Beginning

Happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it. John is to write to the seven congregations in Asia. Seven candlesticks, and in the midst of them one like the Son of man.

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him so that he could show to his servants things which must shortly come to pass. And he sent and showed it by his angel to his servant John, ² who bore witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all the things that he saw. ³ Happy is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein. For the time is at hand.

⁴ John, to the seven congregations in Asia. Grace be with you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits that are present before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is a faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and Lord over the kings of the earth.

To him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ⁶ and made us kings and priests unto God his Father, be glory and dominion forevermore. Amen. ⁷ Behold, he comes with clouds, and all eyes shall see him, and they also who pierced him. And all the kindreds of the earth shall wail. Even so. Amen. ⁸ I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord Almighty, who is and who was and who is to come.

⁹ I, John, your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience which is in Jesus Christ, was in the isle of Patmos for the word of God, and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on a Sunday, and heard behind me a great voice, as if of a trumpet, ¹¹ saying, I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. That which you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven congregations that are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

¹² And I turned back to see the voice that spoke to me. And when I was turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, ¹³ and in the midst of the candlesticks one like the Son of man, clothed with a linen garment down to the ground, and girt about the breast with a golden girdle. ¹⁴ His head and his hair were white like white wool, and like snow. And his eyes were as a flame of fire, ¹⁵ and his feet like brass, as though glowing in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ And he had in his right hand seven stars. And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. And his face shone, even as the sun in its strength.

¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet, even as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not. I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and am alive; and was dead, but behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of hell and of death. ¹⁹ Write therefore the things that you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will be fulfilled hereafter, ²⁰ and the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the messengers of the seven congregations, and the seven candlesticks that you saw are the seven congregations.

He exhorts four of the congregations to mend their ways, and shows the reward of the person who overcomes.

2 To the messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write: These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: ² I know your works, and your labour, and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you examined those who say they are apostles, but are not, and have found them liars, ³ and did wash yourself. And you have patience, and for my name’s sake have laboured, and have not fainted.

⁴ Nevertheless, I have something against you. For you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you shortly and will remove your candlestick out of its place – unless you repent.

⁶ But this you have: you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which deeds I also hate. ⁷ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

⁸ And to the angel of the congregation of Smyrna write: These things says he who is the first and the last, who was dead and is alive: ⁹ I know your works and tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who call themselves Jews, and are not, but are the congregation of Satan.

¹⁰ Fear none of those things that you will suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, to try you, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to the death, and I will give you a crown of life. ¹¹ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

¹² And to the messenger of the congregation in Pergamos write: This says he who has the sharp sword with two edges: ¹³ I know your works and where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is; and you keep my name and have not denied my faith. And in my days Antipas was a faithful witness of mine, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you. You have there those who maintain the doctrine of Balaam, who taught in Balak to put occasions of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicated to idols, and commit fornication. ¹⁵ So also you have those who maintain the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent and turn therefore, or else I will come to you shortly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no one knows save the one that receives it.

¹⁸ And to the messenger of the congregation of Thyatira write: This says the Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, whose feet are like brass: ¹⁹ I know your works, and your love, service, and faith, and your patience, and your deeds, which are more at the last than at the first. ²⁰ Notwithstanding, I have a few things against you. You suffer that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to corrupt my servants, to make them commit fornication, and to eat meats offered up to idols. ²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, but she did not repent. ²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and those who commit fornication with her into great adversity, unless they turn from their deeds. ²³ And I will kill her children with death. And all the congregations will know that I am he who searches the reins and the hearts. And I will give to every one of you according to your works.

²⁴ To you all I say, and to others of the people of Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching and who have not known the deepness of Satan (as they say), I will put upon you no other burden ²⁵ but that which you have already. Hold fast till I come. ²⁶ And whoever overcomes and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over nations, ²⁷ and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and like the vessels of a potter shall he break them to pieces. Even as I received of my Father, ²⁸ so will I give him the morning star. ²⁹ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.

He instructs and informs the angels of the three remaining congregations, declaring again the reward of the person who overcomes.

3 And write to the messenger of the congregation of Sardis: This says he who has the Spirit of God and the seven stars: I know your works. You have a name that you live, and you are dead. ² Be awake, and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die. For I have not found your works perfect before God. ³ Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If you will not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

⁴ You have a few names in Sardis that have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes will be clothed in white array, and I will not put his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. ⁶ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.

⁷ And write to the tidings-bringer of the congregation of Philadelphia: This says he that is holy and true, who has the key of David – who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens. ⁸ I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it. For you have a little strength, and have kept my sayings, and have not denied my name. ⁹ Behold, I make those of the congregation of Satan – who call themselves Jews, and are not, but do lie – behold, I will make them to come and bow before your feet, and to know that I love you.

¹⁰ Because you have kept the words of my patience, therefore I will keep you from the hour of adversity that will come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. ¹¹ Behold, I come shortly. Hold that which you have, so that no one may take away your crown. ¹² Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out no more. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write upon him my new name. ¹³ Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.

¹⁴ And to the messenger of the congregation that is in Laodicea write: This says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are between both and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth – ¹⁷ because you say you are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and know not how you are wretched and miserable, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire so that you may be rich, and white raiment so that you may be clothed, so that your shameful nakedness does not appear.  And anoint your eyes with eye-salve, so that you may see.

¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be fervent therefore, and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ²¹ To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me in my seat, even as I overcame and have sat with my Father in his seat. ²² Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit says to the congregations.