Introduction and Benediction
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, John 3:32which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And Rev. 22:6He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 1 Cor. 1:6who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things 1 John 1:1that he saw. 3 Luke 11:28; Rev. 22:7Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for James 5:8; Rev. 22:10the time is near.
Greeting the Seven Churches
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him Ex. 3:14who is and John 1:1who was and who is to come, (Is. 11:2); Zech. 3:9; Rev. 3:1; 4:5; 5:6and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, John 8:14; Prov. 14:5the faithful Is. 55:4witness, the Ps. 89:27; 1 Cor. 15:20; (Col. 1:18)firstborn from the dead, and Rev. 17:14the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him John 13:34who loved us Heb. 9:14and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has 1 Pet. 2:5, 9made us kings and priests to His God and Father, 1 Tim. 6:16to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, He is coming with Matt. 24:30clouds, and every eye will see Him, even Zech. 12:10–14; John 19:37they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8 Is. 41:4; Rev. 21:6; 22:13"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, Rev. 4:8; 11:17"who is and who was and who is to come, the Is. 9:6Almighty."
Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, both your brother and Phil. 1:7companion in the tribulation and (Rom. 8:17; 2 Tim. 2:12)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. 10 Acts 10:10I was in the Spirit on Acts 20:7the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me Rev. 4:1a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, "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."
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned Ex. 25:37; Zech. 4:2; Rev. 1:20; 2:1I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 Rev. 2:1and in the midst of the seven lampstands Ezek. 1:26; Dan. 7:13; 10:16; Rev. 14:14One like the Son of Man, Dan. 10:5clothed with a garment down to the feet and Rev. 15:6girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and Dan. 7:9hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and Dan. 10:6; Rev. 2:18; 19:12His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 Ezek. 1:7; Dan. 10:6; Rev. 2:18His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and Ezek. 1:24; 43:2; Rev. 14:2; 19:6His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 Rev. 1:20; 2:1; 3:1He had in His right hand seven stars, Is. 49:2; (Heb. 4:12); Rev. 2:12, 16; 19:15out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, Matt. 17:2; Acts 26:13; Rev. 10:1and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And Ezek. 1:28when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But Dan. 8:18; 10:10, 12He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; Is. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev. 2:8; 22:13I am the First and the Last.18 Rom. 6:9; Rev. 2:8; 10:6; 15:7I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, Rev. 4:9I am alive forevermore. Amen. And Ps. 68:20I have the keys of Hades and of Death.19 Write the things which you have Rev. 1:9–18seen, Rev. 2:1and the things which are, John 16:13; Rev. 4:1and the things which will take place after this.20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are Mal. 2:7; Rev. 2:1the angels of the seven churches, and Ex. 25:37; 37:23; Zech. 4:2; Matt. 5:15; Phil. 2:15the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.