 I, John, your brother and the one who shares33 with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that34 are in Jesus, was on the island named Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.35 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day36 when37 I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 1:11 saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna,38 Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
1:12 I39 turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so,40 I saw seven golden lampstands, 1:13 and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man.41 He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt42 around his chest. 1:14 His43 head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow,44 and his eyes were like a fiery45 flame. 1:15 His feet were like polished bronze46 that has been refined47 in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar48 of many waters. 1:16 He held49 seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His50 face shone like the sun shining at full strength. 1:17 When51 I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but52 he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, 1:18 namely, the one who lives! I53 was dead, but look, now I am alive—forever and ever—and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!54 1:19 Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.55 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this:56 the seven stars are the angels57 of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.