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Inleiding

God heeft aan Jezus Christus[a] laten weten wat er binnenkort zal gebeuren. Hij wil dat Jezus het aan zijn dienaren bekend maakt. Daarom stuurt Jezus een engel naar zijn dienaar Johannes om hem alles te vertellen. Johannes heeft opgeschreven wat hij heeft gehoord en gezien. Het zal heerlijk zijn om dit boek voor te lezen. En het zal heerlijk voor de mensen zijn om goed naar deze profetische woorden te luisteren en ze goed te onthouden. Want al deze dingen gaan bijna gebeuren.

Johannes doet de groeten aan de gemeenten in Asia

Johannes schrijft dit aan de zeven gemeenten in Asia (= Turkije): Ik bid dat God in alles goed voor jullie zal zijn. En dat jullie vol zullen zijn van de vrede van Hem die is en die was en die komt, de vrede van de zeven Geesten[b] die voor zijn troon staan, en de vrede van Jezus Christus. Hij heeft ons de hele waarheid bekend gemaakt en Hij is te vertrouwen. Hij is de eerste die uit de dood opstond. Hij is de hoogste Koning op aarde. Hij houdt zoveel van ons, dat Hij ons door zijn bloed heeft schoongewassen van onze ongehoorzaamheid aan God. Daarom moeten we Hem alle eer geven! Hij heeft koningen van ons gemaakt en priesters voor zijn God en Vader. Hij regeert voor altijd en eeuwig! Amen! Zo is het!

Hij zal komen op de wolken. Iedereen zal Hem zien, ook de mensen die Hem doorstoken hebben. En alle stammen van de aarde zullen over Hem huilen en treuren. Ja, amen, zo is het!
"IK BEN[c] de Eerste en de Laatste, het Begin en het Einde. IK BEN Hij die is en die was en die komt, de Almachtige God, zegt de Heer."

Jezus geeft Johannes de opdracht dit boek te schrijven

Ik, Johannes, jullie broeder, word net als jullie verdrukt. Ook ik hoor bij het Koninkrijk van God. En ook ik kan alleen volhouden dankzij Jezus. Omdat ik in Gods woord en in Jezus geloof, werd ik naar het eiland Patmos verbannen. 10 En mijn geest werd meegenomen naar de dag van de Heer.[d] En ik hoorde achter mij een luide stem die klonk als een ramshoorn. 11 De stem zei: "IK BEN de Eerste en de Laatste. Alles wat je nu gaat zien, moet je in een boek opschrijven. Stuur dat boek naar de zeven gemeenten in Asia (= Turkije): naar de gemeente in Efeze, in Smyrna, in Pergamum, in Tyatira, in Sardes, in Filadelfia en in Laodicea."

12 Ik draaide mij om, want ik wilde zien wie er tegen mij sprak. En toen ik mij omdraaide, zag ik zeven gouden kandelaren.[e] 13 Tussen die kandelaren zag ik Iemand die op een mens leek. Hij had een gewaad aan dat tot op zijn voeten hing, met om zijn borst een gouden band. 14 Zijn hoofd en zijn haar waren zo wit als witte wol, ja, zo wit als sneeuw. Zijn ogen vlamden als vuur. 15 Zijn voeten leken van gloeiend koper te zijn. Zijn stem klonk als de zee. 16 In zijn rechterhand hield Hij zeven sterren. Uit zijn mond kwam een vlijmscherp zwaard.[f] Zijn gezicht straalde als de zon op het heetst van de dag.

17 Toen ik Hem zag, viel ik als dood voor zijn voeten neer. Maar Hij legde zijn hand op mij en zei: "Je hoeft niet bang te zijn. IK BEN de Eerste en de Laatste en de Levende. 18 IK BEN dood geweest, maar nu leef Ik voor eeuwig. Ik heb de sleutels[g] van de dood en van het dodenrijk.

19 Schrijf op wat je ziet. Schrijf op wat er nu is, en wat er nog gaat gebeuren. 20 Dit is wat de zeven sterren in mijn rechterhand en de zeven gouden kandelaren betekenen: de zeven sterren zijn de zeven engelen[h] van de zeven gemeenten, en de zeven kandelaren zijn de zeven gemeenten."

