The Revelation to John

(The last book of the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles is always Revelation, which is sometimes titled The Revelation to John, or The Revelation of St. John the Divine. Revelation means the revealing of Christ and especially Christ’s role in end-times events. Revelation begins with an introductory chapter about the vision John had received, then two chapters of letters to seven major first-century churches in Asia Minor. These are practical letters that give warnings and encouragement that apply not just to first century churches but even to modern churches. We include here two of the seven letters: the first, to Ephesus - the same church that Paul wrote the book of Ephesians to - and the last, to Laodicea. Laodicea seems the most relevant to typical modern churches.)

Chapter 1

11 This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel[1] to his servant, John, 12 who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.

13 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.

14 John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; 15 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood— 16 and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

17 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

18 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

19 I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 110 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet 111 saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

112 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands. 113 And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest. 114 His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. 115 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. 116 He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 117 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.

He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.[2] 119 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter. 1201 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels[3] of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.

Chapter 2

21 “To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write:

“He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things:

22 “I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.  23 You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 24 But I have this against you, that you left your first love. 25 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent. 26 But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  27 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God. ( . . . )

Chapter 3

( . . . )

314 “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:

“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning[4] of God’s creation, says these things:

315 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot.  316 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.  317  Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;  318  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.  319 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.  320 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.  321 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.  322  3 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”

Chapter 4

(The letter to Laodicea is immediately followed by John’s vision of worship in Heaven. Beginning at this point the remaining chapters of Revelation are highly symbolic. God the Father is depicted as a blazing red being sitting on a throne, even though the whole Bible to this point makes clear that God is a spirit and must be worshiped as such. And, for example, the four living beings are not to be taken literally as strange animals. They have a spiritual meaning. The twenty-four elders around the throne probably are meant to imply that this message applies to both Jewish believers, represented by the twelve tribes of Israel, and Gentile believers, represented by the twelve apostles. Clearly the Lamb in Chapter 5 who appears to have been slain but is living represents Jesus Christ.)

41 After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”

42 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 43 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. 44 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. 45 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 46 Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 47 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 48 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”

49 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, 410 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, 411 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One,4 to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”

Chapter 5

51 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 52 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 53 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it. 54 Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. 55 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.” 56 I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, 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. 57 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 58 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 59 They sang a new song, saying,

“You are worthy to take the book

and to open its seals:

for you were killed,

and bought us for God with your blood

out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

and made us kings and priests to our God,

and we will reign on the earth.”

 

511 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; 512 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”

513 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”

514 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the5  elders fell down and worshiped.

Chapters 6 Through 18

(The scene in heaven is followed by about thirteen chapters which convey a message of judgement on the earth and its evil people, using almost exclusively symbols. Interpretation of these chapters is still very controversial after centuries of study. There is no general agreement among informed students of the Bible as to even basics about this material, such as whether these middle chapters are (1) mostly about first century persecution of the church, or are (2) about yet future things to happen, or are (3) generic messages of warnings and hope for believers during any great distress such as war. View (2) has become popular in the United States in recent decades due to popular books which have dramatized the events of that interpretation. We leave this long and difficult passage for your later reading.)

Chapter 19

(One thing that virtually all students, commentators, preachers, and denominations agree upon is that, beginning early in Chapter 19, Revelation is talking about the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. This event is sometimes called the Second Coming, and is predicted many times in the New Testament. We Christians should take this prophesied event to be a great comfort as to our ultimate future.

We will present now the last four chapters of Revelation, which are also the last four chapters of the New Testament. Even in these clearer last four chapters of Revelation almost all the descriptions John gives of heavenly things he sees are described in symbols rather than plain words. The Lamb refers to Christ. Christ’s “wife” or “bride” is understood to be the world-wide church of all believers. Their wedding is therefore when Christ returns to gather all believers and begin the process of final judgement of everyone in the world. White garments refer to purity. The two-edged sword in Christ’s mouth refers to God’s message to all people. Etc. Etc. Even with all the symbolism the general message of Christ’s triumphant return (starting in verse 11) and the binding of Satan forever comes through, as does some understanding of the coming eternal glory for all who make up Christ’s bride.)

( . . . )

( . .196 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! 197 Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. 198 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

199 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.”

1910 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.”

1911 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war. 1912 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself. 1913 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of God.” 1914 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen. 1915 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. 1916 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

1917 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, “Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of God, 1918 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, small and great.” 1919 I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. 1920 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 1921 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh. 19

Chapter 20

(Note that the famous Battle of Armageddon is over very quickly. The army is killed by the sword of Christ, and the Beast and the False Prophet are thrown into the lake of fire and not seen again. As we see just below, Satan is bound for a thousand years. When Satan is released he tries again to make war against the saints and is then also thrown into the lake of fire. That is the final victory over Satan.[5])

201 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 202 He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 203 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. 204 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 205 The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 206 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

207 And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 208 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 209 They went up over the width of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them. 2010 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

2011 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 2012 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 2013 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades[6] gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 2014 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 2015 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. 20

Chapter 21

211 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 212 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 213 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 214 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

215 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”  216 He said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.  217 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.  218 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers,[7] idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

219 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb’s bride.” 2110 He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 2111 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 2112 having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. 2113 On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 2114 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. 2115 He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 2116 The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia.[8] Its length, width, and height are equal. 2117 Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits,[9] by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 2118 The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. 2119 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire;[10] the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 2120 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst. 2121 The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 2122 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. 2123 The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 2124 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 2125 Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), 2126 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter. 2127 There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 21

Chapter 22

221 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 222 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 223 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. 224 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 225 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

226 He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”

227 “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

228 Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 229 He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 2210 He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 2211 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”

2212 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 2213 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 2214 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 2215 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 2216 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

2217 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. 2218 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 2219 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. 2220 He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” 

Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

2221 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.


 



[1]1:1  or, messenger (here and wherever angel is mentioned)

[2]1:18  or, Hell

[3]1:20  or, messengers (here and wherever angels are mentioned)

[4]3:14  or, Source, or Head

[5] At least that is the final victory on earth. We have no evidence as to whether dramas like this have been or will be occuring on other planets, or whether there exist people on other planets.

[6]20:13 or, Hell

[7]21:8  The word for “sorcerers” here also includes users of potions and drugs.

[8]21:16  2,012 stadia is  2,221 kilometers or 1,380 miles. TR reads 12,000 stadia instead of 12,012 stadia.

[9]21:17  144 cubits is about 65.8 meters or 216 feet

[10]21:19   or, lapis lazuli