Revelation 2-8

New International Version

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “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) ²I 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) ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,^(G) and have not grown weary.

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.^(H) ⁵Consider 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. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,^(K) which I also hate.

⁷Whoever 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

⁸“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) ⁹I 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) ¹⁰Do 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)

¹¹Whoever 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) ¹³I 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)

¹⁴Nevertheless, 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) ¹⁵Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.^(AK) ¹⁶Repent^(AL) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.^(AM)

¹⁷Whoever 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) ¹⁹I know your deeds,^(AV) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

²⁰Nevertheless, 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) ²¹I have given her time^(AY) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.^(AZ) ²²So 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. ²³I 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)

²⁴Now 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) ²⁵except to hold on to what you have^(BE) until I come.’^(BF)

²⁶To the one who is victorious^(BG) and does my will to the end,^(BH) I will give authority over the nations^(BI)— ²⁷that 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. ²⁸I will also give that one the morning star.^(BL) ²⁹Whoever has ears, let them hear^(BM) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Sardis

3 “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) ²Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³Remember, 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.

⁴Yet 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. ⁵The 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. ⁶Whoever has ears, let them hear^(CB) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

⁷“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. ⁸I 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) ⁹I 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) ¹⁰Since 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)

¹¹I am coming soon.^(CR) Hold on to what you have,^(CS) so that no one will take your crown.^(CT) ¹²The 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. ¹³Whoever 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) ¹⁵I know your deeds,^(DD) that you are neither cold nor hot.^(DE) I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷You 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) ¹⁸I 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.

¹⁹Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.^(DK) So be earnest and repent.^(DL) ²⁰Here 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.

²¹To 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. ²²Whoever has ears, let them hear^(DS) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The Throne in Heaven

4 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) ²At once I was in the Spirit,^(DX) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(DY) with someone sitting on it. ³And 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. ⁴Surrounding 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. ⁵From 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. ⁶Also 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) ⁷The 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) ⁸Each 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)

⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne^(ES) and who lives for ever and ever,^(ET) ¹⁰the 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

5 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. ²And I saw a mighty angel^(FC) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵Then 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.”

⁶Then 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. ⁷He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.^(FL) ⁸And 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. ⁹And 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)
¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests^(FV) to serve our God,
    and they will reign^[h] on the earth.”^(FW)

¹¹Then 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) ¹²In 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)

¹³Then 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)

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

The Seals

6 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!” ²I 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)

³When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature^(GS) say, “Come!” ⁴Then 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.

⁵When 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. ⁶Then 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!”

⁷When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature^(HA) say, “Come!” ⁸I 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)

⁹When 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. ¹⁰They 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) ¹¹Then 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)

¹²I 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, ¹³and the stars in the sky fell to earth,^(HS) as figs drop from a fig tree^(HT) when shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,^(HU) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.^(HV)

¹⁵Then 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) ¹⁶They 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! ¹⁷For the great day^(IA) of their^[o] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”^(IB)

144,000 Sealed

7 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. ²Then 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) ³“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.” ⁴Then I heard the number^(IK) of those who were sealed: 144,000^(IL) from all the tribes of Israel.

⁵From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

⁶from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

⁷from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

⁸from 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

⁹After 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. ¹⁰And they cried out in a loud voice:

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

¹¹All 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, ¹²saying:

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

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

¹⁴I 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) ¹⁵Therefore,

“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)
¹⁷For 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

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

²And I saw the seven angels^(JJ) who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.^(JK)

³Another 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. ⁴The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God^(JO) from the angel’s hand. ⁵Then 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

⁶Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets^(JS) prepared to sound them.

⁷The 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)

⁸The 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) ⁹a third^(KA) of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰The 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)— ¹¹the 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)

¹²The 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)

¹³As 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

Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9
Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
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.
Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.

Revelation 2-8

New King James Version

The Loveless Church

2 “To the ^[a]angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says ^(A)He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, ^(B)who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ²^(C)“I know your works, your labor, your ^[b]patience, and that you cannot ^[c]bear those who are evil. And ^(D)you have tested those ^(E)who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have ^(F)not become weary. ⁴Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, ^(G)or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷^(H)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give ^(I)to eat from ^(J)the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Persecuted Church

⁸“And to the ^[d]angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says ^(K)the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are ^(L)rich); and I know the blasphemy of ^(M)those who say they are Jews and are not, ^(N)but are a ^[e]synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰^(O)Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. ^(P)Be faithful until death, and I will give you ^(Q)the crown of life.

