Chapter 1
1 A revelation that God gave to Jesus the Anointed One, to show his slaves the things that must quickly take place. He sent it by His messenger to His slave John, in signs. 2 And [John] testifies that everything he saw was the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus the Anointed One. 3 Those who read it aloud, as well as those who listen to the words of this prophecy and obey the things that are written in it are blest, because the time is near.
4 From John, to the seven congregations in the [province of]
7 Look! He’s coming in the clouds and all eyes will see him, including those who pierced him, and all the nations of the earth will beat themselves because of him. Yes, may it be.
8 For God Jehovah says, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega… the One who is, who was, and who’s coming – the Almighty.’
9 I (John) am your brother. I’m someone who shares in your
persecutions, and in the Kingdom and endurance of Jesus. I’m on this island
called
10 Through the Breath [of God], I found myself in the Lord’s Day. And from behind me I heard a
voice that was as loud as a trumpet 11 that said, ‘Write the things that you’re
about to see on a scroll and send it to the seven congregations of
12 Then I turned around to see who was talking to me. But when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. 13 And between the lampstands [I saw] someone [who looked] like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe that came down to his feet, and his chest was wrapped in gold. 14 His head and hair were as bright as white wool or snow, and his eyes were as flames of fire. 15 His feet looked like the finest copper as it pours from a furnace, and his voice sounded like the noise that’s made by large bodies of water. 16 In his right hand [he held] seven stars; a long, sharp, two-edged sword was sticking out of his mouth; and his face glowed as brightly as the sun. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.
Then he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid; I’m the first, the last, 18 and the living one. And although I died, {Look!} I’m alive through the ages of ages. I also have the keys to death and the grave. 19 So, write about the things you see… the things that are, and the things that will soon happen.
20 ‘As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars signify the messengers of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands signify the seven congregations.’
Chapter 2
1 Write this to the messenger of the congregation in Ephesus. ‘This is what the one who is holding the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands, has to say: 2 I know what you’re doing… that you’ve worked hard and endured; that you can’t tolerate bad men; and that you’ve put those who say they are Apostles (but aren’t) to the test, and you found them to be liars. 3 You’re also patient, because you’ve been carrying my name and haven’t given up. 4 But you’ve lost the love you had at first, and I hold this against you.
5 ‘So, recognize how far you’ve fallen and turn around. Go back to doing what you did at the first. If you don’t – and unless you repent – I’m coming to you and I’ll remove your lampstand from its place. 6 However, I can say this in your behalf; You hate what the Nicolaitans are doing, and I hate what they’re doing too.’
7 Let those who have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations: ‘I’ll allow the one who conquers to eat from the Tree of Life that is in the Paradise of God.’
8 And write this to the messenger of the congregation in
11 Let those who have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations: ‘Whoever conquers won’t be harmed by the second death.’
12 And write this to the messenger
of the congregation in Pergamum. ‘This
is what the one who has the long, sharp, two-edged sword has to say: 13 I know that the place where you live is the
very throne of the Slanderer, and yet you keep hanging onto my name. Why, you
didn’t deny your faith in me even in the days of my faithful witness Antipas,
who was killed right next to you, there where the Slanderer lives. 14 However, I still have a few things against you,
for there are some among you who are following the teachings of Balaam. It was
he who taught Balak how to set a trap before the Sons of
17 Let those who have ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations: ‘To the one who conquers I’ll give some of the hidden manna and a white pebble. This pebble has a new name written on it that no one knows other than those who receive it.’
18 And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Thyatira. ‘This is what the Son of God says, he who has eyes like flames of fire and whose feet are like fine copper: 19 I know what you’re doing, and of your love, faith, service, and endurance. And what you’ve been doing recently is even more than what you used to do. 20 However, I do hold this against you: You’re still putting up with that woman Jezebel. She calls herself a prophetess, but she teaches and misleads my slaves into immoral sexual acts and into eating things that are sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her enough time to turn around, but she doesn’t want to repent from her immorality. 22 So, {Look!} I’m throwing her into a bed and I will create big problems for those who are enjoying sex with her, unless they repent over what they’re doing with her. 23 I’m also going to kill her children so all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches the kidneys and hearts, and I’ll give each of you what you deserve for what you’ve done.
