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

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(L) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(M) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(N) I am the First and the Last.^{(O) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(P) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(Q) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(R)

¹⁹ “Write, therefore, what you have seen,^(S) what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand^(T) and of the seven golden lampstands^(U) is this: The seven stars are the angels^[b] of the seven churches,^(V) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.^(W)