¹¹^(R)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by ^(S)the second death.” ’

The Compromising Church

¹²“And to the ^[f]angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says ^(T)He who has the sharp two-edged sword: ¹³“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of ^(U)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, ^(V)to eat things sacrificed to idols, ^(W)and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, ^[g]which thing I hate. ¹⁶Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and ^(X)will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

¹⁷“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden ^(Y)manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone ^(Z)a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The Corrupt Church

¹⁸“And to the ^[h]angel of the church in Thyatira write,

‘These things says the Son of God, ^(AA)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: ¹⁹^(AB)“I know your works, love, ^[i]service, faith, and your ^[j]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. ²⁰Nevertheless I have ^[k]a few things against you, because you allow ^[l]that woman ^(AC)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, ^[m]to teach and seduce My servants ^(AD)to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. ²¹And I gave her time ^(AE)to ^[n]repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²²Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of ^[o]their deeds. ²³I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who ^(AF)searches^[p] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

²⁴“Now to you I say, ^[q]and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the ^(AG)depths of Satan, as they say, ^(AH)I ^[r]will put on you no other burden. ²⁵But hold fast ^(AI)what you have till I come. ²⁶And he who overcomes, and keeps ^(AJ)My works until the end, ^(AK)to him I will give power over the nations—

²⁷‘He^(AL) shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; ²⁸and I will give him ^(AM)the morning star.

²⁹“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Dead Church

3 “And to the ^[s]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who ^(AN)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ²Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before ^[t]God. ³^(AO)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and ^(AP)repent. ^(AQ)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you ^(AR)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ⁴^[u]You have ^(AS)a few names ^[v]even in Sardis who have not ^(AT)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me ^(AU)in white, for they are worthy. ⁵He who overcomes ^(AV)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not ^(AW)blot out his name from the ^(AX)Book of Life; but ^(AY)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

⁶^(AZ)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church

⁷“And to the ^[w]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says ^(BA)He who is holy, ^(BB)He who is true, ^(BC)“He who has the key of David, ^(BD)He who opens and no one shuts, and ^(BE)shuts and no one opens”: ⁸^(BF)“I know your works. See, I have set before you ^(BG)an open door, ^[x]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. ⁹Indeed I will make ^(BH)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed ^(BI)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. ¹⁰Because you have kept ^[y]My command to persevere, ^(BJ)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon ^(BK)the whole world, to test those who dwell ^(BL)on the earth. ¹¹^[z]Behold, ^(BM)I am coming quickly! ^(BN)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take ^(BO)your crown. ¹²He who overcomes, I will make him ^(BP)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall ^(BQ)go out no more. ^(BR)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the ^(BS)New Jerusalem, which ^(BT)comes down out of heaven from My God. ^(BU)And I will write on him My new name.

¹³^(BV)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

¹⁴“And to the ^[aa]angel of the church ^[ab]of the Laodiceans write,

^(BW)‘These things says the Amen, ^(BX)the Faithful and True Witness, ^(BY)the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵^(BZ)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither ^[ac]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷Because you say, ^(CA)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸I counsel you ^(CB)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and ^(CC)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹^(CD)As many as I love, I rebuke and ^(CE)chasten.^[ad] Therefore be ^[ae]zealous and repent. ²⁰Behold, ^(CF)I stand at the door and knock. ^(CG)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, ^(CH)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹To him who overcomes ^(CI)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

²²^(CJ)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

The Throne Room of Heaven^(CK)

4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing ^(CL)open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a ^(CM)trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

²Immediately ^(CN)I was in the Spirit; and behold, ^(CO)a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. ³^[af]And He who sat there was ^(CP)like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; ^(CQ)and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. ⁴^(CR)Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, ^(CS)clothed in white ^[ag]robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵And from the throne proceeded ^(CT)lightnings, ^[ah]thunderings, and voices. ^(CU)Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are ^(CV)the^[ai] seven Spirits of God.

