Study Desk

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which ^(C1)God gave Him to ^(C2)show to His bond-servants, ^(C3)the things which must soon take place; and He sent and ^(F1)communicated it ^(C4)by His angel to His bond-servant ^(C5)John,

who testified to ^(C1)the word of God and to ^(C2)the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw.

^(C1)Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and ^(F1)keep the things which are written in it; ^(C2)for the time is near.

^(C1)John to ^(C2)the seven churches that are in ^(C3)Asia: ^(C4)Grace to you and peace from ^(C5)Him who is, and who was, and who ^(F1)is to come, and from ^(C6)the ^(F2)seven spirits who are before His throne,

and from Jesus Christ, ^(C1)the faithful witness, the ^(C2)firstborn of the dead, and the ^(C3)ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who ^(C4)loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—

and He made us into a ^(C1)kingdom, ^(C1)priests to ^(F1)(C2)His God and Father—^(C3)to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

^(C1)BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and ^(C2)every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will ^(C3)mourn over Him. ^(F1)So it is to be. Amen.

"I am ^(C1)the Alpha and the Omega," says the ^(C2)Lord God, "^(C3)who is and who was and who ^(F1)is to come, the Almighty."

^(C1)I, John, your ^(C2)brother and ^(C3)fellow participant in the tribulation and ^(C4)kingdom and ^(F1)(C5)perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos ^(C6)because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

I was ^(C1)in the ^(F1)Spirit on ^(C2)the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice ^(C3)like the sound of a trumpet,

saying, "^(C1)Write ^(F1)on a scroll what you see, and send it to the ^(C2)seven churches: to ^(C3)Ephesus, ^(C4)Smyrna, ^(C5)Pergamum, ^(C6)Thyatira, ^(C7)Sardis, ^(C8)Philadelphia, and ^(C9)Laodicea."

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw ^(C1)seven golden lampstands;

and ^(C1)in the middle of the lampstands I saw one ^(C2)like ^(F1)a son of man, ^(C3)clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and ^(C4)wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.

His head and His ^(C1)hair were white like white wool, like snow; and ^(C2)His eyes were like a flame of fire.

His ^(C1)feet were like ^(F1)burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His ^(C2)voice was like the sound of many waters.

In His right hand He held ^(C1)seven stars, and out of His mouth came a ^(C2)sharp two-edged sword; and His ^(C3)face was like ^(C4)the sun ^(F1)shining in its strength.

When I saw Him, I ^(C1)fell at His feet like a dead man. And He ^(C2)placed His right hand on me, saying, "^(C3)Do not be afraid; ^(C4)I am the first and the last,

and the ^(C1)living One; and I ^(F1)(C2)was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have ^(C3)the keys of death and of Hades.

"Therefore ^(C1)write ^(C2)the things which you have seen, ^(F1)and the things which are, and the things which will take place ^(C3)after these things.

"As for the ^(C1)mystery of the ^(C2)seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the ^(C3)seven golden lampstands: the ^(C2)seven stars are the angels of ^(C4)the seven churches, and the seven ^(C5)lampstands are the seven churches.

"To the angel of the church in ^(C1)Ephesus write: The One who holds ^(C2)the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks ^(F1)(C3)among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

Footnotes:  (F1) - Lit in the middle of;

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - Revelation 1:16; (C3) - Revelation 1:12f;

'^(C1)I know your deeds and your labor and ^(F1)perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have ^(C2)put those who call themselves ^(C3)apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

and you have ^(F1)perseverance and have endured ^(C1)on account of My name, and have not become weary.

'But I have this against you, that you have ^(C1)left your first love.

'Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and ^(C1)repent, and ^(C2)do the ^(F1)deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your ^(C3)lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

'But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the ^(C1)Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ^(C2)To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from ^(C3)the tree of life, which is in the ^(C4)Paradise of God.'

"And to the angel of the church in ^(C1)Smyrna write: ^(C2)The first and the last, who ^(F1)(C3)was dead, and has come to life, says this:

Footnotes:  (F1) - Lit became;

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:17; (C3) - Revelation 1:18;

'I know your ^(C1)tribulation and your ^(C2)poverty (but you are ^(C2)rich), and the ^(F1)slander by those who ^(C3)say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of ^(C4)Satan.

