Revelation 1

1 This is the revelation [disclosure of truth, unveiling] of Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], which God [the Supreme Deity, Creator] gave Him [as a gift] to show His servants [bondservants, those devoted to Him] what must soon [quickly, without delay] come to pass [happen, take place]. He made it known [signified, revealed] by sending [dispatching, commissioning] His angel [messenger, heavenly being] to His servant [bondservant, one who serves] John, word study 2 who testifies [bears record, gives witness] to everything he saw [perceived, experienced]. This is the word [Logos, divine message] of God [the Almighty, Creator] and the testimony [witness, evidence] of Jesus Christ [the Messiah, Savior]. word study 3 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] is the one who reads aloud [proclaims, declares] the words [messages, teachings] of this prophecy [divine revelation, inspired message], and blessed [fortunate, favored] are those who hear [listen, obey] and obey [keep, observe] what is written [recorded, inscribed] in it, because the time [season, opportunity] is near [at hand, approaching]. word study 4 John, To the seven [complete, perfect] churches in the province of Asia: Grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] and peace [harmony, tranquility] to you from Him who is [exists eternally] and was [has always been] and is to come [will come again], and from the seven Spirits [breath, vital principle] before His throne [seat of authority, power], word study 5 and from Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], the faithful [trustworthy, reliable] witness, the firstborn [first to rise, premier] from the dead, and the ruler [sovereign, king] of the kings of the earth [the terrestrial sphere, earthly realm]. To Him who loves [has affection for, cherishes] us and has released [freed, liberated] us from our sins [transgressions, rebellions] by His blood [the atoning sacrifice, life force], word study 6 who has made us to be a [spiritual] kingdom, priests [serving God] to His God [the supreme deity] and Father [the heavenly parent]—to Him be the glory [honor and praise] and power [dominion and strength] forever [for all eternity] and ever [throughout the ages]! Amen [so be it, truly]. word study 7 Behold [see, perceive], He is coming [approaching, arriving] with the clouds [a visible mass of water vapor], and every eye [all people, every individual] will see [perceive, behold] Him—even those who [who have] pierced [stabbed, wounded] Him. And all [every, the whole] the tribes [nations, people groups] of the earth [the world, the land] will mourn [lament, wail] because of Him [on account of, due to]. So shall it be [it will be so, may it be]! Amen [so be it, truly]. word study 8 “I am [the First and the Last] the Alpha [the beginning] and the Omega [the end], ” says the Lord [the All-powerful One] God [the supreme Creator], who is [exists eternally] and was [has always existed] and is to come [will always be present]—the Almighty [the Ruler of all, having absolute power]. word study 9 I, John, your brother [and fellow believer] and partner [in a shared experience] in the tribulation [pressure, distress] and kingdom [God’s royal power] and perseverance [patient endurance] that are in Jesus [the Anointed One], was on the island [a small landmass] of Patmos because of the word [Logos, divine message] of God [the supreme Deity] and my testimony [witness, affirmation] about Jesus [the Savior]. word study 10 On the Lord’s [belonging to Jesus, the Master’s] day [a 24-hour period, a time of worship] I was [existed, came into being] in [filled with, under the influence of] the Spirit [breath, the vital principle], and I heard [listened, perceived] behind [after, following] me a loud [great, intense] voice [sound, noise] like [as, similar to] a trumpet [a musical instrument, a signal], word study 11 saying, “Write [record, inscribe] on a scroll [book, written document] what you see [perceive, behold] and send [dispatch, transmit] it to the seven [complete, perfect number] churches: to Ephesus [a major city in Asia Minor], Smyrna [a city in Asia Minor], Pergamum [a city with a strong cultural influence], Thyatira [a city with a significant trade industry], Sardis [a city with a rich history], Philadelphia [the city of brotherly love], and Laodicea [a city with a strong sense of self-sufficiency].” word study 12 Then I turned [to face, to direct my attention] to see [to perceive, to gaze at] the voice [sound or noise] that was speaking [to utter words, to communicate] with me [in my presence, to me]. And having turned [reverted, changed direction], I saw [to look at, to behold] seven [complete or perfect] golden [made of gold] lampstands [holders for lamps], word study 13 and among [in the midst of, surrounded by] the lampstands [seven golden candlesticks] was One like [resembling, similar to] the Son of Man [a human, a son of humanity], dressed [clothed, wearing] in a long [floor-length, down to the feet] robe, with a golden [made of gold, shining] sash [belt, girdle] around [encircling, fastened at] His chest [breast, upper body]. word study 14 The hair [white as wool, like snow] of His head [the source of His authority] was white [pure, clean] like wool [soft, fluffy fibers], as white [brilliant, shining] as snow [a rare and wondrous sight], and His eyes [the windows of His soul] were like [resembling, comparable to] a blazing [intensely burning, fiery] fire [a flame of judgment, purification]. word study 15 His feet were like polished [fine, burnished] bronze [a shiny metal alloy] refined [purified, fired] in a furnace [a fiery oven], and His voice was like the roar [sound, voice] of many [abundant, numerous] waters [rivers, floods]. word study 16 He held [in possession, grasping firmly] in His right [strongest, most honored] hand seven [complete, perfect number] stars, and a sharp [swift, cutting] double-edged [having two cutting edges, effective for battle] sword came from His mouth [the source of His words, the instrument of His speech]. His face [countenance, appearance] was like the sun [the brightest celestial body, shining with intense light] shining at its brightest [in full strength, with utmost radiance]. word study 17 When I saw Him [as if in a vision, with my spiritual eyes], I fell at His feet [in reverence, as one dead] like a dead man [lifeless, without strength]. But He placed [laid gently, with care] His right hand [a symbol of power and authority] on me and said, “Do not be afraid [do not have fear, be courageous]. I am the First [the beginning, the source of all things] and the Last [the end, the culmination of all things], word study 18 the Living One [the Eternal, self-existent God]. I was dead [once lifeless, without vitality], and behold, now I am alive [living, having eternal life] forever and ever [for all eternity, throughout the ages]! And I hold [possess, have authority over] the keys [symbols of power, authority to unlock] of Death [physical and spiritual death, separation from God] and of Hades [the place of the dead, the grave, the underworld]. word study 19 Therefore [then, as a consequence] write down [record, put in writing] the things you have seen [perceived, experienced], and the things that are [exist, currently present], and the things that will happen [come to pass, ensue] after [following, subsequent to] this [these events]. word study 20 This is the mystery [a hidden truth, a secret] of the seven [completeness, perfection] stars you saw in My right [symbolizing strength, authority] hand and of the seven golden [valuable, precious] lampstands: The seven stars are the angels [messengers, heavenly beings] of the seven churches [assemblies, communities of believers], and the seven lampstands are the seven churches [gathered groups, called-out ones]. word study