Study Desk

Prologue

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave^(a) him to show his servants what must soon take place.^(b) He made it known by sending his angel^(c) to his servant John,^(d)

who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God^(e) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.^(f)

Blessed 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,^(g) because the time is near.^(h)

John, To the seven churches⁽ⁱ⁾ in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you^(j) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(k) and from the seven spirits^[a](l) before his throne,

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(m) the firstborn from the dead,⁽ⁿ⁾ and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(o) To him who loves us^(p) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^(q)

and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(r) to serve his God and Father^(s)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(t)

"Look, he is coming with the clouds,"^[b](u) and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him";^(v) and all peoples on earth "will mourn^(w) because of him."^[c] So shall it be! Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,"^(x) says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(y) the Almighty."^(z)

I, John,^(aa) your brother and companion in the suffering^(ab) and kingdom^(ac) and patient endurance^(ad) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(ae) and the testimony of Jesus.^(af)

On the Lord's Day^(ag) I was in the Spirit,^(ah) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^(ai)

which said: "Write on a scroll what you see^(aj) and send it to the seven churches:^(ak) to Ephesus,^(al) Smyrna,^(am) Pergamum,^(an) Thyatira,^(ao) Sardis,^(ap) Philadelphia^(aq) and Laodicea."^(ar)

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,^(as)

and among the lampstands^(at) was someone like a son of man,^[d](au) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet^(av) and with a golden sash around his chest.^(aw)

The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.^(ax)

His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,^(ay) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.^(az)

In his right hand he held seven stars,^(ba) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(bb) His face was like the sun^(bc) shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(bd) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(be) and said: "Do not be afraid.^(bf) I am the First and the Last.^(bg)

I am the Living One; I was dead,^(bh) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(bi) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(bj)

"Write, therefore, what you have seen,^(bk) what is now and what will take place later.

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand^(bl) and of the seven golden lampstands^(bm) is this: The seven stars are the angels^[e] of the seven churches,^(bn) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.^(bo)