24 ‘However, to the rest of you in Thyatira (those who don’t know about this teaching and who haven’t come to know things that are referred to as the deep things of the Slanderer), I say this: I won’t put any other loads upon you. 25 Just hang on until I get there, 26 and then I’ll give the one who conquers and obeys whatever I tell him to do down to the end, power over the nations. 27 He will shepherd the people [of the nations] with an iron rod using the same [power] that I received from my Father, and they’ll be broken to bits like clay pots. 28 I’ll also give him the morning star.’
29 Let the one who has ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
Chapter 3
1 And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Sardis. ‘This is what the one that has the seven Breaths of God and the seven stars says: I know what you’re doing, for while you have the reputation of being alive, you’re dead. 2 Wake up and strengthen the things that haven’t died yet, because I don’t see where you’ve finished any of the things that you’re doing before my God. 3 Start remembering [all the things] you received and heard, then hang onto them and repent. Why, if you don’t stay awake, I’m going to come like a thief, and you won’t know it until I’m right there on you.
4 ‘However, there
are a few names in
6 Let the one who has ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
7 And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Philadelphia. ‘This is what he who is holy and true… he who has the key of David which opens what no one can close and closes what no one can open, has to say: 8 I know what you’re doing. Look, I’ve put an open door before you that no one can close. I know that you don’t have much strength, but you’ve kept my word and haven’t denied knowing my name.
9 ‘Look at what I’m going to do to those from
the synagogue of the Slanderer who say they are Jews (but who aren’t and
are just lying). {Look!} I’m going to make them come and bow at your feet, and
I’ll make sure that they know how much I love you. 10 And because you’ve obeyed my instructions to
endure, I’m going to protect you from the hour of trial that’s going to come
upon the earth to test all those who are living on it. 11 I’m
coming soon, so keep hanging on and don’t let anyone steal your crown.
12 I’ll make the one who conquers a
pillar in the
13 Let the one who has ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
14 And write this to the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea. ‘This is what the Amen says (the faithful and true witness, the earliest creation of God): 15 I know what you’re doing, and that you’re neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other. 16 But since you’re neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, I’m going to vomit you out of my mouth. 17 This is because you’re saying, I am rich, and because I’m rich, I don’t need anything. However, what you don’t realize is that you’re really miserable, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 So my advice to you is to buy gold that has been refined by fire from me, so you can become rich and wear white robes (so nobody will see the shame of your nakedness), and buy salve to rub in your eyes so you can see.
19 ‘Because I correct and discipline all those who I care for, [you should] repent and be zealous! 20 Look, I’m standing at the door and knocking. And if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I’ll come in and we will have supper together. 21 Then I’ll allow the one who conquers to sit down with me on my throne, just as my Father has allowed me to sit on His throne, because I have conquered.’
22 Let the one who has ears hear what [God’s] Breath says to the congregations!
Chapter 4
1 Then after I saw those things, {Look!} a door opened in the sky and the first voice that I heard speaking to me sounded like a trumpet. It said, ‘Come on up here, and I’ll show you the things that must happen.’
2 Then I immediately became like the wind. And look, there was a throne in the sky with someone sitting on it. 3 The One who was sitting there looked like jasper and sardius gems, and all around the throne [there was] a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
4 Then, all around the throne there were twenty-four thrones on which twenty-four older ones were sitting. They were dressed in white robes and had golden crowns on their heads. 5 Lightning, thunder, and voices were coming from the throne. There were also seven flaming lamps that were burning before the throne, which are the seven Breaths of God. 6 Also, in front of the throne there was a transparent sea that looked like crystal.
On each of the four sides of the throne, there was an animal with many eyes, both on its front and backsides. 7 The first animal looked like a lion, the second looked like a young bull, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth looked like a flying eagle. 8 Also, each of the four animals had six wings, which were wrapped around them, and the inside parts of the wings were full of eyes. They don’t rest night or day, and they were saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah God the Almighty, who was, who is, and who’s coming.’
9 And whenever the animals gave glory, honor, and thanksgiving to the One who is sitting on the throne – the One who lives for ages of ages – 10 the twenty-four older ones fell down before the One who is sitting on the throne and worshiped the One who lives for ages of ages. Then they threw their crowns before the throne saying, 11 ‘Jehovah our God; You deserve all glory, honor, and power, because You created everything… they were created and exist because of Your Will.’
Chapter 5
1 Then I saw a scroll with writing on both sides that was sealed tightly with seven seals, in the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. 2 And I saw a mighty messenger who called out in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ 3 But there wasn’t anyone in heaven, on earth, or underneath the earth that was able to open the scroll or examine it.
4 At that, I started crying, because nobody could be found
who was worthy to open the scroll and examine it. 5 But one of the older ones
said to me, ‘Stop crying. Look! The Lion who is of the tribe of
6 That’s when I saw a lamb that looked like it had been slaughtered standing between the throne, the four animals, and the older ones. It had seven horns and seven eyes (which symbolize the seven Breaths of God that have been sent into the entire earth). 7 So, [the lamb] went and immediately took [the scroll] out of the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. 8 And when he took the scroll, the four animals and the twenty-four older ones fell down in front of him.
Now, each one held a harp and golden bowls that were full of incense (which symbolizes the prayers of the Holy Ones), 9 and they sang a new song. It went:
‘Because you have been slaughtered,
You deserve to take the scroll and open its seals.
You bought people for God with your blood,
From every tribe, language, ethnic group, and country.
10 Then you made them rulers and Priests to our God,
And they’ll rule as kings on the earth.’
11 Next, I looked around, because I heard the voices of many messengers around the throne, who, along with the animals and the older ones, numbered into the thousands of thousands and ten thousands of ten thousands. 12 And they were all shouting in a loud voice, ‘This Lamb who was slaughtered deserves to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessings.’
13 And I heard all those in the heavens, those on the earth, those under the earth, those on the sea, and all the things that are in them say, ‘May the One who is sitting on the throne and the Lamb be praised, honored, glorified, and have the power into the ages of ages.’ 14 Then the four animals kept repeating, ‘May it be!’ as the older ones fell down and bowed to their faces.
Chapter 6
1 Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four animals say in a thundering voice, ‘Come on out!’ 2 And at that, {Look!} I saw a white horse, and the one who was sitting on it had a bow. He was given a crown and he conquered and completed his victory.
3 Then he opened the second seal and I heard the second animal say, ‘Come on out!’ 4 And a fire-red horse came out, and the one who was sitting on it was given a large sword. He was authorized to take peace away from the earth, so [people] would kill each other.
5 Then he opened the third seal, and I heard the third animal say, ‘Come on out!’ And I saw {Look!} a black horse; and the one who was sitting on it had a balance scale in his hand. 6 Then I heard a voice that sounded like it came from the midst of the four animals, which said, ‘A quart of wheat for a silver coin and three quarts of barley for a silver coin… but don’t waste the olive oil or the wine.’
7 Then he opened the fourth seal, and I heard the voice of the fourth animal say, ‘Come on out!’ 8 And I saw {Look!} a greenish-yellow horse. The one who was sitting on it was named Death… and the Grave came following him. They were then given the authority to kill a quarter of the earth with the large sword, famines, plagues, and with the earth’s wild animals.
9 Then he opened the fifth seal, and underneath the Altar I saw the lives of those who had been slaughtered because of the Word of God and because of the testimony that they gave. 10 They were calling out in a loud voice asking, ‘O Sovereign Lord who is holy and true, how much longer will You hold back from passing judgment on those who live on the earth and avenging our blood?’
11 Then they were each given a white robe and they were told to take it easy just a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow slaves and brothers was filled (who were going to be killed as they were).
12 Then I saw him open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, which caused the sun to become as black as haircloth, and the entire moon to become like blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth just as a fig tree drops its figs when it’s shaken by a strong wind. 14 And next, the sky disappeared as though it was being rolled up in a scroll, and all the mountains and islands were moved from their locations.
15 And at that, all the kings of the earth, all the important people, all the military commanders, all the rich and powerful, as well as all the slaves and free people hid themselves in caves and under the rocks of the mountains. 16 For they kept saying to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One who is sitting on the throne and from the rage of the Lamb, 17 because the Great Day of their rage has [finally] arrived, and who can stand against them?’