'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be ^(C1)tested, and you will have tribulation ^(C2)for ten days. ^(F1)Be ^(C3)faithful until death, and I will give you ^(C4)the crown of life.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ^(C2)The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the ^(C3)second death.'

"And to the angel of the church in ^(C1)Pergamum write: The One who has ^(C2)the sharp two-edged sword says this:

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - Revelation 1:16;

'I know where you dwell, where ^(C1)Satan's throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny ^(C2)My faith even in the days of Antipas, My ^(C3)witness, My ^(C4)faithful one, who was killed among you, ^(C5)where Satan dwells.

'But ^(C1)I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the ^(C2)teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a ^(F1)stumbling block before the sons of Israel, ^(C3)to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

'So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the ^(C1)Nicolaitans.

'Therefore ^(C1)repent; or else ^(C2)I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with ^(C3)the sword of My mouth.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ^(C1)To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden ^(C2)manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a ^(C3)new name written on the stone ^(C4)which no one knows except the one who receives it.'

"And to the angel of the church in ^(C1)Thyatira write: ^(C2)The Son of God, ^(C3)who has ^(F1)eyes like a flame of fire, and ^(F2)feet like burnished bronze, says this:

Footnotes:  (F1) - Lit His eyes; (F2) - Lit His feet;

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - Matthew 4:3; (C3) - Revelation 1:14f;

'^(C1)I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and ^(F1)perseverance, and that your ^(F2)deeds of late are greater than ^(F3)at first.

'But ^(C1)I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman ^(C2)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they ^(C3)commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

'^(C1)I gave her time to repent, and she ^(C2)does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

'Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who ^(C1)commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of ^(F1)her deeds.

'And I will kill her children with ^(F1)plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who ^(C1)searches the ^(F2)minds and hearts; and ^(C2)I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

'But I say to you, the rest who are in ^(C1)Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the ^(C2)deep things of Satan, as they call them—I ^(C3)place no other burden on you.

'Nevertheless ^(C1)what you have, hold firmly ^(C2)until I come.

'^(C1)The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds ^(C2)until the end, ^(C3)I will give him authority over the ^(F1)nations;

AND HE SHALL ^(F1)(C1)RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, ^(C2)AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE SHATTERED, as I also have received authority from My Father;

and I will give him ^(C1)the morning star.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

"To the angel of the church in ^(C1)Sardis write: He who has ^(F1)(C2)the seven spirits of God and ^(C3)the seven stars, says this: '^(C4)I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are ^(C5)dead.

Footnotes:  (F1) - Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels;

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - Revelation 1:4; (C3) - Revelation 1:16; (C4) - Revelation 2:2; (C5) - 1 Timothy 5:6;

'Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.

'So ^(C1)remember ^(F1)what you have received and heard; and ^(F2)keep it, and ^(C1)repent. Then if you are not alert, ^(C1)I will come ^(C2)like a thief, and you will not know at ^(C3)what hour I will come to you.

'But you have a few ^(F1)(C1)people in ^(C2)Sardis who have not ^(C3)soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me ^(C4)in white, for they are worthy.

'^(C1)The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in ^(C2)white garments; and I will not ^(C3)erase his name from the book of life, and ^(C4)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

"And to the angel of the church in ^(C1)Philadelphia write: ^(C2)He who is holy, ^(C3)who is true, who has ^(C4)the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - Revelation 6:10; (C3) - 1 John 5:20; Revelation 3:14; (C4) - Job 12:14; Isaiah 22:22; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:18;

'^(C1)I know your ^(F1)deeds. Behold, I have put before you ^(C2)an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and ^(C3)have not denied My name.

'Behold, I ^(F1)will make those of ^(C1)the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them ^(C2)come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that ^(C3)I have loved you.

'Because you have ^(C1)kept ^(C2)My ^(F1)word of perseverance, ^(C3)I also will keep you from the hour of the ^(F2)(C4)testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole ^(F3)(C5)world, to ^(F4)test ^(C6)those who live on the earth.

'^(C1)I am coming quickly; ^(C2)hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your ^(C3)crown.

