Book of Common Prayer

⁴ John, to the seven churches in Asia: Grace to you and peace from the One Who is and Who was and Who is coming, and from the seven Spirits^[a] that are before His throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ— the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.

To the One loving us and having released^[b] us from our sins by His blood— ⁶ and He made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father— to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever, amen. ⁷ Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him— even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth^[c] will beat-their-breasts over Him. Yes! Amen!

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God, “the One Who is and Who was and Who is coming, the Almighty”.

I, John, Heard a Voice Say, Write What You See And Send It To The Seven Churches

⁹ I, John, your brother and co-partner in the affliction and kingdom and endurance in^[d] Jesus, came-to-be on the island being called Patmos because of the word of God and^[e] the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ I came-to-be in the Spirit^[f] on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like [the sound] of a trumpet, ¹¹ saying “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches— to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea”. ¹² And I turned to see the voice which was speaking with me.

I Saw One Like a Son of Man Amidst Seven Lampstands, Which Are Seven Churches

And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. ¹³ And in the midst of the lampstands I saw One resembling^[g] a son^[h] of man having been dressed-in a robe reaching-to-the-feet, and having been girded-with a golden belt at the breasts. ¹⁴ And His head and hair were white like white wool, like snow. And His eyes were like a flame of fire. ¹⁵ And His feet were resembling brass^[i], like something having been refined^[j] in a furnace. And His voice was like the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ And He was holding seven stars in His right hand. And a sharp double-edged sword was coming-out of His mouth. And His face^[k] was like the sun shines in its power. ¹⁷ And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as-though dead. And He placed His right hand upon me, saying “Do not be fearing. I am the First and the Last, ¹⁸ and the One living. And I became dead, and behold— I am living forever and ever. And I have the keys of death and Hades. ¹⁹ Therefore write the things which you saw, and^[l] the things which are, and the things which are destined^[m] to take place after these things. ²⁰ As to the mystery of the seven stars which you saw upon My right hand and the seven golden lampstands— the seven stars are angels^[n] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are seven churches.

The Demons I Cast Out Now Will Return Later, And You Will Be Worse Off

⁴³ “Now when the unclean spirit departs from the person, it goes through waterless places seeking rest^[a], and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from where I came-out’. And having come, it finds it being unoccupied, having been swept and put-in-order^[b]. ⁴⁵ Then it proceeds and takes along with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself. And having gone in, they dwell there, and the last^[c] state of that person becomes worse than the first. So it will be^[d] also with this evil generation”.

Jesus Says That Whoever Does The Will of God Is His Brother And Sister And Mother

⁴⁶ While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold— His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. ⁴⁷ And someone said to Him, “Behold— Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You”. ⁴⁸ But the One, having responded, said to the one speaking to Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹ And having stretched-out His hand toward His disciples, He said “Behold— My mother and My brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of My Father in the heavens— he is My brother and sister and mother”.