Chapter 7
1 After that, I saw four messengers who were standing at the four corners of the earth, hanging onto the four winds of the earth so the winds wouldn’t blow on the earth, the sea, or the trees. 2 Then I saw another messenger who was coming up from the sunrise. He had the seal of the living God, and he shouted aloud to the four messengers who were allowed to harm the earth and sea, 3 saying, ‘Don’t harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until after we’ve sealed the slaves of our God in their foreheads.’
4 And I heard how many of them had been sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand from among every tribe of the sons of Israel.
5 Twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad, 6 twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar, 8 twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of BenJamin.
9 After all this, I saw {Look!} a crowd so large that no one could count them. They came from all countries, nationalities, ethnic groups, and languages; and they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were all wearing white robes, they carried palm branches in their hands, 10 and they were shouting, ‘We owe our salvation to our God who is sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb.’
11 Then the messengers who were standing in a circle around the throne, the older ones, and the four animals all fell to their faces before the throne and prostrated themselves before God, 12 saying, ‘May it be! May our God have all praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength through the ages of ages. May it be.’
13 Then one of the older ones asked me, ‘Just who are these that are dressed in the white robes and where did they come from?’
14 And I replied, ‘My lord, you’re the one who knows.’
Then he told me, ‘They are the ones that have come out of the great time of difficulty, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 That is why they’re in front of the throne of God and worshiping Him day and night in His Holy Abode. He who is sitting on the throne will then spread His tent over them, 16 and they won’t be hungry or thirsty anymore, nor will the sun beat down on them with blistering heat, 17 because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them. He will guide them to the fountains of waters of life, and God will wipe all the tears from their eyes.’
Chapter 8
1 And when he opened the seventh seal, the heavens were silent for about a half hour. 2 Then I saw that the seven messengers who stand in front of God were given seven trumpets.
3 Then another messenger showed up carrying a golden incense container. He stood at the Altar and he was given a lot of incense to offer – along with the prayers of all the Holy Ones – on the golden Altar in front of the throne. 4 And the smoke from the incense that was being held by the messenger kept arising before God, along with the prayers of the Holy Ones.
5 Then the messenger took the incense container and filled it with some of the fire from the Altar, and he threw it to the earth, which caused thunder, voices, lightning, and an earthquake. 6 And then the seven messengers prepared to blow the seven trumpets.
7 And when the first one blew his trumpet, hail and fire that was mixed with blood was thrown to the earth, which caused a third of the earth, the trees, and the green plants to be burned up.
8 And when the second messenger blew his trumpet, something that looked like a huge burning mountain was thrown into the sea. [This caused] a third of the sea to turn into blood, 9 which killed a third of the animals that lived in the sea and caused a third of the ships to be destroyed.
10 When the third messenger blew his trumpet, a huge star that had been burning like a lamp fell from the sky onto a third of the rivers and on the sources of water. 11 I was told that the name of this star was The Bitter Poison. So, a third of the water turned into bitter poison and many men died from the water, because it had become so bitter.
12 When the fourth messenger blew his trumpet, a third of the sun was struck, as was a third of the moon and a third of the stars, so they didn’t put out as much light. And a third of the day as well as a third of the night became dark.
13 Then I saw an eagle flying high in the sky, and I heard it shout, ‘Woe, woe, woe, to those who are living on the earth because of the remaining trumpet blasts of the three messengers, which are about to be blown!’
Chapter 9
1 So, when the fifth messenger blew his trumpet, I saw a star that fell to the earth from the sky. And [this star] was given the key to the pit. 2 He then opened the pit and smoke poured out of it such as would come from a huge furnace. And the smoke from the pit darkened the sun and the air.
3 Then locusts came to the earth out of the smoke, and they were given the same power as earthly scorpions. 4 They were told not to damage any of the earth’s vegetation or trees, just those men who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads. 5 They weren’t allowed to kill them, just to sting them for five months, and the pain that they would bring was like the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 And during that period, men will look for ways to die, but they won’t find any… they will wish to die, but death will escape them.
