Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

To the Church in Ephesus

“To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand(B) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.(C) I know your deeds,(D) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(E) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(F) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(G) and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(H) Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(I) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(J) from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(K) which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear(L) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(M) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(N) which is in the paradise(O) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna(P) write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(Q) who died and came to life again.(R) I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(S) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(T) but are a synagogue of Satan.(U) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(V) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(W) Be faithful,(X) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(Y)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(Z) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(AA)

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(AB) write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(AC) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(AD) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(AE) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(AF)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(AG) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(AH) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(AI) and committed sexual immorality.(AJ) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(AK) 16 Repent(AL) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(AM)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AN) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(AO) I will give some of the hidden manna.(AP) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(AQ) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(AR)

To the Church in Thyatira

18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira(AS) write:

These are the words of the Son of God,(AT) whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.(AU) 19 I know your deeds,(AV) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,(AW) who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.(AX) 21 I have given her time(AY) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.(AZ) 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery(BA) with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,(BB) and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.(BC)

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,(BD) 25 except to hold on to what you have(BE) until I come.’(BF)

26 To the one who is victorious(BG) and does my will to the end,(BH) I will give authority over the nations(BI) 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter(BJ) and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b](BK)—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.(BL) 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear(BM) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Sardis

“To the angel[c] of the church in Sardis(BN) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[d](BO) of God and the seven stars.(BP) I know your deeds;(BQ) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(BR) Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(BS) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(BT) and you will not know at what time(BU) I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.(BV) They will walk with me, dressed in white,(BW) for they are worthy. The one who is victorious(BX) will, like them, be dressed in white.(BY) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,(BZ) but will acknowledge that name before my Father(CA) and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear(CB) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia(CC) write:

These are the words of him who is holy(CD) and true,(CE) who holds the key of David.(CF) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds.(CG) See, I have placed before you an open door(CH) that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(CI) I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,(CJ) who claim to be Jews though they are not,(CK) but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet(CL) and acknowledge that I have loved you.(CM) 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you(CN) from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world(CO) to test(CP) the inhabitants of the earth.(CQ)

11 I am coming soon.(CR) Hold on to what you have,(CS) so that no one will take your crown.(CT) 12 The one who is victorious(CU) I will make a pillar(CV) in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God(CW) and the name of the city of my God,(CX) the new Jerusalem,(CY) which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CZ) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(DA) write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(DB) the ruler of God’s creation.(DC) 15 I know your deeds,(DD) that you are neither cold nor hot.(DE) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(DF) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(DG) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(DH) so you can become rich; and white clothes(DI) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(DJ) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(DK) So be earnest and repent.(DL) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(DM) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(DN) I will come in(DO) and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious,(DP) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(DQ) just as I was victorious(DR) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(DS) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The Throne in Heaven

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open(DT) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet(DU) said, “Come up here,(DV) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(DW) At once I was in the Spirit,(DX) and there before me was a throne in heaven(DY) with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(DZ) and ruby.(EA) A rainbow(EB) that shone like an emerald(EC) encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(ED) They were dressed in white(EE) and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(EF) In front of the throne, seven lamps(EG) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[e](EH) of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(EI) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(EJ) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(EK) The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.(EL) Each of the four living creatures(EM) had six wings(EN) and was covered with eyes all around,(EO) even under its wings. Day and night(EP) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[f](EQ)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(ER)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(ES) and who lives for ever and ever,(ET) 10 the twenty-four elders(EU) fall down before him(EV) who sits on the throne(EW) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,(EX)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(EY)

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(EZ) a scroll with writing on both sides(FA) and sealed(FB) with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel(FC) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(FD) of the tribe of Judah,(FE) the Root of David,(FF) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb,(FG) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(FH) and the elders.(FI) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(FJ) which are the seven spirits[g](FK) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(FL) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(FM) and the twenty-four elders(FN) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(FO) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(FP) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(FQ)

“You are worthy(FR) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(FS) you purchased(FT) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(FU)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(FV) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[h] on the earth.”(FW)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(FX) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(FY) and the elders.(FZ) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(GA) who was slain,(GB)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(GC)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(GD) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(GE) and to the Lamb(GF)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(GG)

14 The four living creatures(GH) said, “Amen,”(GI) and the elders(GJ) fell down and worshiped.(GK)

The Seals

I watched as the Lamb(GL) opened the first of the seven seals.(GM) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(GN) say in a voice like thunder,(GO) “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(GP) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(GQ) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(GR)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(GS) say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(GT) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(GU) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(GV) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(GW) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(GX) saying, “Two pounds[i] of wheat for a day’s wages,[j] and six pounds[k] of barley for a day’s wages,[l](GY) and do not damage(GZ) the oil and the wine!”

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(HA) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(HB) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(HC) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(HD)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(HE) the altar(HF) the souls of those who had been slain(HG) because of the word of God(HH) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(HI) Sovereign Lord,(HJ) holy and true,(HK) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(HL) and avenge our blood?”(HM) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(HN) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[m] were killed just as they had been.(HO)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(HP) The sun turned black(HQ) like sackcloth(HR) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(HS) as figs drop from a fig tree(HT) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(HU) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(HV)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(HW) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(HX) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(HY) and hide us[n] from the face of him who sits on the throne(HZ) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(IA) of their[o] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(IB)

144,000 Sealed

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners(IC) of the earth, holding back the four winds(ID) of the earth to prevent(IE) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal(IF) of the living God.(IG) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:(IH) “Do not harm(II) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads(IJ) of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number(IK) of those who were sealed: 144,000(IL) from all the tribes of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(IM) standing before the throne(IN) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(IO) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,(IP)
who sits on the throne,(IQ)
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(IR) and the four living creatures.(IS) They fell down on their faces(IT) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(IU)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(IV)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(IW) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(IX) 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God(IY)
    and serve him(IZ) day and night in his temple;(JA)
and he who sits on the throne(JB)
    will shelter them with his presence.(JC)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.(JD)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[p]
    nor any scorching heat.(JE)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(JF)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[q](JG)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[r](JH)

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

When he opened the seventh seal,(JI) there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

And I saw the seven angels(JJ) who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.(JK)

Another angel,(JL) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,(JM) on the golden altar(JN) in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God(JO) from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,(JP) and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,(JQ) rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(JR)

The Trumpets

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets(JS) prepared to sound them.

The first angel(JT) sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire(JU) mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third(JV) of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.(JW)

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain,(JX) all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third(JY) of the sea turned into blood,(JZ) a third(KA) of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky(KB) on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water(KC) 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[s] A third(KD) of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.(KE)

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third(KF) of them turned dark.(KG) A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.(KH)

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair(KI) call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe(KJ) to the inhabitants of the earth,(KK) because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
  2. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9
  3. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
  4. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  5. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  6. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
  7. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  8. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
  9. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  10. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  11. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  12. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  13. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  14. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  15. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
  16. Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
  17. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  18. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
  19. Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.