Prologue

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave^(A) him to show his servants what must soon take place.^(B) He made it known by sending his angel^(C) to his servant John,^{(D) 2} who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God^(E) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.^{(F) 3} Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,^(G) because the time is near.^(H)

Greetings and Doxology

⁴ John,

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

Grace and peace to you^(J) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(K) and from the seven spirits^[a](L) before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,^(M) the firstborn from the dead,^(N) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(O)

To him who loves us^(P) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,^{(Q) 6} and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(R) to serve his God and Father^(S)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(T)

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”^(X) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(Y) the Almighty.”^(Z)

John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(AA) your brother and companion in the suffering^(AB) and kingdom^(AC) and patient endurance^(AD) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(AE) and the testimony of Jesus.^{(AF) 10} On the Lord’s Day^(AG) I was in the Spirit,^(AH) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^{(AI) 11} which said: “Write on a scroll what you see^(AJ) and send it to the seven churches:^(AK) to Ephesus,^(AL) Smyrna,^(AM) Pergamum,^(AN) Thyatira,^(AO) Sardis,^(AP) Philadelphia^(AQ) and Laodicea.”^(AR)

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,^{(AS) 13} and among the lampstands^(AT) was someone like a son of man,^[d](AU) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet^(AV) and with a golden sash around his chest.^{(AW) 14} The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.^{(AX) 15} His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,^(AY) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.^{(AZ) 16} In his right hand he held seven stars,^(BA) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(BB) His face was like the sun^(BC) shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(BD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(BE) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(BF) I am the First and the Last.^{(BG) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(BH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(BI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(BJ)

¹⁹ “Write, therefore, what you have seen,^(BK) what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand^(BL) and of the seven golden lampstands^(BM) is this: The seven stars are the angels^[e] of the seven churches,^(BN) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.^(BO)

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “To the angel^[f] of the church in Ephesus^(BP) write:

To the Church in Smyrna

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

To the Church in Pergamum

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

To the Church in Thyatira

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

To the Church in Sardis

3 “To the angel^[h] of the church in Sardis^(EC) write:

To the Church in Philadelphia

⁷ “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia^(ER) write:

To the Church in Laodicea

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

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^(GI) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(GJ) said, “Come up here,^(GK) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^{(GL) 2} At once I was in the Spirit,^(GM) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(GN) with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^(GO) and ruby.^(GP) A rainbow^(GQ) that shone like an emerald^(GR) encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.^(GS) They were dressed in white^(GT) and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.^(GU) In front of the throne, seven lamps^(GV) were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[j](GW) of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^(GX) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^(GY) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^{(GZ) 7} 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.^{(HA) 8} Each of the four living creatures^(HB) had six wings^(HC) and was covered with eyes all around,^(HD) even under its wings. Day and night^(HE) they never stop saying:

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne^(HH) and who lives for ever and ever,^{(HI) 10} the twenty-four elders^(HJ) fall down before him^(HK) who sits on the throne^(HL) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude^(A) in heaven shouting:

³ And again they shouted:

⁴ The twenty-four elders^(J) and the four living creatures^(K) fell down^(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

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

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

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

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him.^(AD) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!^(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”^(AF)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open^(AG) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider^(AH) is called Faithful and True.^(AI) With justice he judges and wages war.^{(AJ) 12} His eyes are like blazing fire,^(AK) and on his head are many crowns.^(AL) He has a name written on him^(AM) that no one knows but he himself.^{(AN) 13} He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,^(AO) and his name is the Word of God.^{(AP) 14} The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,^(AQ) white^(AR) and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword^(AS) with which to strike down^(AT) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[a](AU) He treads the winepress^(AV) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:^(AW)

¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds^(AY) flying in midair,^(AZ) “Come,^(BA) gather together for the great supper of God,^{(BB) 18} so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,^(BC) free and slave,^(BD) great and small.”^(BE)

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast^(BF) and the kings of the earth^(BG) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse^(BH) and his army. ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(BI) who had performed the signs^(BJ) on its behalf.^(BK) With these signs he had deluded^(BL) those who had received the mark of the beast^(BM) and worshiped its image.^(BN) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(BO) of burning sulfur.^{(BP) 21} The rest were killed with the sword^(BQ) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,^(BR) and all the birds^(BS) gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,^(BT) having the key^(BU) to the Abyss^(BV) and holding in his hand a great chain. ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan,^(BW) and bound him for a thousand years.^{(BX) 3} He threw him into the Abyss,^(BY) and locked and sealed^(BZ) it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations^(CA) anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

⁴ I saw thrones^(CB) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(CC) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(CD) because of their testimony about Jesus^(CE) and because of the word of God.^(CF) They^[b] had not worshiped the beast^(CG) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(CH) They came to life and reigned^(CI) with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.^{(CJ) 6} Blessed^(CK) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death^(CL) has no power over them, but they will be priests^(CM) of God and of Christ and will reign with him^(CN) for a thousand years.