7 These locusts looked like horses that are prepared for battle. On their heads were what appeared to be golden crowns, and their faces looked like men’s faces, 8 but they had women’s hair. They had teeth like lions 9 and they wore breastplates that looked like they were made of iron. [The flapping] of their wings sounded like the attack of many chariots in a war, 10 and they had tails and stingers like scorpions. These tails were allowed to sting men for five months.
11 They had a king who led them… the messenger of the pit. In Hebrew, his name is Abaddon, but he’s called Apollyon (the Destroyer) in Greek.
12 Then this first woe passed away. But look! Two more woes were yet to follow.
13 When the sixth messenger blew his trumpet, I heard a
voice come from the horns of the golden Altar that’s in front of God. 14 It
said to the sixth messenger with the trumpet: ‘Set the four messengers free who
have been tied at the great River
16 [These messengers led] an army that I was told had twenty-million horsemen. 17 And this is what the horses and their riders looked like in the vision: They wore fire-red, hyacinth-blue, and sulfur-yellow breastplates. The horses had heads like lions; and fire, smoke, and sulfur came from their mouths. 18 It was these three plagues (the fire, smoke, and sulfur that came from their mouths) that killed a third of all men. 19 The power of the horses was all in their mouths and tails. Their tails were like snakes that have heads, and these are what they used to do all the damage.
20 However, the rest of the men who weren’t killed by these plagues wouldn’t repent for the things they were doing, or stop worshiping the demons, or their idols of gold, silver, copper, stone, and wood (which can’t see, hear, or walk). 21 Nor did they repent for their murders, their occult practices, their sexual immorality, or their thievery.
Chapter 10
1 Then I saw another very powerful messenger coming down from heaven. He was wrapped in a cloud and he wore a rainbow on his head. His face was [as bright] as the sun, and his feet were like columns of fire. 2 He also held a little opened scroll in his hand. Then he put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the ground, 3 and he shouted in a loud voice that sounded like the roar of a lion. And as he shouted, the seven thunders each spoke in their own voices.
4 Now, I was getting ready to write down the things that the seven thunders said, when I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Don’t write what the seven thunders said. Seal [these words] up!’
5 Then this messenger who I saw standing on the sea and on the ground raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore this by the One who lives for ages of ages… He who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: ‘The time has come. 7 For when the seventh messenger blows his trumpet (which is about to happen), God’s mystery, which was revealed in the good news He gave through His slaves the Prophets, will then be finished.’
8 Then I heard the voice out of heaven speak to me again. It said: ‘Go! Take the little open scroll out of the hand of the messenger who is standing on the sea and on the ground.’
9 So, I went over to the messenger and told him to give me the little scroll. And he replied, ‘Take it and eat it. It will be as sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will be bitter in your stomach.’
10 Then I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger and ate it. And it was as sweet as honey, but after I ate it, my stomach was bitter. 11 Then I was told, ‘Now you must go on to prophesy to people, nations, languages, and many kings.’
Chapter 11
1 Next, I was handed a reed that was a long as a pole. And he
said, ‘Now, go measure the
3 ‘Then I’m going to have my two witnesses prophesy for one-thousand two-hundred and sixty days wearing sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that have been standing on the earth in front of the Lord. 5 And if any of their enemies wish to harm them, fire will come from their mouths and consume them. So, if anyone wants to persecute them, that’s how they’re going to die, 6 because they’ve been authorized to close up the sky so no rain will fall during the period of their prophesying. They’re also authorized to turn water into blood and to bring every sort of plague to the earth whenever they wish.
7 ‘And when they’ve finished their witnessing, the wild
animal that comes out of the pit will fight against them, conquer them, and
kill them. 8 Then their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,
which [God’s] Breath refers to as
11 However, after the three and a half days, God sent His breath of life into them and they
stood up on their feet, and this frightened those who saw them. 12 Then [the
two witnesses] heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, ‘Come on up here.’
And their enemies saw them go into the sky in a cloud. 13 This was followed by
a tremendous earthquake and a tenth of the city [of
14 This ended the second woe. But look, the third woe was coming!
15 When the seventh messenger blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven shouting, ‘The kingdom of the w