⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(A) the firstborn from the dead,^(B) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(C)

To him who loves us^(D) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^(E)

¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead,^(A) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(B) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(C)

To the Church in Smyrna

⁸ “To the angel of the church in Smyrna^(A) write:

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb,^(A) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures^(B) and the elders.^(C) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,^(D) which are the seven spirits^[a](E) of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.^{(F) 8} And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(G) and the twenty-four elders^(H) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(I) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(J) of God’s people. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:^(K)