The Judgment of Satan

⁷ When the thousand years are over,^(CO) Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations^(CP) in the four corners of the earth^(CQ)—Gog and Magog^(CR)—and to gather them for battle.^(CS) In number they are like the sand on the seashore.^{(CT) 9} They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded^(CU) the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.^(CV) But fire came down from heaven^(CW) and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them,^(CX) was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,^(CY) where the beast^(CZ) and the false prophet^(DA) had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.^(DB)

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne^(DC) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,^(DD) and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small,^(DE) standing before the throne, and books were opened.^(DF) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.^(DG) The dead were judged^(DH) according to what they had done^(DI) as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades^(DJ) gave up the dead^(DK) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.^{(DL) 14} Then death^(DM) and Hades^(DN) were thrown into the lake of fire.^(DO) The lake of fire is the second death.^{(DP) 15} Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life^(DQ) was thrown into the lake of fire.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[c](DR) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(DS) and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City,^(DT) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(DU) prepared as a bride^(DV) 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.^(DW) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(DX) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(DY) There will be no more death’^[d](DZ) or mourning or crying or pain,^(EA) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(EB)

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(EC) said, “I am making everything new!”^(ED) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(EE)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done.^(EF) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(EG) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost^(EH) from the spring of the water of life.^{(EI) 7} Those who are victorious^(EJ) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^{(EK) 8} But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars^(EL)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.^(EM) This is the second death.”^(EN)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues^(EO) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,^(EP) the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away^(EQ) in the Spirit^(ER) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.^{(ES) 11} It shone with the glory of God,^(ET) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,^(EU) clear as crystal.^{(EV) 12} It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,^(EW) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.^{(EX) 13} There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations,^(EY) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles^(EZ) of the Lamb.

¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod^(FA) of gold to measure the city, its gates^(FB) and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia^[e] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human^(FC) measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[f] thick.^{[g] 18} The wall was made of jasper,^(FD) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.^{(FE) 19} The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.^(FF) The first foundation was jasper,^(FG) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,^(FH) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^{[h] 21} The twelve gates^(FI) were twelve pearls,^(FJ) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.^(FK)

²² I did not see a temple^(FL) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty^(FM) and the Lamb^(FN) are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(FO) gives it light,^(FP) and the Lamb^(FQ) is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^{(FR) 25} On no day will its gates^(FS) ever be shut,^(FT) for there will be no night there.^{(FU) 26} The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.^{(FV) 27} Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,^(FW) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(FX)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river^(FY) of the water of life,^(FZ) as clear as crystal,^(GA) flowing^(GB) 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,^(GC) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^{(GD) 3} No longer will there be any curse.^(GE) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^{(GF) 4} They will see his face,^(GG) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(GH) 5} There will be no more night.^(GI) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(GJ) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(GK)

John and the Angel

⁶ The angel said to me,^(GL) “These words are trustworthy and true.^(GM) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,^(GN) sent his angel^(GO) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon!^(GP) Blessed^(GQ) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”^(GR)

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.^(GS) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet^(GT) of the angel who had been showing them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.^(GU) Worship God!”^(GV)

¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up^(GW) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,^(GX) because the time is near.^{(GY) 11} Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”^(GZ)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

¹² “Look, I am coming soon!^(HA) My reward is with me,^(HB) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.^{(HC) 13} I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(HD) the First and the Last,^(HE) the Beginning and the End.^(HF)

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes,^(HG) that they may have the right to the tree of life^(HH) and may go through the gates^(HI) into the city.^{(HJ) 15} Outside^(HK) are the dogs,^(HL) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus,^(HM) have sent my angel^(HN) to give you^[i] this testimony for the churches.^(HO) I am the Root^(HP) and the Offspring of David,^(HQ) and the bright Morning Star.”^(HR)

¹⁷ The Spirit^(HS) and the bride^(HT) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.^(HU)

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:^(HV) If anyone adds anything to them,^(HW) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.^{(HX) 19} And if anyone takes words away^(HY) from this scroll of prophecy,^(HZ) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life^(IA) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things^(IB) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”^(IC)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.^(ID)

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.^(IE) Amen.