Revelation 1

The 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:

God gifted Jesus with a vision of the future, meant for his followers. This vision, filled with imminent events, was delivered to his disciple John through an angel.

Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

He faithfully witnessed and shared God's word, Jesus Christ's teachings, and everything he experienced.

Blessed 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.

Fortunate is the one who reads, listens, and follows the teachings of this prophecy, for the crucial time is near.

John 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;

John sends his heartfelt greetings to the seven churches in Asia. He wishes you grace and peace from the eternal one - who exists now, who existed before, and who will always be. He also sends blessings from the seven Spirits that stand before the divine throne.

And 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,

From Jesus Christ, the truest of witnesses, the first to rise from death, and the ruler of all earthly kings. To Him who loved us deeply, cleansing us from our sins with His own life's blood.

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

He has made us kings and priests to serve His God and Father. All praise and power belong to Him eternally. So be it.

Behold, 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.

Watch, he is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. Every people on earth will wail because of him. So it shall be, Amen.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I am the First and the Last, the start and the finish, declares the Lord. I exist now, I existed before, and I will exist forever, the All-Powerful.

I 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.

I, John, your brother and partner in suffering, sharing in the kingdom and patient endurance of Jesus Christ, was on the island known as Patmos because of God's word and my testimony about Jesus Christ.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

On the Lord's day, I was in the Spirit. Suddenly, a powerful voice, as resonant as a trumpet, echoed from behind me.

Saying, 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.

Proclaiming, "I am the Beginning and the End, the first and the last. Whatever you witness, record it in a book and share it with the seven churches in Asia; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

I swiveled around, drawn by the voice that had been speaking to me. As I turned, my eyes fell upon a sight of pure wonder - seven candlesticks, gleaming with the brilliance of gold.

And 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.

Among the seven lampstands stood one like the Son of Man, draped in a robe that reached His feet and wearing a golden sash around His chest.

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

His hair was as pure as fresh snow, as soft as wool; his gaze burned with the intensity of a roaring fire.

And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

His feet shone like polished brass, as though kissed by the fiery furnace; his voice echoed like a chorus of rushing rivers.

And 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.

In his right hand, he held seven stars. A sharp double-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun at its brightest.

And 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:

When I saw him, I was so overwhelmed that I collapsed. But he gently touched me with his right hand, reassuring me, "Don't be afraid. I am the beginning and the end."

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

It's me, the one who lived, died, and now lives eternally. I hold the keys to both death and the underworld.

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Record your experiences, the present moments, and your visions of the future.

The 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.

The enigma of the seven stars you saw in my hand, and the seven golden lamps, is this: The seven stars represent the angels of the seven congregations, while the seven lamps symbolize the seven congregations themselves.