Revelation 1

1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place, which he signified by sending through his angel to his servant John.

2who testified to God's word and the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw.

3Blessed is the one who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things written in it, for the time is near.

4John to the seven churches in Asia: Grace and peace to you from the one who is and who was and who is coming, and from the seven spirits before his throne.

5And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, firstborn among the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood.

6and he made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and might for the ages of the ages. Amen.

7Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him—even those who pierced him—and all the tribes of the earth will wail over him. Yes, amen.

8I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.

9I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in tribulation, kingdom, and patient endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

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

11saying, “Write in a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me; and turning, I saw seven golden lampstands.

13And among the lampstands was one like a son of man, dressed in a robe to the feet and wearing a golden sash across his chest.

14His head and his hair were white like white wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a flame of fire.

15and his feet were like fine brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the voice of many waters.

16He held seven stars in his right hand, a sharp double-edged sword issuing from his mouth, and his face resembled the sun shining in full power.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead, and he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear. I am the first and the last.”

18I am the Living One; I was dead, and see, I live for the ages of the ages, and I have the keys of death and Hades.

19Write therefore what you saw, and what is, and what will take place after these things.

20The mystery of the seven stars 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 are seven churches.