1 A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants the things which must shortly be; and sending by his messenger, he signified them to his servant John,

2 who testified the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw.

3 Happy is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it; for the time is at hand.

4 John, to the seven congregation which are in Asia; favor and peace be with you, from him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne;

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth; to him who has loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 and has made us kings and priests to his God and Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he is coming in the clouds; and every eye shall see him, even they who pierced him: and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of him. Yes: so let it be.

8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

9 I, John, who am also your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island called Patmos, for the sake of the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard a great voice behind me, as of a trumpet,

11 saying, What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven congregations; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice which spoke to me, and being turned, I saw seven golden lamps;

13 and, in the midst of the seven lamps, one like a Son of Man, clothed in a long robe, and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle.

14 His head, even his hairs, were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 and his feet like fine brass, when glowing in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters;

16 and he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth there went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun, when he shines in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell down at his feet, as dead; and he laid his right hand upon me, and said, Fear not; I am the First and the Last;

18 I am he who lives and was dead; and behold, I am living for ever and ever; and I have the keys of the unseen world, and of death.

19 Write the things which you see, even those which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

20 As to the hidden meaning of the seven stars, which you see in my right hand, and of the seven lamps of gold: the seven stars are messengers of the seven congregations; and the seven lamps which you see, are seven congregations.