| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is the revelation of Jesus the Messiah, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. He made it known by sending his messenger to his servant John, | 1The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, |
| 2who testified about this message from God and the testimony about Jesus the Messiah. | 2who testified to God's word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw. |
| 3How blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and obey what is written in it, for the time is near! | 3The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near! |
| 4From John to the seven churches in Asia. May grace and peace be yours from the one who is, who was, and who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne, | 4John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; |
| 5and from Jesus the Messiah, the witness, the faithful one, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood | 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, |
| 6and has made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. | 6and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen. |
| 7Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. So be it! Amen. | 7Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen." |
| 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," declares the Lord God, "the one who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty." | 8I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty." |
| 9I am John, your brother and partner in the oppression, kingdom, and patience that comes because of Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. | 9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God's word and the testimony about Jesus. |
| 10I came to be in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord, when I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet, | 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet |
| 11saying, "Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." | 11saying, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." |
| 12Then I turned to see who was talking to me, and when I turned I saw seven gold lamp stands. | 12I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, |
| 13Among the lamp stands there was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash around his chest. | 13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. |
| 14His head and his hair were white like wool, in fact, as white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire, | 14His head and hair were white like wool--white as snow--and His eyes like a fiery flame. |
| 15his feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of raging waters. | 15His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. |
| 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines with full force. | 16He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday. |
| 17When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, "Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last, | 17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last, |
| 18the living one. I was dead—but look!—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades. | 18and the Living One. I was dead, but look--I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. |
| 19Therefore, write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after this. | 19Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. |
| 20The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands is this: the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches." | 20The secret of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven gold lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. |
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