²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(A) to the city^(B) of the living God,^(C) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(D) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(E) whose names are written in heaven.^(F) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(G) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(H) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(I) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(J) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(K)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse^(L) him who speaks.^(M) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^(N) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{(O) 26} At that time his voice shook the earth,^(P) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{[a](Q) 27} The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^(R)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(S) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(T) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[b](U)

John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(A) your brother and companion in the suffering^(B) and kingdom^(C) and patient endurance^(D) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(E) and the testimony of Jesus.^{(F) 10} On the Lord’s Day^(G) I was in the Spirit,^(H) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^{(I) 11} which said: “Write on a scroll what you see^(J) and send it to the seven churches:^(K) to Ephesus,^(L) Smyrna,^(M) Pergamum,^(N) Thyatira,^(O) Sardis,^(P) Philadelphia^(Q) and Laodicea.”^(R)

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,^{(S) 13} and among the lampstands^(T) was someone like a son of man,^[a](U) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet^(V) and with a golden sash around his chest.^{(W) 14} The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.^{(X) 15} His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,^(Y) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.^{(Z) 16} In his right hand he held seven stars,^(AA) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(AB) His face was like the sun^(AC) shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(AD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(AE) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(AF) I am the First and the Last.^{(AG) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(AH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(AI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(AJ)