Revelation

NSB(i) 1 THE REVELATION GOD GAVE TO JESUS CHRIST, so that he could tell his servants the things that must soon take place. Christ then sent his angel to communicate the symbolic message to his servant John. 2 John testified to the word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all that he saw. 3 Happy is he who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and obey the things written in it: for the time is near. 4 John, to the seven congregations in Asia: May you have grace and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and released us from our sins by his blood. 6 He made us to be a kingdom of kings and priests to his God and Father. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he comes with the clouds. Every eye will see him, and those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn over him. So it will be, Amen. 8 »I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end,« says Jehovah (YHWH) God, »the one who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (all ruling) (universal sovereign).« (Isaiah 48:12) 9 I, John, your brother and companion in tribulation and kingdom and perseverance (patience) of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, because of the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day when I heard a strong voice behind me. It sounded like a trumpet. 11 It said: »Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven congregations in Asia: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.« 12 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. 13 There was someone like the Son of man in the midst of the seven lamp stands. He was clothed with a garment that reached down to the feet, and girded at the chest with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like fine brass glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like many rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His appearance was like the shinning sun in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. He laid his right hand on me and said: »Do not fear. I am the first and the last: 18 »I am alive! I was dead and, behold, I am alive forever, Amen. I have the keys of death and the grave. 19 »Write the things that you have seen and the things that are and the things that will be. 20 »This is the secret of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven congregations. The seven lamp stands that you saw are the seven congregations.«