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18 I am the one who always lives. I died once. But look! Now I am alive and I will be alive for ever. I have authority over death and over Hades, the place for dead people.[a] 19 So write down the things that you have seen. Write about what you see that is happening now. Also write about the things that will happen later.

20 You saw seven stars that I held in my right hand. You saw seven lights in their gold lampstands. Now I will tell you what they mean. The seven stars show what the angels of the seven churches are like.[b] The seven lights in their lampstands show what the seven churches themselves are like.’

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Footnotes

  1. 1:18 This verse means that Jesus has authority. He will say when a person must die. He will also decide where the dead person's spirit will go. The Bible shows us that Hades is the place for dead people.
  2. 1:20 ‘angels’ or perhaps it may mean ‘messengers’ or ‘leaders’.