啟 示 錄 1-5
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
约翰谈论此书
1 这是来自耶稣基督的启示，这启示是上帝赐给他的，为的是要把一些不久即将发生的事情，展示给基督的仆人。耶稣基督派遣他的天使，通过迹象把这些事情告知给他的仆人约翰。 2 约翰证实了他所看见的一切，也就是上帝的信息和耶稣基督告诉他的真理。 3 读到这些预言的人是有福的；听到这些预言并且遵守书中所记载的事情的人是有福的，因为这个日子就要来临了。
约翰写信给这些教会
4 约翰致亚西亚 [a]省七个教会的信：
愿来自昔日、现在和未来的上帝以及上帝宝座前的七位灵的恩典与和平属于你们； 5 愿来自那忠实的见证者，即首先从死里复活的长子、地上诸王的统治者、耶稣基督的恩典与和平属于你们。
他爱我们，他用自己的鲜血把我们从罪恶中解救出来。 6 他使我们成为一个王国，使我们成为侍奉他父-上帝的祭司。愿光荣与权力永远属于耶稣！阿们！
7 看那！基督驾云而来，所有的人都会看见他，连刺他的人也会看到他的。地上所有的民族都因为他而悲伤痛哭。的确如此！阿们！
8 主上帝说∶“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛 。 [b]现在、过去和将来我永远是全能的。”
9 我是约翰，是你们的兄弟。在基督里，我与你们一起分担患难、共享王国，并一同忍耐。我因为传播上帝的信息和耶稣的真理，被驱逐到了拔摩岛。 10 在主日那天，当圣灵附体时，我听到一个号角般宏亮的声音在我身后响起！ 11 那声音说∶“把你所看到的写在书上，并把它发送给这七个教会：以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非及老底嘉。”
12 我转身去看是谁在对我说话，于是我看见了七个金灯台， 13 灯台中间，站着一个酷似“人子”的人。他身穿垂到脚的长袍，胸前系着一根金带。 14 他的头和头发白的像白羊毛，像白雪，他的双眼像燃烧着的火焰， 15 双脚像经过千锤百炼的青铜，他的声音尤如洪水的波涛声。 16 他右手拿着七颗星星，口吐一把双刃利剑，脸像正午的太阳那样金光闪闪。
17 我一看见他，立刻像死去一样倒在他的脚下。他把右手放在我的身上说，“不要害怕，我是第一位，也是最后一位。 18 我是永生的那位。我死过，但是，看吧：现在我活着，并将永远活着。我掌管着死亡和阴间的钥匙。 19 你要把你所看见的、现在发生的和将要发生的一切都写下来。 20 你看到我右手拿着的这七颗星和这七个灯台的隐意是：七颗星是七个教会的天使，那七个灯台就是七个教会。”
耶稣致以弗所教会的信
2 “给以弗所教会天使的信，要这样写：
“右手拿着七颗星，走在七个金灯台之间的他说： 2 我知道你的事迹、辛勤和恒心。我还知道你不能容忍邪恶之人。你考验那些自称是使徒，但实际却不是的人，认出他们只不过是骗子而已。 3 为了我，你吃苦耐劳，不知疲倦。
4 “但是，有一件事，我要责备你：你已抛弃了当初的爱心。 5 想一想，你是在哪儿跌倒的。忏悔吧！当初怎么做，现在还那样做吧！如果你不忏悔，我就要到你这里来，把你的灯台拿走。 6 不过，你还有一些可取之处，你和我一样憎恨尼哥拉人 [c]的行为。
7 “有耳能听的人，都应该听听圣灵对教会说的话。对于胜利者，我要给他们权力，吃上帝乐园的生命树的果实。”
耶稣致士每拿教会的信
8 “给士每拿教会天使的信，要这样写：
“那位即是开始、又是结束、从死里复活的他说： 9 ‘我知道你受苦受穷，但实际上你很富有。我也知道你遭到了自称是犹太人的诽谤（其实他们并不是），他们实际上是撒旦的党羽。 10 不要害怕你将要遭受到的苦难。听着，魔鬼会把你们中的一些人投入监狱，去考验你们。你们要受十天的苦难，但是，你要忠贞不渝，视死如归，我会赐给你永生的桂冠。
11 “有耳能听的人，都应该听圣灵对教会讲的话。获胜的人绝不会受到第二次死亡的伤害。’”
耶稣致别迦摩教会的信
12 “给别迦摩教会天使的信，要这样写：
“有双刃利剑的他说： 13 ‘我知道你住在哪里，你住在撒旦宝座所在之地。我还知道你一直坚持对我的名字的信仰，即使是在我忠实的见证人、安提帕斯在你们的城市里，即撒旦所在之地，被杀害的日子里，你也没有放弃对我的信仰。
14 “然而有些事情我要责备你：你们中间有些人，追随巴兰木的教导。 [d]巴兰木曾教唆巴勒克去引诱以色列人，让他们犯罪，吃祭偶像的食品，并犯有不道德的性行为。 [e] 15 同样，你们中间还有一些人追随尼哥拉的教导。 16 忏悔吧！不然我很快就会到你们这儿来，用我口中的利剑与你们作战。
