¹⁰ On the Lord’s Day^(A) I was in the Spirit,^(B) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^{(C) 11} which said: “Write on a scroll what you see^(D) and send it to the seven churches:^(E) to Ephesus,^(F) Smyrna,^(G) Pergamum,^(H) Thyatira,^(I) Sardis,^(J) Philadelphia^(K) and Laodicea.”^(L)

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

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

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