⁶Before the throne there ^[aj]was ^(CW)a sea of glass, like crystal. ^(CX)And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷^(CY)The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸The four living creatures, each having ^(CZ)six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

^(DA)“Holy,^[ak] holy, holy,
^(DB)Lord God Almighty,
^(DC)Who was and is and is to come!”

⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, ^(DD)who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰^(DE)the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

¹¹“You^(DF) are worthy, ^[al]O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
^(DG)For You created all things,
And by ^(DH)Your will they ^[am]exist and were created.”

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne ^(DI)a scroll written inside and on the back, ^(DJ)sealed with seven seals. ²Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ^(DK)“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” ³And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

⁴So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open ^[an]and read the scroll, or to look at it. ⁵But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, ^(DL)the Lion of the tribe of ^(DM)Judah, ^(DN)the Root of David, has ^(DO)prevailed to open the scroll ^(DP)and ^[ao]to loose its seven seals.”

⁶And I looked, ^[ap]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood ^(DQ)a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and ^(DR)seven eyes, which are ^(DS)the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand ^(DT)of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy Is the Lamb

⁸Now when He had taken the scroll, ^(DU)the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the ^(DV)prayers of the saints. ⁹And ^(DW)they sang a new song, saying:

^(DX)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And ^(DY)have redeemed us to God ^(DZ)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
¹⁰And have made ^[aq]us ^(EA)kings^[ar] and ^(EB)priests to our God;
And ^[as]we shall reign on the earth.”

¹¹Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹²saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

¹³And ^(EC)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, I heard saying:

^(ED)“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him ^(EE)who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ^[at]ever!”

¹⁴Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the ^[au]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped ^[av]Him who lives forever and ever.

First Seal: The Conqueror

6 Now ^(EF)I saw when the Lamb opened one of the ^[aw]seals; and I heard ^(EG)one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” ²And I looked, and behold, ^(EH)a white horse. ^(EI)He who sat on it had a bow; ^(EJ)and a crown was given to him, and he went out ^(EK)conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

³When He opened the second seal, ^(EL)I heard the second living creature saying, “Come ^[ax]and see.” ⁴^(EM)Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to ^(EN)take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

⁵When He opened the third seal, ^(EO)I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, ^(EP)a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of ^(EQ)scales^[ay] in his hand. ⁶And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A ^[az]quart of wheat for a ^[ba]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and ^(ER)do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

⁷When He opened the fourth seal, ^(ES)I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” ⁸^(ET)So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And ^[bb]power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, ^(EU)to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, ^(EV)and by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

⁹When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under ^(EW)the altar ^(EX)the souls of those who had been slain ^(EY)for the word of God and for ^(EZ)the testimony which they held. ¹⁰And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ^(FA)“How long, O Lord, ^(FB)holy and true, ^(FC)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” ¹¹Then a ^(FD)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them ^(FE)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

¹²I looked when He opened the sixth seal, ^(FF)and ^[bc]behold, there was a great earthquake; and ^(FG)the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the ^[bd]moon became like blood. ¹³^(FH)And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. ¹⁴^(FI)Then the sky ^[be]receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and ^(FJ)every mountain and island was moved out of its place. ¹⁵And the ^(FK)kings of the earth, the great men, ^[bf]the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, ^(FL)hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶^(FM)and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who ^(FN)sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷For the great day of His wrath has come, ^(FO)and who is able to stand?”

The Sealed of Israel

7 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, ^(FP)holding the four winds of the earth, ^(FQ)that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. ²Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, ³saying, ^(FR)“Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God ^(FS)on their foreheads.” ⁴^(FT)And I heard the number of those who were sealed. ^(FU)One hundred and forty-four thousand ^(FV)of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

⁵of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were ^[bg]sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
⁶of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
⁷of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
⁸of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

⁹After these things I looked, and behold, ^(FW)a great multitude which no one could number, ^(FX)of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, ^(FY)clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ^(FZ)“Salvation belongs to our God ^(GA)who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹^(GB)All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and ^(GC)worshiped God, ¹²^(GD)saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

¹³Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in ^(GE)white robes, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴And I said to him, ^[bh]“Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, ^(GF)“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and ^(GG)washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will ^(GH)dwell among them. ¹⁶^(GI)They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; ^(GJ)the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; ¹⁷for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne ^(GK)will shepherd them and lead them to ^[bi]living fountains of waters. ^(GL)And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

8 When^(GM) He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ²^(GN)And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, ^(GO)and to them were given seven trumpets. ³Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with ^(GP)the prayers of all the saints upon ^(GQ)the golden altar which was before the throne. ⁴And ^(GR)the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. ⁵Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And ^(GS)there were noises, thunderings, ^(GT)lightnings, ^(GU)and an earthquake.