Footnotes

  1. Openbaring 1:1 'Christus' is niet Jezus' achternaam! Het woord 'Christus' is Grieks en betekent 'Gezalfde'. (Het Nieuwe Testament is in het Grieks geschreven). 'De gezalfde' is in de Joodse Boeken de man die speciaal door God met zijn Geest is gevuld ('gezalfd') om Israël te redden. In het Hebreeuws, de taal waarin het Oude Testament is geschreven, werd hij de 'Messias' genoemd, wat hetzelfde betekent.
  2. Openbaring 1:4 Vergelijk dit met Jesaja 11:2.
  3. Openbaring 1:8 Jezus gebruikt hier de woorden IK BEN. In het Grieks staat daar 'ego eimi,' wat veel nadrukkelijker is dan de gewone manier om 'ik ben...' te zeggen. In het oude testament maakt God zich met de naam IK BEN aan Mozes bekend. Lees Exodus 3:14. Door deze naam te gebruiken geeft Jezus dus aan dat Hijzelf God is. Vergelijk met Matteüs 14:27.
  4. Openbaring 1:10 In de hele bijbel is 'de dag van de Heer' de dag dat God gaat oordelen over alle volken. Lees bijvoorbeeld Obadja 1:15 en 2 Petrus 3:10.
  5. Openbaring 1:12 De kandelaren in die tijd hadden geen kaarsen, maar olielampen.
  6. Openbaring 1:16 Lees ook Hebreeën 4:12.
  7. Openbaring 1:18 Ergens de 'sleutels' van hebben betekent dat je daar de macht / het gezag over hebt.
  8. Openbaring 1:20 Het Griekse woord 'angelos' betekent niet alleen 'engel'. Het kan ook vertaald worden als 'boodschapper'. In dit vers wordt met de 'boodschapper' waarschijnlijk de voorganger van de gemeente bedoeld. Hij leidt immers namens God de gemeente.

Introduction and Benediction

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (A)which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must [a]shortly take place. And (B)He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (C)who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things (D)that he saw. (E)Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for (F)the time is near.

Greeting the Seven Churches

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him (G)who is and (H)who was and who is to come, (I)and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, (J)the faithful (K)witness, the (L)firstborn from the dead, and (M)the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him (N)who [b]loved us (O)and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has (P)made us [c]kings and priests to His God and Father, (Q)to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, He is coming with (R)clouds, and every eye will see Him, even (S)they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

(T)“I am the Alpha and the Omega, [d]the Beginning and the End,” says the [e]Lord, (U)“who is and who was and who is to come, the (V)Almighty.”

Vision of the Son of Man

I, John, [f]both your brother and (W)companion in the tribulation and (X)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 (Y)I was in the Spirit on (Z)the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me (AA)a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, [g]“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 [h]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 (AB)I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 (AC)and in the midst of the seven lampstands (AD)One like the Son of Man, (AE)clothed with a garment down to the feet and (AF)girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and (AG)hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and (AH)His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 (AI)His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and (AJ)His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 (AK)He had in His right hand seven stars, (AL)out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, (AM)and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And (AN)when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But (AO)He laid His right hand on me, saying [i]to me, “Do not be afraid; (AP)I am the First and the Last. 18 (AQ)I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, (AR)I am alive forevermore. Amen. And (AS)I have the keys of [j]Hades and of Death. 19 [k]Write the things which you have (AT)seen, (AU)and the things which are, (AV)and the things which will take place after this. 20 The [l]mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are (AW)the [m]angels of the seven churches, and (AX)the seven lampstands [n]which you saw are the seven churches.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:1 quickly or swiftly
  2. Revelation 1:5 NU loves us and freed; M loves us and washed
  3. Revelation 1:6 NU, M a kingdom
  4. Revelation 1:8 NU, M omit the Beginning and the End
  5. Revelation 1:8 NU, M Lord God
  6. Revelation 1:9 NU, M omit both
  7. Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,
  8. Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit which are in Asia
  9. Revelation 1:17 NU, M omit to me
  10. Revelation 1:18 Lit. Unseen; the unseen realm
  11. Revelation 1:19 NU, M Therefore, write
  12. Revelation 1:20 hidden truth
  13. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
  14. Revelation 1:20 NU, M omit which you saw

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)

Greetings and Doxology

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)

John’s Vision of Christ

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) 10 On the Lord’s Day(AG) I was in the Spirit,(AH) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(AI) 11 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)

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(AS) 13 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) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(AX) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(AY) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(AZ) 16 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.

17 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) 18 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)

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen,(BK) what is now and what will take place later. 20 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)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
  3. Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
  4. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
  5. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

The 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:

Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Blessed 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.

John 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;

And 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,

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Behold, 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.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I 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.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, 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.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And 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.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And 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.

17 And 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:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The 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.