17 “有耳能听的人，都应该听圣灵对教会说的话。
“我要赐给获胜的人隐藏的吗哪 [f]，并赐给他一块白石，上面写着一个新名字，只有得到它的人才能知道那名字是什么。’”
耶稣致推雅推喇教会的信
18 “给推雅推喇教会天使的信，要这样写：
“上帝之子双眼像燃烧的火焰，双脚像闪亮的青铜，他说： 19 我知道你的行为、爱心、信仰、勤劳和耐力。我知道你现在做的事比刚开始时做的要好。 20 然而，有一件事我要责备你：你容忍了那个自称是女先知的耶洗别。她的教唆使我的仆人误入歧途，导致他们淫行堕落，吃祭过偶像的食物。 21 我给了她时间去忏悔，但是，她并没有为自己的淫乱而忏悔。 22 所以我要把她扔在痛苦的床上。那些和她通奸的人，也要遭受到大灾大难，除非他们为自己和她在一起的淫乱行为而忏悔。 23 我要杀死跟随她的人，让所有的教会都知道，我洞悉人们的想法与意识，我要按照你们的行为，报应你们每个人。
24 “你们在推雅推喇其余的人，没有追随邪说，也没有学撒旦所谓的深邃的秘密。我要告诉你们，我不会给你们任何其它的负担， 25 但是，你们一定要坚持你们已有的，直到我的来临。
26 “对于那些获胜的人和一直坚持遵守我的命令到底的人，我要赐给他统治万国的权柄：
27 ‘他将用铁棒来统治他们，
把他们像瓦罐一样打得粉碎。’ (A)
28 就像我从我父亲手中得到这个权力一样，我还要赐给这个人一颗晨星。 29 有耳能听的人，都应该听圣灵对教会所说的话。”
耶稣致撒狄教会的信
3 “给撒狄教会天使的信，要这样写：
“‘有上帝的七个灵和七颗星星的他说：我知道你的所作所为，你有虽生犹死的的名声， 2 振作起来！在你还没有彻底死之前，加强你所剩下的生机吧。因为，在我的上帝面前，我找不出你配得上我的上帝的行为。 3 因此切记你所听到和领受到的教导，要服从它。忏悔把！如果你不醒悟过来，我就会像小偷一样，出其不意地降临，而你是不会知道我在什么时候来临。 4 不过，在撒狄还是有一些洁身自好的人，这些人配得上穿白衣与我同行。 5 获胜的人会像这样穿上白衣服。我不会把他从生命册中删名，我要在我父和天使面前，承认他的名字。 6 有耳能听的人，都应该听灵对教会所说的话。’”
耶稣致非拉铁非教会的信
7 “给非拉铁非教会天使的信，要这样写：
“真实、神圣的他，掌管着大卫的钥匙。如果他打开一扇门，就没有人能把它关上；他若关上一扇门，也就没有人能把它打开。他说： 8 我知道你的行为，看那，我在你面前放了一扇打开的门，没有人能把它关上。我知道，尽管你的力气单薄，但是，你还是坚持了我的教导，没有否认我的名字。 9 听着，那些撒旦的党羽和实际上不是但却自称是犹太人的骗子，我要让他们来跪拜在你的脚下，让他们知道我爱你。 10 因为你遵循了我的命令，耐心地忍受着，所以，当地上所有的人接受即将来临的考验时，我会让你免于考验。
11 “我就要来了，你要坚持你所有的，不要让人夺走你的桂冠。 12 那得胜者，我要让他成为上帝大殿里的一根支柱，从此不再离开那里。我要在他的身上，写上我的上帝的名字和我的上帝之城的名字，此城就是那从天而降、来自我的上帝的新耶路撒冷。我也要在他的身上写下我的新名字。 13 有耳能听的人，都应该听圣灵对教会讲的话。”
耶稣致老底嘉教会的信
14 “给老底嘉教会天使的信，要这样写：
“‘那位被称为阿们的，即那位忠诚真实的证人，上帝所造的万物的统治者说道： 15 我知道你的表现，你既不冷也不热。我倒是愿你或冷或热， 16 可你却是不冷不热的温吞水，我要把你从我的嘴里吐出去！ 17 你说∶“我很富，我已经很富有了，不再需要任何东西了。”但是，你却没有意识到自己是多么地悲惨、可怜、贫穷眼瞎和赤身露体。 18 我建议你从我这儿买些经过烈火锤炼的金子，这样，你便可以真正地富裕起来。再买些白衣服穿上，以便掩盖你那令人羞耻的裸体，再买些眼药抹在你的眼睛里，使你能够看见。
19 “对我所爱的人，我要严加管教。因此，你们要满腔热情，要忏悔！ 20 看哪，我站在门口，在敲门。如果有人听见我的声音，并打开门，我会进去和他共进晚餐。
21 “我要赐权力给获胜的人，让他与我一同坐在我的宝座上，就像已获胜的我与我父同坐在他的宝座上一样。 22 有耳能听的人，都应该听圣灵对教会所说的话。”
约翰看到天堂
