THE revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to shew to his
servants the things which must shortly come to pass; and sending by his
angel, he shewed them to his servant John: (2)who was a witness for the
word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and for the things
which he saw. (3)Blessed is he that readeth, and they who hear the
words of this prophecy, and observe the things which are written
therein: for the time is at hand.
(4)John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be with you, and
peace from him, who is, and who was, and who is coming; and from the
seven spirits which are before the throne of God, (5)and from Jesus
Christ, the faithful witness, and first-born from the dead, and the
prince of the kings of the earth: to him who loved us, and washed us
from our sins by his blood, (6)and made us kings and priests to his God
and Father; to him be glory and might for ever and ever. Amen.
(7)Behold! he is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and
they also who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall lament
bitterly, smiting their bosoms, because of him: even so! Amen.
(8)I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, who
is, and who was, and who is coming--the Almighty.
(9)I John, your brother and companion also with you in the tribulation,
and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island
which is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of
Jesus Christ. (10)I was _rapt_ in spirit on the Lord's day, and heard
behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, (11)saying, I am the Alpha and
the Omega, the first and the last; and what thou seest write in a book,
and send to the churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna,
and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia,
and to Laodicea. (12)And I turned to see what voice spake to me. And
when I turned round I saw seven lamps of gold; (13)and in the midst of
the seven lamps one like unto a son of man, clothed to the very feet,
and girded about the breasts with a golden zone; (14)his head and
flowing locks white as a white fleece of wool, even as the snow; and
his eyes as a flame of fire; (15)and his feet resembled molten brass,
as though they glowed in the furnace; and his voice was as the roar of
many waters. (16)And he held in his right hand seven stars; and out of
his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as
when the sun shineth in his meridian lustre. (17)And when I beheld him,
I fell at his feet as dead: and he laid his right hand upon me, saying
to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last, (18)and I am the living
one, though I was dead and lo! I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I
hold the keys of hell and of death. (19)Write the things which thou
seest, and the things which are, and the things which shall be in
future after these, (20)the mystery of the seven stars which thou seest
in my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamps which thou seest are
the seven churches.