7Behold! he is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall lament bitterly, smiting their bosoms, because of him: even so! Amen.
8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is coming—the Almighty.
9I John, your brother and companion also with you in the tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island which is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10I was rapt in spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, 11saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last; and what thou seest write in a book, and send to the churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. 12And I turned to see what voice spake to me. And when I turned round I saw seven lamps of gold; 13and in the midst of the seven lamps one like unto a son of man, clothed to the very feet, and girded about the breasts with a golden zone; 14his head and flowing locks white as a white fleece of wool, even as the snow; and his eyes as a flame of fire; 15and his feet resembled molten brass, as though they glowed in the furnace; and his voice was as the roar of many waters. 16And he held in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as when the sun shineth in his meridian lustre. 17And when I beheld him, I fell at his feet as dead: and he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last, 18and I am the living one, though I was dead and lo! I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I hold the keys of hell and of death. 19Write the things which thou seest, and the things which are, and the things which shall be in future after these, 20the mystery of the seven stars which thou seest in my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamps which thou seest are the seven churches.
[CHAP. II.]
TO the angel of the Ephesian church write; These things saith he who grasps the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh round in the midst of the seven golden lamps; 2I know thy works, and thy travail, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear the wicked; and hast tried those who give themselves out as apostles, yet are not, and hast found them liars; 3and hast borne, and hast exercised patience, and for my name sake hast endured great toil, and hast not fainted. 4Yet have I a charge against thee, that thou art gone back from thy first love. 5Remember then from whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and practise thy first works; but if not, I am coming to thee quickly, and I will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou repent. 6But this thou holdest, that thou abhorrest the deeds of the Nicolatans, which I also abhor. 7He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8And to the angel of the church of the Smyrnians write, These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive: 9I know thy works, and thy tribulation, and thy poverty (though thou art rich), and the calumnies of those who say they are Jews, yet are not, but are Satan’s synagogue. 10Fear nothing from the things which thou shalt suffer: lo! the devil will cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have a ten day’s tribulation: be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall receive no injury from the second death.
12And to the angel of the church at Pergamos write, These things saith he who holdeth the sharp two-edged sword; 13I know thy works and where thou hast thy abode, even where Satan’s throne is erected: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was put to death among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14Yet I have a few things against thee, that thou hast there some who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to lay a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat of idol sacrifices, and to commit whoredom. 15Thou hast also some who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I abhor. 16Repent! but if not, I am coming to thee quickly, and will war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble, and upon the pebble a new name inscribed, which no man knoweth except the person who receiveth it.
18And to the angel of the church which is at Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like the molten brass; 19I know thy deeds, and thy love, and thy charity to the poor, and thy faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and that the last are more abundant than the first. 20Yet I have a few things against thee, because thou hast suffered that woman Jezabel, calling herself a prophetess, to teach, and to lead my servants into error, to commit whoredom, and eat the idol sacrifices. 21And I gave her a space that she should repent of her whoredom, and she hath not repented. 22Behold, I am about to cast her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23And I will slay her children by death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reins and the hearts: and I will give to you, even to every one, according to your works. 24But to you I say, and to the rest that are at Thyatira, as many as do not hold this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak, I will lay upon them no other burden. 25Nevertheless that which you have, hold fast till I come. 26And he who overcometh, and perseveres in my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations; 27he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as a potter’s vessels they shall be broken in pieces, even as I have received authority from my Father: 28and I will give him the star of the morning. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
[CHAP. III.]
AND to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, and that thou hast a name, as though thou wert alive, yet art dead. 2Be vigilant and strengthen the things which remain, which are ready to die; for I have not found thy works complete before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and observe, and repent. If then thou art not found watching, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt in no wise know at what hour I will come upon thee. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white robes, for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, this man shall be clothed in white robes; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.