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Revelation 1-3
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.” ’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:1 quickly or swiftly
  2. Revelation 1:5 NU loves us and freed; M loves us and washed
  3. Revelation 1:6 NU, M a kingdom
  4. Revelation 1:8 NU, M omit the Beginning and the End
  5. Revelation 1:8 NU, M Lord God
  6. Revelation 1:9 NU, M omit both
  7. Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,
  8. Revelation 1:11 NU, M omit which are in Asia
  9. Revelation 1:17 NU, M omit to me
  10. Revelation 1:18 Lit. Unseen; the unseen realm
  11. Revelation 1:19 NU, M Therefore, write
  12. Revelation 1:20 hidden truth
  13. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
  14. Revelation 1:20 NU, M omit which you saw
  15. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger
  16. Revelation 2:2 perseverance
  17. Revelation 2:2 endure
  18. Revelation 2:8 Or messenger
  19. Revelation 2:9 congregation
  20. Revelation 2:12 Or messenger
  21. Revelation 2:15 NU, M likewise.
  22. Revelation 2:18 Or messenger
  23. Revelation 2:19 NU, M faith, service
  24. Revelation 2:19 perseverance
  25. Revelation 2:20 NU, M against you that you tolerate
  26. Revelation 2:20 M your wife Jezebel
  27. Revelation 2:20 NU, M and teaches and seduces
  28. Revelation 2:21 NU, M repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.
  29. Revelation 2:22 NU, M her
  30. Revelation 2:23 examines
  31. Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit and
  32. Revelation 2:24 NU, M omit will
  33. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger
  34. Revelation 3:2 NU, M My God
  35. Revelation 3:4 NU, M Nevertheless you
  36. Revelation 3:4 NU, M omit even
  37. Revelation 3:7 Or messenger
  38. Revelation 3:8 NU, M which no one can shut
  39. Revelation 3:10 Lit. the word of My patience
  40. Revelation 3:11 NU, M omit Behold
  41. Revelation 3:14 Or messenger
  42. Revelation 3:14 NU, M in Laodicea
  43. Revelation 3:16 NU, M hot nor cold
  44. Revelation 3:19 discipline
  45. Revelation 3:19 eager
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Revelation 1-3
New International Version

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)

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b](U)
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;(V)
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn(W) because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.

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:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand(BQ) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.(BR) 2 I know your deeds,(BS) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(BT) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(BU) 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(BV) and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(BW) 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(BX) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(BY) from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(BZ) which I also hate.

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CA) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(CB) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(CC) which is in the paradise(CD) of God.

To the Church in Smyrna

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

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(CF) who died and came to life again.(CG) 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(CH) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(CI) but are a synagogue of Satan.(CJ) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(CK) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(CL) Be faithful,(CM) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(CN)

11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CO) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(CP)

To the Church in Pergamum

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

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(CR) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(CS) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(CT) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(CU)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(CV) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(CW) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(CX) and committed sexual immorality.(CY) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(CZ) 16 Repent(DA) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(DB)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(DC) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(DD) I will give some of the hidden manna.(DE) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(DF) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(DG)

To the Church in Thyatira

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

These are the words of the Son of God,(DI) whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.(DJ) 19 I know your deeds,(DK) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,(DL) who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.(DM) 21 I have given her time(DN) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.(DO) 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery(DP) with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,(DQ) and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.(DR)

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,(DS) 25 except to hold on to what you have(DT) until I come.’(DU)

26 To the one who is victorious(DV) and does my will to the end,(DW) I will give authority over the nations(DX)— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter(DY) and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[g](DZ)—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.(EA) 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear(EB) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Sardis

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

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[i](ED) of God and the seven stars.(EE) I know your deeds;(EF) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(EG) 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(EH) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(EI) and you will not know at what time(EJ) I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.(EK) They will walk with me, dressed in white,(EL) for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious(EM) will, like them, be dressed in white.(EN) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,(EO) but will acknowledge that name before my Father(EP) and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear(EQ) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

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

These are the words of him who is holy(ES) and true,(ET) who holds the key of David.(EU) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds.(EV) See, I have placed before you an open door(EW) that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(EX) 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,(EY) who claim to be Jews though they are not,(EZ) but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet(FA) and acknowledge that I have loved you.(FB) 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you(FC) from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world(FD) to test(FE) the inhabitants of the earth.(FF)

11 I am coming soon.(FG) Hold on to what you have,(FH) so that no one will take your crown.(FI) 12 The one who is victorious(FJ) I will make a pillar(FK) in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God(FL) and the name of the city of my God,(FM) the new Jerusalem,(FN) which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear(FO) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea

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

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(FQ) the ruler of God’s creation.(FR) 15 I know your deeds,(FS) that you are neither cold nor hot.(FT) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(FU) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(FV) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(FW) so you can become rich; and white clothes(FX) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(FY) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(FZ) So be earnest and repent.(GA) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(GB) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(GC) I will come in(GD) and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious,(GE) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(GF) just as I was victorious(GG) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(GH) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
  3. Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
  4. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
  5. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
  6. Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
  7. Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9
  8. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
  9. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
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