Revelation — Chapter 1
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1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,
2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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.
4John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,
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 released us from our sins by His blood,
6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever 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,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
9I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.
10On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
11saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, 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, 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 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 of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2Who 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 therein: for the time is at hand.
4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which 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 kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which 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, which is, and which was, and which 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 Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15And his feet like unto fine 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 twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his 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 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 candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John;
2who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, [even] of all things that he saw.
3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;
5and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
6and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
8I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
9I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience [which are] in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord`s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet
11saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.
14And his head and his hair were white as white wool, [white] as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.
16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,
18and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
19Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;
20the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John,
2who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ.
3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!
4From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
5and from Jesus Christ—the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood
6and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.
7(Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God—the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come—the All-Powerful!
9I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
11saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands,
13and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet, and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest.
14His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.
15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength.
17When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last,
18and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive—forever and ever—and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!
19Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.
20The mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches.
1This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,
2who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.
4John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;
5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;
6and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
9I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet
11saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands.
13And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.
14His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
17When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last,
18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
19Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter;
20the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
Summary
John, exiled on the island of Patmos for his faith, identifies this book as a revelation of Jesus Christ given to show what must soon take place, with a blessing promised to those who read and heed it (vv. 1-3). He greets the seven churches of Asia with grace and peace from God and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness who freed believers from sin by his blood and made them a kingdom of priests, and announces Christ's coming return, visible to every eye (vv. 4-8). John explains he was on Patmos for preaching God's word when he was caught up "in the Spirit" and heard a loud voice commanding him to write to seven named churches (vv. 9-11). Turning toward the voice, he describes an overwhelming vision of the glorified Christ standing among seven golden lampstands, robed, with hair white as snow, eyes like fire, feet like polished bronze, and a sharp sword coming from his mouth (vv. 12-16). Overwhelmed, John falls down as though dead, but Christ tells him not to fear, since he holds the keys of death and Hades, and commissions him to write what he has seen, explaining that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the lampstands are the churches themselves (vv. 17-20).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Patmos (v.9): Island in the Aegean Sea where John received the Revelation.
- Ephesus (v.11): Major city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey); location of a key early church.
- Laodicea (v.11): City in Asia Minor; one of the seven churches in Revelation.
- Smyrna (v.11): City in Asia Minor; one of the seven churches in Revelation.
- Sardis (v.11): City in Asia Minor; one of the seven churches in Revelation.
- Philadelphia (v.11): City in Asia Minor; one of the seven churches in Revelation.
Places on this map
- PatmosPatmos, GreeceA rocky island of about 13 square miles in the Aegean, some 40 miles off the coast of Asia Minor and 60 from Ephesus. Close enough for a letter to reach the seven churches, remote enough to serve Rome as a place of banishment. Wikipedia
- Ephesusnear Selcuk, TurkeyThe largest port of Roman Asia, at the mouth of the Cayster on the west coast of Asia Minor, and home to the temple of Artemis. Its harbour silted up and the ruins now sit several miles inland, which is why a great seaport has no sea. Wikipedia
- Asia MinorTurkeyThe peninsula between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, a high dry plateau ringed by mountains with the Greek cities on its western coast. Roman Asia, the province Paul worked from Ephesus, was only its western end. Wikipedia
- Laodiceanear Denizli, TurkeyA wealthy banking and textile city in the same valley, with one weakness: its water had to be piped in from miles away and arrived lukewarm, which is the image the letter to it uses. Wikipedia
- SmyrnaIzmir, TurkeyA well-planned harbour city 40 miles north of Ephesus, loyal to Rome and prosperous, whose letter nonetheless speaks only of poverty and pressure. Wikipedia
- SardisSart, TurkeyThe old Lydian capital on a spur of Mount Tmolus, thought unassailable and twice taken by night because nobody watched the cliff. Its letter tells it to wake up. Wikipedia
- PhiladelphiaAlasehir, TurkeyA frontier town on the road east from Sardis, in earthquake country, founded to spread Greek culture inland, which suits a letter about an open door. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik covers the prologue, the greeting, the doxology, the vision of Christ, and the commission to write.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Revelation -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Blessed to Read and Heed (v.3) — John promises a blessing to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy, not just study it from a distance. Are you approaching Revelation as truth to obey, or just a puzzle to solve?
- Loved and Washed (v.5) — Before any vision of judgment or the future, John pauses to praise Christ for loving us and freeing us from our sins. Does your view of the end times start from confidence in Christ's love, or from fear?
- Every Eye Will See Him (v.7) — John declares that Christ's return will be visible to everyone, including those who pierced Him. Are you living today in a way that's ready for that moment to arrive?
- The Beginning and the End (v.8) — God identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the one who was, is, and is to come. What situation in your life needs the reminder that God already stands at its ending?
- A Bigger View of Christ (vv.13-16) — John's vision of the glorified Christ is majestic and overwhelming, nothing like a gentle, familiar figure. Has your picture of Jesus grown too small or too casual?
- Fear Not, He Holds the Keys (vv.17-18) — John falls down as though dead before this vision, and Christ's first words are to not be afraid, because He is alive forever and holds the keys of death itself. What fear do you need to hand over to the one who has already conquered death?