Revelation  ◦   Chapter 1

1This message is from Jesus Christ, and it reveals what will soon take place, according to God’s desire to show it to his ambassadors, assistants, and spokespersons. Jesus sent his angel to his ambassador John to share this future knowledge with him,2and John bears witness to the veracity of everything he was shown, including the message from God and the testimony Jesus gave.3Blessed is the person who reads this revelation of future events, and blessed are those who hear it and incorporate it into their hearts and lives, because the time is near.

4From John, to the seven churches in Asia: Grace and peace from God the Father — who is alive today, who has always been alive from eternity past, and who is coming to earth — and from the seven intelligent beings who serve before the throne of God,5and from Jesus Christ, who is the trustworthy representative of humanity in God's kingdom, the victor over death, and the true head of humanity and ruler of earth.

To Christ, who loves us and has healed us from our sinfulness by providing the Remedy of his perfection (achieved through his sacrificial death),
6and who has restored us to be members of his kingdom and ministers of his Remedy in order to reveal the truth about God the Father — to him be all glory and power for all eternity! Amen.

7Open your minds to understand that he is coming back–literally, in the clouds — and every eye will see him, including those who crucified him; and all those who have not been healed will wail in agony, because when they see him, they will know what they have lost. This is how it will really be! Amen.

8The Lord God says, "I am the Beginning and the End: he who has always been, he who is, who was, and who is to come–the Almighty."

9I, John, am your brother in Christ, friend in suffering, and fellow in the kingdom of love and enduring patience that is ours when we are united in Jesus. I was exiled to the island of Patmos because of teaching the truth about God and the message of Jesus.10On the Lord's holy Sabbath day, I was filled with the Spirit, and I heard a voice behind me, clear and sharp like the report of a trumpet,11that said: "Write down what you see and send it to the seven churches located in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

12When I turned to see the source of the voice that was speaking to me, I first saw seven golden lampstands,13and among the lampstands was one who appeared to be human, just like the Son of Man. He was wearing a robe flowing down to his feet and had a golden breastplate on his chest.14His hair was brilliant white, like snow, and his eyes shone brightly like a fire.15His feet glowed like metal in a furnace, and his voice resounded with energy like a roaring river.16He held seven stars in his right hand, and the words coming from his mouth were the sharp double-edged sword of truth. His face radiated energy like the sun shining at midday.

17When I saw him, I fell down at his feet, afraid that I couldn't tolerate the intensity of the experience, but he gently placed his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid. I am the Beginning and the End.18"I am the One with unborrowed life; yes, I died, but look: I am alive forever! And I have the Remedy for death, and the power to open the grave.

19"So write what you have seen–what is happening now and what will take place in the future.20The meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars represent seven messengers responsible for ministering to the seven churches, and the seven lampstands represent the seven churches which are to be lights of truth to the world."