THE REVELATION OF JOHN.

I. A REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to shew to his servants things which must shortly come to 2 pass, and which he sent by his angel, and signified to his servant John, who hath testified the word of God, and the tes3 timony of Jesus Christ, and what he saw. Happy he who readeth, and they who hear the words of this prophecy; and keep the things that are written therein! For the time is at hand!

4

John to the seven congregations which are in Asia; favour be to you, and peace from him who is, and who was, and 5 who is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the sovereign of the kings 6 of the earth. To him who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins with his blood, and made us kings and priests to God, even his father-to him be the glory and dominion for the ages of the ages. Amen.

7

8

9

Behold he is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see him, even they who pierced him; and for him all the tribes of the earth shall mourn.

Yes, be it so. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

I John, who am your brother, and a partaker in this af fliction, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island which is called Patmos, on the account of the 10 word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud 11 voice, like the sound of a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega; the first and the last," and "what thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven congregations which are in Asia, to Ephesus and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus,

and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to 12 Laodicea." Whereupon I turned to look towards the voice which spake to me; and upon turning about, I saw seven golden 13 candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks one like a son of man, clothed with a robe down to the feet, 14 and girded about the breast with a golden girdle; and as for

his head, the hairs like wool were glittering white as snow, 15 and his eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet were like fine brass, as if they were glowing in a furnace; and his voice 16 was like the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword. And his countenance was like the sun shining in 17 its strength. And when I saw him I fell at his feet as one 18 dead. Whereupon he laid his right hand on me, and said to me, Fear not. I am the first and the last, even he who liveth. Though I was dead yet behold I am alive, and live for the ages of the ages, Amen. And I have the keys of the mansion 19 of the dead, and of death. Write what thou hast seen, and the

things which are, and the things which are about to be here20 after. With respect to the hidden meaning of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks; the seven stars are the angels of the seven congregations and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven congregations.

II.

To the angel of the congregation at Ephesus write,

"Thus saith he who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand-who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candle2 sticks, I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear with them who are evil, and hast tried them who pretend to be apostles, and are not, and hast found 3 them liars, and hast borne and dost exercise patience, and hast 4 laboured for my name's sake, and hast not fainted. But I have 5 this against thee that thou hast lost thy first love. Remember

therefore from what thou hast fallen, and reform, and do thy first works; else I will come to thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick out of its place, unless thou reform. But thou hast 6 this, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I al

so hate. Whosoever hath an ear to hear let him hear what the 7 spirit saith to the congregations. To him who overcometh I

8

will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

And to the angel of the congregation at Smyrna write,

"Thus saith the first and the last, who was dead and is 9 alive, I know thy works, and thine affliction, and thy poverty, (though thou art rich) and the slander of them who say they 10 are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of satan. Be not terrified at what thou art about to suffer. Behold the devil will soon cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and ye will have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. Let him who 11 hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the congregations. He who overcometh shall not be hurt by the second death.

12

13

And to the angel of the congregation at Pergamus write, "Thus saith he who hath the sharp two edged sword, I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where the throne of satan is; yet thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied the belief of me, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you where 14 satan dwelleth. Nevertheless I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to 15 commit fornication. In like manner thou hast them who hold 16 the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate. Reform. If thou

dost not, I am coming to thee quickly, and I will fight against 17 them with the sword of my mouth. Let him who hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the congregations. To him who overcometh I will grant to eat of the manna which was laid up; and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he who receiveth it.

18

And to the angel of the congregation at Thyatira write, "Thus saith the son of God, whose eyes are like a 19 flame of fire, and whose feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and thy love, and thy service, and thy faith, and thy patience, and that thy last works exceed the first: but I have 20 a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed

21 to idols. Though I gave her time to reform from her fornica22 tion, yet she hath not reformed. Behold I am about to cast her

into a bed, and them who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they reform from their works; and I will 23 slay her children with death; and all the congregations shall know, that I am the searcher of reins and hearts, and will give 24 to every one of you according to your works. But to you I say, even to the rest at Thyatira, to as many as do not hold this doctrine, and who have not known the depths (as they call 25 them) of satan; on you I will lay no other burthen, besides 26 what you have; hold it fast until I come. As for him who over

cometh, and keepeth my works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations, (and he shall rule them with a rod of 27 iron. Like vessels of potter's clay they shall be broken in pieces,*) as I have received from my Father; and I will give 28 him the morning star. Let him who hath an ear, hear what the spirit saith to the congregations.

III.

And to the angel of the congregation at Sardis write,

"Thus saith he, who hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know thy works, that thou hast the name of be2 ing alive, though thou art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the remains which are likely to die. For I have not found thy 3 works perfect in the sight of God. Remember therefore how thou hast received, and heard, and keep fast hold, and reform. For if thou wilt not watch, I will come against thee, as a thief, so that thou shalt not know at what hour I shall come 4 against thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. These shall walk with me in white 5 robes because they are worthy. He who overcometh shall be clothed with white raiment, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my 6 Father, and before his angels. Let him who hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the congregations."

7

And to the angel of the congregation at Philadelphia write,

* These two lines, and, &c. and Like vessels, &c. which are included in a parenthesis, I consider as a quotation from Ps. 2. 9. with a change of persons in the first, and of measure in the second.

Thus saith the Holy one and the True, who hath the key[the Son] of David, who openeth and none shutteth, and who 8 shutteth and none openeth, I know thy works. Behold I have set before thee an open door, and none can shut it. Because thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word, and hast not 9 denied my name, behold I give thee some of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not; but do lie. Behold I will make them come, and worship at thy feet, and know that I 10 have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will keep thee from the hour of trial which is coming soon on the whole world, to try the inhabitants of the earth. 11 Behold I am coming quickly. Hold fast what thou hast, that 12 none may take thy crown. Him who overcometh I will make

a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, (the new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from my God) and mine own new name. Let 13 him who hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the congregations.

14 And to the angel of the congregation of the Laodiceans write, Thus saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the 15 beginning of the creation of God, I know thy works, that thou 16 art neither cold nor hot. I wish thou wert cold or hot. So then; 17 because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit thee out of my mouth, because thou sayest, I am rich and become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, 18 and blind, and naked. I advise thee to purchase of me gold

tried in the fire that thou mayst be rich, and white raiment that 19 thou mayst be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness

may not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou 20 mayst see. Whomsoever I love, I rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore, and reform. Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any one will hearken to my voice and open the door, 21 I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me. To him who overcometh I will grant to sit with me on my 22 throne, as I have overcome, and sit with my Father on his throne. Let him who hath an ear hear what the spirit saith to the congregations."