'^(C1)The one who overcomes, I will make him a ^(C2)pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the ^(C3)name of My God, and ^(C4)the name of the city of My God, ^(C5)the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My ^(C6)new name.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

"To the angel of the church in ^(C1)Laodicea write: ^(C2)The Amen, ^(C3)the faithful and true Witness, ^(C4)the ^(F1)Origin of the creation of God, says this:

Footnotes:  (F1) - Or Beginning; i.e., Originator;

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:11; (C2) - 2 Corinthians 1:20; (C3) - Revelation 1:5; (C4) - Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17; Proverbs 8:22; John 1:3; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 21:6;

'^(C1)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; ^(C2)I wish that you were cold or hot.

'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

'Because you say, "^(C1)I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything," and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked,

I advise you to ^(C1)buy from Me ^(C2)gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and ^(C3)white garments so that you may clothe yourself and ^(C4)the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see.

'^(C1)Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and ^(C2)repent.

'Behold, I stand ^(C1)at the door and ^(C2)knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, ^(C3)I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

'^(C1)The one who overcomes, I will grant to him ^(C2)to sit with Me on My throne, as ^(C3)I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne.

'^(C1)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

After ^(C1)these things I looked, and behold, ^(C2)a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, ^(C3)like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "^(C4)Come up here, and I will ^(C5)show you what must take place after these things."

Immediately I was ^(C1)in the ^(F1)Spirit; and behold, ^(C2)a throne was standing in heaven, and ^(C3)someone was sitting on the throne.

And He who was sitting was like a ^(C1)jasper stone and a ^(C2)sardius in appearance; and there was a ^(F1)(C3)rainbow around the throne, like an ^(C4)emerald in appearance.

^(C1)Around the throne were ^(C2)twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw ^(C3)twenty-four elders ^(C4)sitting, clothed in ^(C5)white garments, and ^(C6)golden crowns on their heads.

Out from the throne ^(*)came ^(C1)flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were ^(C2)seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are ^(F1)(C3)the seven spirits of God;

and before the throne there was something like a ^(C1)sea of glass, like crystal; and in the ^(F1)center and ^(C2)around the throne, ^(C3)four living creatures ^(C4)full of eyes in front and behind.

^(C1)The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.

And the ^(C1)four living creatures, each one of them having ^(C2)six wings, are ^(C3)full of eyes around and within; and ^(C4)day and night ^(F1)they do not cease to say, "^(C5)HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE ^(C6)LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, ^(C7)who was and who is and who ^(F2)is to come."

Footnotes:  (F1) - Lit they have no rest, saying,; (F2) - Or is coming;

Cross References:  (C1) - Ezekiel 1:5; Revelation 4:6, 9; (C2) - Isaiah 6:2; (C3) - Ezekiel 1:18; (C4) - Revelation 14:11; (C5) - Isaiah 6:3; (C6) - Revelation 1:8; (C7) - Revelation 1:4;

And when the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who ^(C1)sits on the throne, to ^(C2)Him who lives forever and ever,

the ^(C1)twenty-four elders will ^(C2)fall down before Him who ^(C3)sits on the throne, and they will worship ^(C4)Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their ^(C5)crowns before the throne, saying,

"^(C1)Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You ^(C2)created all things, and because of Your will they ^(F1)existed, and were created."

Footnotes:  (F1) - Lit were;

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:6; (C2) - Acts 14:15; Revelation 10:6;

I saw ^(F1)in the right hand of Him who ^(C1)sat on the throne a ^(F2)(C2)scroll written inside and on the back, ^(C3)sealed up with seven seals.

And I saw a ^(C1)strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?"

And no one ^(C1)in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.

Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

And one of the elders ^(*)said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the ^(C1)Lion that is ^(C2)from the tribe of Judah, the ^(C3)Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

And I saw ^(F1)between the throne (with the four living creatures) and ^(C1)the elders a ^(C2)Lamb standing, as if ^(C3)slaughtered, having seven ^(C4)horns and ^(C5)seven eyes, which are ^(F2)(C6)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

And He came and took ^(C1)the scroll out of the right hand of Him who ^(C1)sat on the throne.

When He had taken the scroll, the ^(C1)four living creatures and the ^(C2)twenty-four elders ^(C3)fell down before the ^(C4)Lamb, each one holding a ^(C5)harp and ^(C6)golden bowls full of incense, which are the ^(C7)prayers of the ^(F1)saints.

And they ^(*)sang a ^(C1)new song, saying, "^(C2)Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were ^(C3)slaughtered, and You ^(C4)purchased people for God with Your blood from ^(C5)every tribe, language, people, and nation.

Footnotes:  (*) - This marks a verb that is historical present in the Greek which has been translated with an English past tense in order to conform to modern usage.;

Cross References:  (C1) - Psalms 33:3; Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 14:3; (C2) - Revelation 4:11; (C3) - Revelation 5:6, 12; (C4) - 1 Corinthians 6:20; Revelation 14:3f; (C5) - Daniel 3:4; Revelation 7:9;

You have made them into a ^(C1)kingdom and ^(C1)priests to our God, and they will ^(C2)reign upon the earth."

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:6; (C1) - Revelation 1:6; (C2) - Revelation 3:21;

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels ^(C1)around the throne and the ^(C2)living creatures and the ^(C3)elders; and the number of them was ^(F1)(C4)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,

saying with a loud voice, "^(C1)Worthy is the ^(C2)Lamb that was ^(C2)slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing."

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  (C1) - Revelation 1:6; (C2) - John 1:29; Revelation 5:6, 13; (C2) - John 1:29; Revelation 5:6, 13;

And I heard ^(C1)every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying, "To Him who ^(C2)sits on the throne and to the ^(C3)Lamb ^(C4)be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever."

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  (C1) - Philippians 2:10; Revelation 5:3; (C2) - Revelation 5:1; (C3) - John 1:29; Revelation 5:6, 12f; (C4) - Romans 11:36; Revelation 1:6;

And the ^(C1)four living creatures were saying, "^(C2)Amen." And the ^(C3)elders ^(C4)fell down and worshiped.

Then I saw when the ^(C1)Lamb broke one of the ^(C2)seven seals, and I heard one of the ^(C3)four living creatures saying as with a ^(C4)voice of thunder, "Come^(F1)!"

I looked, and behold, a ^(C1)white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and ^(C2)a crown was given to him, and he went out ^(C3)conquering and to conquer.

When He broke the second seal, I heard the ^(C1)second living creature saying, "Come^(F1)!"

And another, ^(C1)a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to ^(C2)take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.

When He broke the third seal, I heard the ^(C1)third living creature saying, "Come^(F1)!" I looked, and behold, a ^(C2)black horse, and the one who sat on it had a ^(C3)pair of scales in his hand.

And I heard something like a voice in the center of the ^(C1)four living creatures saying, "A ^(F1)quart of wheat for a ^(F2)denarius, and three ^(F1)quarts of barley for a ^(F2)denarius; and ^(C2)do not damage the oil and the wine."

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the ^(C1)fourth living creature saying, "Come^(F1)!"

I looked, and behold, ^(F1)an ^(C1)ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name ^(C2)Death, and ^(C2)Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, ^(C3)to kill with sword, and famine, and ^(F2)plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw ^(C1)underneath the ^(C2)altar the ^(C3)souls of those who had been killed ^(C4)because of the word of God, and because of the ^(C5)testimony which they had maintained;

and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "^(C1)How long, O ^(F1)(C2)Lord, ^(C3)holy and true, ^(F2)will You refrain from ^(C4)judging and avenging our blood on ^(C5)those who live on the earth?"

And a ^(C1)white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to ^(C2)rest for a little while longer, ^(C3)until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was ^(C4)completed also.

And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great ^(C1)earthquake; and the ^(C2)sun became as black as ^(C3)sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;

and ^(C1)the stars of the sky fell to the earth, ^(C2)as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

^(C1)The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and ^(C2)every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Then ^(C1)the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;

and they ^(*)(C1)said to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the ^(F1)sight of Him ^(C2)who sits on the throne, and from the ^(C3)wrath of the Lamb;

for ^(C1)the great day of Their wrath has come, and ^(C2)who is able to stand?"