1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show His servants things which must shortly take place. He sent an angel to make this revelation known to His servant, John, 2Who faithfully testifies to all things that he saw – that is, the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words which are written in this prophecy; and those that hear and take them to heart, for the time is near.

4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace and peace to you, from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the Seven Spirits Who are before His throne; 5And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him Who loves us, and freed us from our sins by His Own blood, 6And has made us a kingdom of priests to serve God, His Father - to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, He is coming with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, even they who pierced Him; and all the nations of the earth shall mourn for Him. (Dan.7:13) Even so, Amen. 8“I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End”, says the Lord God, “Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.” (Is.41:4)

9I, John, your brother, and companion, not just in suffering, but in the kingdom and in patient endurance that is ours in Jesus Christ, was on the island of Patmos, because of the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, like a trumpet, 11Which said, “Write what you see in a scroll (book), and send it to the seven churches that are in Asia: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12And when I turned to see where the voice that spoke to me came from, I saw seven golden lampstands, (Ex.25:37) 13And among those seven lampstands I saw Someone like the Son of man, dressed in a long robe down to His feet, and a golden sash across His chest. 14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were like a blazing fire; 15And His feet were like fine polished bronze, as if glowing in a furnace; and His voice like the sound of thundering waves. 16And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face shone with the brilliance of the sun. 17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, and said to me, “Do not fear; I am the First and the Last (Is.44:6); 18I am He that now lives; I was dead; and now, behold, I am alive for evermore; and I hold the keys of death and of the grave. 19Write the things which you have seen - the things which now are, and what shall be hereafter:

20“The meaning of the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lampstands you saw are the seven churches.”