John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(A) your brother and companion in the suffering^(B) and kingdom^(C) and patient endurance^(D) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(E) and the testimony of Jesus.^{(F) 10} On the Lord’s Day^(G) I was in the Spirit,^(H) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^{(I) 11} which said: “Write on a scroll what you see^(J) and send it to the seven churches:^(K) to Ephesus,^(L) Smyrna,^(M) Pergamum,^(N) Thyatira,^(O) Sardis,^(P) Philadelphia^(Q) and Laodicea.”^(R)

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

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(AD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(AE) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(AF) I am the First and the Last.^{(AG) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(AH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(AI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(AJ)

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

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.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(A) tent^(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan,^(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^{(D) 3} because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan^(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(G)

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight.^{(H) 8} We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(I) 9} So we make it our goal to please him,^(J) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(K) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(L) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^(M)

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ^(A) and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart^(B) and be with Christ,^(C) which is better by far;

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(A) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(B) and with the trumpet call of God,^(C) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(D) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(E) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(F) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(G) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(H) with these words.

³³ “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.^(A)

³⁴ “A new command^(B) I give you: Love one another.^(C) As I have loved you, so you must love one another.^{(D) 35} By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”^(E)

³⁶ Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”^(F)

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now,^(G) but you will follow later.”^(H)

³⁷ Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!^(I)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.^(J) You believe^(K) in God^[a];^(L) believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there^(M) to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(N) and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.^{(O) 4} You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

⁵ Thomas^(P) said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am^(Q) the way^(R) and the truth^(S) and the life.^(T) No one comes to the Father except through me.^(U)

⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.