Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁹ I am John, your brother. I belong to Jesus and I am having big trouble just as you are. I also belong to his kingdom and I wait patiently for it. I was on an island called Patmos because I told the word of God and talked about Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. Behind me I heard a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet or horn.

¹¹ The voice said, `Write what you see in a book. Send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.'

¹² I turned to see who was talking to me. I saw seven gold lamps.

¹³ In the centre of the seven lamps I saw someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long gown with a wide, gold belt around his chest.

¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like sheep's hair, white as snow. His eyes shone like a flame of fire.

¹⁵ His feet shone like fine brass that has been made pure by fire. His voice was like the sound of much water flowing.

¹⁶ In his right hand he had seven stars. Out of his mouth came a long knife or sword, sharp on both sides. His face shone like the sun when it is shining very brightly.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell down in front of him as if I had died. He put his right hand on me and said, `Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

¹⁸ I am he who lives. I died. But look, I am alive for ever. I have the keys to death and to the world of the dead.