1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants[1] the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, (Joh 8:26; Joh 14:10; Joh 17:7; Re 22:6; Re 22:16)2who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. (Joh 19:35; 1Co 1:6; Re 1:11; Re 1:19; Re 6:9; Re 12:17; Re 19:10)3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Lu 11:28; Joh 8:51; Ro 13:11; 1Jo 2:3; 1Jo 2:18; Re 22:7; Re 22:10)
9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (Joh 16:33; Php 4:14; 2Ti 2:12; Re 1:2; Re 3:10)10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet (1Ki 18:12; Eze 3:12; Mt 22:43; Ac 20:7; 1Co 16:2; 2Co 12:2; Re 4:1; Re 4:2; Re 17:3; Re 21:10)11saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (Re 1:2; Re 1:19)12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, (Ex 25:37; 2Ch 4:20; Zec 4:2; Re 1:20; Re 2:1; Re 11:4)13and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. (Da 7:13; Da 10:5; Da 10:16; Re 14:14; Re 15:6)14The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, (Da 7:9; Da 10:6; Re 2:18; Re 19:12)15his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. (Eze 1:7; Eze 43:2; Da 10:6; Re 14:2; Re 19:6)16In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. (Jud 5:31; Isa 49:2; Mt 17:2; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; Re 1:20; Re 2:1; Re 2:12; Re 2:16; Re 3:1; Re 19:15)17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, (Isa 41:4; Isa 44:6; Isa 48:12; Da 8:17; Da 10:9; Da 10:15; Mt 17:7; Lu 24:37; Joh 21:12; Re 2:8; Re 22:13)18and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Ro 6:9; Ro 14:9; Re 9:1; Re 20:1)19Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. (Re 1:2; Re 1:11; Re 1:12)20As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 the seven churches. (Mt 5:14; Re 1:12)
Revelation 1
New International Version
Prologue
1The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,2who testifies to everything he saw – that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Greetings and doxology
4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[1] before his throne,5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.7‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen. (Da 7:13; Zec 12:10)8‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’
John’s vision of Christ
9I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.10On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,11which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.’12I turned round to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,13and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[2] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash round his chest. (Da 7:13)14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.16In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.18I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.19‘Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: the seven stars are the angels[3] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1
King James Version
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.9I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;20The 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 which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Revelation 1
New International Reader’s Version
The revelation is given
1This is the revelation from Jesus Christ. God gave it to him to show those who serve God what will happen soon. God made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.2John is a witness to everything he saw. What he saw is God’s word and what Jesus Christ has said.3Blessed is the one who reads out loud the words of this prophecy. Blessed are those who hear it and think everything it says is important. The time when these things will come true is near.
Greetings and praise to God
4I, John, am writing this letter. I am sending it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. May grace and peace come to you from God. He is the one who is, and who was, and who will come. May grace and peace come to you from the seven spirits. These spirits are in front of God’s throne.5May grace and peace come to you from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness, so what he has shown can be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ who loves us! He has set us free from our sins by pouring out his blood for us.6He has made us members of his royal family. He has made us priests who serve his God and Father. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ for ever and ever! Amen.7‘Look! He is coming with the clouds!’ ‘Every eye will see him. Even those who pierced him will see him.’ All the nations of the earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ This will really happen! Amen. (Da 7:13; Zec 12:10)8‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the God who is, and who was, and who will come. I am the Mighty One.’
John’s vision of Christ
9I, John, am a believer like you. I am a friend who suffers like you. As members of Jesus’ royal family, we can put up with anything that happens to us. I was on the island of Patmos because I taught God’s word and what Jesus said.10The Holy Spirit gave me a vision on the Lord’s Day. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet.11The voice said, ‘Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.’12I turned round to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.13In the middle of them was someone who looked ‘like a son of man.’ He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest. (Da 7:13)14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire.15His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters.16He held seven stars in his right hand. Coming out of his mouth was a sharp sword with two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all its brightness.17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.18I am the Living One. I was dead. But now look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.19‘So write down what you have seen. Write about what is happening now and what will happen later.20Here is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand. They are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven golden lampstands you saw stand for the seven churches.