John's Story: The Last Eyewitness Read online

  Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

  7For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that wea do not lose those things we worked for, but that web may receive a full reward.

  9Whoever transgressesa and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

  John’s Farewell Greeting

  12Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

  13The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

  3 JOHN

  Greeting to Gaius

  The Elder,

  To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

  2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.a

  Gaius Commended for Generosity

  5Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren anda for strangers, 6who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receivea such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

  Diotrephes and Demetrius

  9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

  11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, buta he who does evil has not seen God.

  12Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

  Farewell Greeting

  13I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.

  Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

  REVELATION

  Introduction and Benediction

  1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

  Greeting the Seven Churches

  4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

  Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

  To Him who loved us and washeda us from our sins in His own blood, 6and has made us kingsa and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

  7Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

  8“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,”a says the Lord,b “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

  Vision of the Son of Man

  9I, John, botha your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,”a and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia:b to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

  12Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,a “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19Writea the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you sawa are the seven churches.

  The Loveless Church

  2 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

  ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

  7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

  The Persecuted Church

  8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

  ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

  11“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

  The Compromising Church

  12“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

  ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.a16Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

  17“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who over
comes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

  The Corrupt Church

  18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

  ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19“I know your works, love, service, faith,a and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allowa that womanb Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seducec My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.a 22Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of theira deeds. 23I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

  24“Now to you I say, anda to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I willb put on you no other burden. 25But hold fast what you have till I come. 26And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

  27‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;

  They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’a—

  as I also have received from My Father; 28and I will give him the morning star.

  29“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

  The Dead Church

  3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

  ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.a 3Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4Youa have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

  6“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

  The Faithful Church

  7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

  ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:a 8“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;a for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11Behold,a I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

  13“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

  The Lukewarm Church

  14“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceansa write,

  ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,a I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

  22“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

  The Throne Room of Heaven

  4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

  2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3And He who sat there wasa like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crownsa of gold on their heads. 5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.a Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are theb seven Spirits of God.

  6Before the throne there wasa a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

  “Holy, holy, holy,a

  Lord God Almighty,

  Who was and is and is to come!”

  9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:11

  “You are worthy, O Lord,a

  To receive glory and honor and power;

  For You created all things,

  And by Your will they existb and were created.”

  The Lamb Takes the Scroll

  5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

  4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and reada the scroll, or to look at it. 5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loosea its seven seals.”

  6And I looked, and behold,a in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

  Worthy Is the Lamb

  8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying:

  “You are worthy to take the scroll,

  And to open its seals;

  For You were slain,

&n
bsp; And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

  Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

  10 And have made usa kingsb and priests to our God;

  And wec shall reign on the earth.”

  11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

  12saying with a loud voice:

  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

  To receive power and riches and wisdom,

  And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

  13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

  “Blessing and honor and glory and power

  Be to Him who sits on the throne,