| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1This is the revelation of Jesus the Messiah, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must happen soon. He made it known by sending his messenger to his servant John, | 1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, |
| 2who testified about this message from God and the testimony about Jesus the Messiah. | 2who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. |
| 3How blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and obey what is written in it, for the time is near! | 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near! |
| 4From John to the seven churches in Asia. May grace and peace be yours from the one who is, who was, and who is coming, from the seven spirits who are in front of his throne, | 4From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from "he who is," and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, |
| 5and from Jesus the Messiah, the witness, the faithful one, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood | 5and from Jesus Christ--the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood |
| 6and has made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. | 6and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father--to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen. |
| 7Look! He is coming in the clouds. Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. So be it! Amen. | 7(Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.) |
| 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," declares the Lord God, "the one who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty." | 8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God--the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come--the All-Powerful! |
| 9I am John, your brother and partner in the oppression, kingdom, and patience that comes because of Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. | 9I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. |
| 10I came to be in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord, when I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet, | 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, |
| 11saying, "Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." | 11saying: "Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches--to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." |
| 12Then I turned to see who was talking to me, and when I turned I saw seven gold lamp stands. | 12I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, |
| 13Among the lamp stands there was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash around his chest. | 13and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. |
| 14His head and his hair were white like wool, in fact, as white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire, | 14His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. |
| 15his feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of raging waters. | 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. |
| 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines with full force. | 16He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. |
| 17When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, "Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last, | 17When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, |
| 18the living one. I was dead—but look!—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades. | 18and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive--forever and ever--and I hold the keys of death and of Hades! |
| 19Therefore, write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after this. | 19Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things. |
| 20The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands is this: the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches." | 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. |
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