⁶So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

⁷The first angel sounded: ^(GV)And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown ^(GW)to the ^[bj]earth. And a third ^(GX)of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

⁸Then the second angel sounded: ^(GY)And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, ^(GZ)and a third of the sea ^(HA)became blood. ⁹^(HB)And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

¹⁰Then the third angel sounded: ^(HC)And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, ^(HD)and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹^(HE)The name of the star is Wormwood. ^(HF)A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

¹²^(HG)Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day ^[bk]did not shine, and likewise the night.

¹³And I looked, ^(HH)and I heard an ^[bl]angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, ^(HI)“Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Footnotes

Revelation 2:1 Or messenger
Revelation 2:2 perseverance
Revelation 2:2 endure
Revelation 2:8 Or messenger
Revelation 2:9 congregation
Revelation 2:12 Or messenger
Revelation 2:15 NU, M likewise.
Revelation 2:18 Or messenger
Revelation 2:19 NU, M faith, service
Revelation 2:19 perseverance
Revelation 2:20 NU, M against you that you tolerate
Revelation 2:20 M your wife Jezebel
Revelation 2:20 NU, M and teaches and seduces
Revelation 2:21 NU, M repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
Revelation 2:22 NU, M her
Revelation 2:23 examines
Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit and
Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit will
Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
Revelation 3:19 discipline
Revelation 3:19 eager
Revelation 4:3 M omits And He who sat there was, making the following a description of the throne.
Revelation 4:4 NU, M robes, with crowns
Revelation 4:5 NU, M voices, and thunderings.
Revelation 4:5 M omits the
Revelation 4:6 NU, M add something like
Revelation 4:8 M has holy nine times.
Revelation 4:11 NU, M our Lord and God
Revelation 4:11 NU, M existed
Revelation 5:4 NU, M omit and read
Revelation 5:5 NU, M omit to loose
Revelation 5:6 NU, M I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing
Revelation 5:10 NU, M them
Revelation 5:10 NU a kingdom
Revelation 5:10 NU, M they
Revelation 5:13 M adds Amen
Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit twenty-four
Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit Him who lives forever and ever
Revelation 6:1 NU, M seven seals
Revelation 6:3 NU, M omit and see
Revelation 6:5 balances
Revelation 6:6 Gr. choinix, about 1 quart
Revelation 6:6 About 1 day’s wage for a worker
Revelation 6:8 authority
Revelation 6:12 NU, M omit behold
Revelation 6:12 NU, M whole moon
Revelation 6:14 Or split apart
Revelation 6:15 NU, M the commanders, the rich men,
Revelation 7:5 NU, M omit sealed in vv. 5b–8b.
Revelation 7:14 NU, M My lord
Revelation 7:17 NU, M fountains of the waters of life
Revelation 8:7 NU, M add and a third of the earth was burned up
Revelation 8:12 had no light
Revelation 8:13 NU, M eagle

New International Version (NIV)

Revelation 2-8 New International Version

To the Church in Ephesus

To the Church in Smyrna

To the Church in Pergamum

To the Church in Thyatira

To the Church in Sardis

To the Church in Philadelphia

To the Church in Laodicea

The Throne in Heaven

The Scroll and the Lamb

The Seals

144,000 Sealed

The Great Multitude in White Robes

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

The Trumpets

Footnotes

Cross references

Revelation 2-8 New King James Version

The Loveless Church

The Persecuted Church

The Compromising Church

The Corrupt Church

The Dead Church

The Faithful Church

The Lukewarm Church

The Throne Room of Heaven(CK)

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

Worthy Is the Lamb

First Seal: The Conqueror

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

The Sealed of Israel

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Revelation 2-8

New International Version

Revelation 2-8

New King James Version

The Throne Room of Heaven^(CK)