4 此后，在我面前，我看见天堂有一扇敞开的门。我以前听到过的那个号角般的声音对我说∶“你上到这里来，我要把今后必将发生的事情展示给你。” 2 我立刻就受到灵的支配。在我面前是天堂里的一个宝座。宝座上端坐着一位， 3 他的面容像碧玉和红宝石一样闪耀，宝座四周被一条绿宝石似的彩虹围绕着。 4 宝座周围还有二十四个宝座，二十四位长老坐在上面。他们身穿白衣，头戴金冠。 5 宝座闪闪发光，隆隆作响，电闪雷鸣。宝座前有七支熊熊燃烧的火把，它们是上帝的七个灵。 6 宝座前如同一片晶莹透亮的玻璃海。
宝座正前方和其它三侧，有四个生物。它们胸前背后长满了眼睛。 7 第一个生物像狮子。第二个像公牛，第三个有一副人脸，第四个像飞鹰。 8 四个生物都有六个翅膀，浑身上下长满了眼睛。它们日夜不停地说着：
“主，全能的上帝，
神圣，神圣，神圣，
昔日、现在、未来，他永在。”
9 每当这些生物把荣耀、尊崇和感谢献给坐在宝座上永生不朽的那位时， 10 二十四名长老 [g]就匍伏在宝座上永生的那位面前，敬拜那位万寿无疆的他。他们把自己的王冠放到宝座前，说：
11 “主，我们的上帝，
荣耀、尊崇和权力，
你受之无愧，
因为您创造了万物，
万物因为您的旨意，
才得以存在和受造。”
谁能打开起封开卷
5 然后，我看到坐在宝座上的人，右手拿着一卷正反两面都写着字、并用七个印封住的书轴。 2 我又看见一个强壮的天使高声问道∶“谁配启封开卷？” 3 可是天上、地上、地下没有一个人能打开卷轴，阅读它，因为没人有资格启封开卷并阅读它。 4 对此，我痛哭不己。 5 随后一位长老对我说∶“别哭了。看！犹大支派的狮子，大卫的后代获胜了，他能揭开七个印，打开那书卷。”
6 接着，我看见一只羔羊站在宝座前，那四个生物和长老围绕着它。羔羊看上去好像已被祭献过了。它长着七只角，七只眼，代表着被派到地上去的上帝的七个灵。 7 然后，这羔羊走过来，从坐在宝座上的那位的右手中接过卷轴。 8 羔羊一拿到卷轴，四个生物和二十四个长老都跪在羔羊面前。他们每人手拿一把竖琴和盛满香的金碗，这香就是上帝子民的祷告。 9 他们唱着一首新歌：
“你配拿卷轴，并开启封印，
因为你做为祭物被杀；
用鲜血为上帝赎回了子民，
他们来自各支派，说各种语言，
属于不同的民族和国家。
10 你让他们组成一个王国，
并使他们成为供职上帝的祭司。
在地上执掌王权。”
11 接着，我看到，并听到众多天使的声音，他们围绕在宝座、四个生物和长老的周围，天使的数目有成千上万个，数不胜数。 12 他们齐声高呼：
“被杀害的羔羊配得上
权力、财富、智慧、力量、尊崇、荣耀和赞美！”
13 然后，我又听到天上、地上，地下和水中一切被造之物－整个宇宙的生物说：
“赞美、尊崇、荣耀和权力永远属于
坐在宝座上的他和这只羔羊。”
14 四个生物回答道∶“阿们！”长老们纷纷俯伏敬拜。
Footnotes
- 啟 示 錄 1:4 亚西亚： 土耳其。
- 啟 示 錄 1:8 阿拉法，俄梅戛： 是希腊字母表中开头和结尾的两个字母。所以，上帝既是开始，又是结束。
- 啟 示 錄 2:6 尼哥拉： 宗教团体，追随错误的思想。
- 啟 示 錄 2:14 《民数记》22:20-25:5。
- 啟 示 錄 2:14 以色列人对偶像的崇拜，在精神的角度常被认为是卖淫。耶利米书3:6-10；5:7，《以西结书》16:1-43。
- 啟 示 錄 2:17 吗哪： 曾是上帝赐给旷野里的以色列人的食物.《出埃及记》16:4-36《希伯来书》9:4。
- 啟 示 錄 4:10 长老： 或许是上帝子民的伟大领袖。也许是犹太人的十二个支派的领袖，再加上耶稣的十二名使徒。
Revelation 1-5
New King James Version
Introduction and Benediction
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (A)which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must [a]shortly take place. And (B)He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 (C)who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things (D)that he saw. 3 (E)Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for (F)the time is near.
