1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant, John, 2Who bore witness {bare record} of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.

4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, 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, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own blood, 6And hath made us a kingdom of {kings and} priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.

9I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for 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, as of a trumpet, 11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last; and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum {Pergamos}, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands {candlesticks}, 13And in the midst of the seven lampstands {candlesticks} One like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded {girt} about the breasts {paps} with a golden girdle. 14His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; 15And His feet like unto fine bronze {brass}, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. 16And He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His countenance was as the sun shineth in its strength. 17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the Last; 18I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hades {hell} and of death. 19Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter:

20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands {candlesticks}. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lampstands {candlesticks} which thou sawest are the seven churches.