Greetings and Doxology

⁴ John,

To the seven churches^(A) in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you^(B) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(C) and from the seven spirits^[a](D) before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(E) the firstborn from the dead,^(F) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(G)

To him who loves us^(H) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^{(I) 6} and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(J) to serve his God and Father^(K)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(L)

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”^(P) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(Q) the Almighty.”^(R)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(B) on the part of God’s people.^(C)

¹² This calls for patient endurance^(A) on the part of the people of God^(B) who keep his commands^(C) and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(A) say:

¹³ When the dragon^(K) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^{(L) 14} The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,^(M) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,^(N) out of the serpent’s reach. ¹⁵ Then from his mouth the serpent^(O) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war^(P) against the rest of her offspring^(Q)—those who keep God’s commands^(R) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.^(S)

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(A) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(B) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^{(C) 7} It was given power to wage war^(D) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^(E)

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(A) like the roar of rushing waters^(B) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(J) of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me,^(K) “Write this:^(L) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(M) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(N)

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[a](A) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(B) and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City,^(C) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(D) prepared as a bride^(E) beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.^(F) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(G) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(H) There will be no more death’^[b](I) or mourning or crying or pain,^(J) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(K)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river^(A) of the water of life,^(B) as clear as crystal,^(C) flowing^(D) from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(E) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^{(F) 3} No longer will there be any curse.^(G) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^{(H) 4} They will see his face,^(I) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(J) 5} There will be no more night.^(K) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(L) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(M)