Greeting the Seven Churches
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him (G)who is and (H)who was and who is to come, (I)and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, (J)the faithful (K)witness, the (L)firstborn from the dead, and (M)the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him (N)who [b]loved us (O)and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has (P)made us [c]kings and priests to His God and Father, (Q)to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, He is coming with (R)clouds, and every eye will see Him, even (S)they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8 (T)“I am the Alpha and the Omega, [d]the Beginning and the End,” says the [e]Lord, (U)“who is and who was and who is to come, the (V)Almighty.”
Vision of the Son of Man
9 I, John, [f]both your brother and (W)companion in the tribulation and (X)kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 (Y)I was in the Spirit on (Z)the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me (AA)a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, [g]“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches [h]which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned (AB)I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 (AC)and in the midst of the seven lampstands (AD)One like the Son of Man, (AE)clothed with a garment down to the feet and (AF)girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and (AG)hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and (AH)His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 (AI)His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and (AJ)His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 (AK)He had in His right hand seven stars, (AL)out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, (AM)and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And (AN)when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But (AO)He laid His right hand on me, saying [i]to me, “Do not be afraid; (AP)I am the First and the Last. 18 (AQ)I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, (AR)I am alive forevermore. Amen. And (AS)I have the keys of [j]Hades and of Death. 19 [k]Write the things which you have (AT)seen, (AU)and the things which are, (AV)and the things which will take place after this. 20 The [l]mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are (AW)the [m]angels of the seven churches, and (AX)the seven lampstands [n]which you saw are the seven churches.
The Loveless Church
2 “To the [o]angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says (AY)He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, (AZ)who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 (BA)“I know your works, your labor, your [p]patience, and that you cannot [q]bear those who are evil. And (BB)you have tested those (BC)who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have (BD)not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, (BE)or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 (BF)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give (BG)to eat from (BH)the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
The Persecuted Church
8 “And to the [r]angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says (BI)the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are (BJ)rich); and I know the blasphemy of (BK)those who say they are Jews and are not, (BL)but are a [s]synagogue of Satan. 10 (BM)Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. (BN)Be faithful until death, and I will give you (BO)the crown of life.
11 (BP)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by (BQ)the second death.” ’
The Compromising Church
12 “And to the [t]angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says (BR)He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of (BS)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, (BT)to eat things sacrificed to idols, (BU)and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [u]which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and (BV)will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden (BW)manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone (BX)a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
The Corrupt Church
18 “And to the [v]angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, (BY)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 (BZ)“I know your works, love, [w]service, faith, and your [x]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have [y]a few things against you, because you allow [z]that woman (CA)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, [aa]to teach and seduce My servants (CB)to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time (CC)to [ab]repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of [ac]their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who (CD)searches[ad] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 “Now to you I say, [ae]and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the (CE)depths of Satan, as they say, (CF)I [af]will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast (CG)what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps (CH)My works until the end, (CI)to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘He(CJ) shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him (CK)the morning star.
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Dead Church
3 “And to the [ag]angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who (CL)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before [ah]God. 3 (CM)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and (CN)repent. (CO)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you (CP)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 [ai]You have (CQ)a few names [aj]even in Sardis who have not (CR)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me (CS)in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes (CT)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not (CU)blot out his name from the (CV)Book of Life; but (CW)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 (CX)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Faithful Church
7 “And to the [ak]angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says (CY)He who is holy, (CZ)He who is true, (DA)“He who has the key of David, (DB)He who opens and no one shuts, and (DC)shuts and no one opens”: 8 (DD)“I know your works. See, I have set before you (DE)an open door, [al]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make (DF)those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed (DG)I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept [am]My command to persevere, (DH)I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon (DI)the whole world, to test those who dwell (DJ)on the earth. 11 [an]Behold, (DK)I am coming quickly! (DL)Hold fast what you have, that no one may take (DM)your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him (DN)a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall (DO)go out no more. (DP)I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the (DQ)New Jerusalem, which (DR)comes down out of heaven from My God. (DS)And I will write on him My new name.
