[1:4] John, 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; [1:5] and 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; [1:6] and 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.
[1:7] Behold, 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.
[1:8] "I am the Alpha and the Omega,[*]" says the Lord [God,] "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
[1:9] I John, your brother and partner with you in 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. [1:10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet [1:11] saying, "[*]What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies[*]: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
[1:12] I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. [1:13] And among the lampstands was one like a son of man,[*] clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. [1:14] His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. [1:15] His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. [1:16] He 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. [1:17] When 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, [1:18] and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of [Hades]. [1:19] Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter; [1:20] the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the [angels] of the seven assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies.
[2:1] "To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write:
"He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things:
[2:2] "I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. [2:3] You have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have[*] not grown weary. [2:4] But I have this against you, that you left your first love. [2:5] Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. [2:6] But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. [2:7] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
[2:8] "To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: