Prologue
(Daniel 12:1–13)

1This is the revelation of Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One), which God {Theos} gave Him to show His servants {doulois} what must soon (suddenly)a come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel (messenger) to His servant {doulō} John (YHWH is gracious), 2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God {Theou} and the testimony of Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One).

3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

John Greets the Seven Churches

4John (YHWH is gracious),

To the seven churches {ekklēsiais} in the province of Asia \in Asia/:b

Grace and peace to you⁺ from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits (the sevenfold Spirit)c before His throne, 5and from Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One), the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To Him who loves {agapōnti} us and has released us from our sins by His blood, 6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God {Theō} and Father—to Him be the glory {doxa} and power forever \to the ages/ and ever! Amen.

7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.

8“I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the Beginning and the End,]d” says the Lord {Kyrios} God {Theos}, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty {Pantokratōr}.

John’s Vision on Patmos

9I, John (YHWH is gracious), your⁺ brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance (endurance) that are in Jesus (YHWH saves), was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God {Theou} and my testimony about Jesus. 10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit {Pneumati}, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11saying, [“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,]e “Write on a scroll (papyrus roll) what you see and send it to the seven churches {ekklēsiais}: to Ephesus (appealing), Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia (brotherly love), and Laodicea.”

12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man (one like a son of man),f dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. 14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever \to the ages/ and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

19Therefore write down the things you have seen, the things that are, and the things that will happen after this. 20This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches {ekklēsiōn}, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches {ekklēsiai}.