13 (DT)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the [ao]angel of the church [ap]of the Laodiceans write,
(DU)‘These things says the Amen, (DV)the Faithful and True Witness, (DW)the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 (DX)“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [aq]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, (DY)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you (DZ)to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and (EA)white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 (EB)As many as I love, I rebuke and (EC)chasten.[ar] Therefore be [as]zealous and repent. 20 Behold, (ED)I stand at the door and knock. (EE)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (EF)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes (EG)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 (EH)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
The Throne Room of Heaven(EI)
4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing (EJ)open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a (EK)trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
2 Immediately (EL)I was in the Spirit; and behold, (EM)a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 [at]And He who sat there was (EN)like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; (EO)and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 (EP)Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, (EQ)clothed in white [au]robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded (ER)lightnings, [av]thunderings, and voices. (ES)Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are (ET)the[aw] seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there [ax]was (EU)a sea of glass, like crystal. (EV)And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 (EW)The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having (EX)six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, (FB)who lives forever and ever, 10 (FC)the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 “You(FD) are worthy, [az]O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
(FE)For You created all things,
And by (FF)Your will they [ba]exist and were created.”
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (FG)a scroll written inside and on the back, (FH)sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, (FI)“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [bb]and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, (FJ)the Lion of the tribe of (FK)Judah, (FL)the Root of David, has (FM)prevailed to open the scroll (FN)and [bc]to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, [bd]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood (FO)a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and (FP)seven eyes, which are (FQ)the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand (FR)of Him who sat on the throne.
Worthy Is the Lamb
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, (FS)the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the (FT)prayers of the saints. 9 And (FU)they sang a new song, saying:
(FV)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And (FW)have redeemed us to God (FX)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made [be]us (FY)kings[bf] and (FZ)priests to our God;
And [bg]we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And (GA)every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
(GB)“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him (GC)who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and [bh]ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [bi]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [bj]Him who lives forever and ever.
Footnotes
- Revelation 1:1 quickly or swiftly
- Revelation 1:5 NU loves us and freed; M loves us and washed
- Revelation 1:6 NU, M a kingdom
- Revelation 1:8 NU, M omit the Beginning and the End
- Revelation 1:8 NU, M Lord God
- Revelation 1:9 NU, M omit both
- Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,
- Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit which are in Asia
- Revelation 1:17 NU, M omit to me
- Revelation 1:18 Lit. Unseen; the unseen realm
- Revelation 1:19 NU, M Therefore, write
- Revelation 1:20 hidden truth
- Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
- Revelation 1:20 NU, M omit which you saw
- Revelation 2:1 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:2 perseverance
- Revelation 2:2 endure
- Revelation 2:8 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:9 congregation
- Revelation 2:12 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:15 NU, M likewise.
- Revelation 2:18 Or messenger
- Revelation 2:19 NU, M faith, service
- Revelation 2:19 perseverance
- Revelation 2:20 NU, M against you that you tolerate
- Revelation 2:20 M your wife Jezebel
- Revelation 2:20 NU, M and teaches and seduces
- Revelation 2:21 NU, M repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
- Revelation 2:22 NU, M her
- Revelation 2:23 examines
- Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit and
- Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit will
- Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
- Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
- Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
- Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
- Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
- Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
- Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
- Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
- Revelation 3:19 discipline
- Revelation 3:19 eager
- Revelation 4:3 M omits And He who sat there was, making the following a description of the throne.
- Revelation 4:4 NU, M robes, with crowns
- Revelation 4:5 NU, M voices, and thunderings.
- Revelation 4:5 M omits the
- Revelation 4:6 NU, M add something like
- Revelation 4:8 M has holy nine times.
- Revelation 4:11 NU, M our Lord and God
- Revelation 4:11 NU, M existed
- Revelation 5:4 NU, M omit and read
- Revelation 5:5 NU, M omit to loose
- Revelation 5:6 NU, M I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing
- Revelation 5:10 NU, M them
- Revelation 5:10 NU a kingdom
- Revelation 5:10 NU, M they
- Revelation 5:13 M adds Amen
- Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit twenty-four
- Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit Him who lives forever and ever
Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
