Revelation 1

1 The revealation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,2 whotestifies to everything he saw that is, the world of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.4 John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,5 and Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.7 Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen.8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyma, Pergamum, thyatria, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golen lampstands,and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear, I will help you.14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you," declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.15 "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with mant teeth. You will tresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.You will winnow them, the wind will pick themup, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.17  "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongue are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water , and the parched ground into springs.19 I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,20 so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.21 "Present your case," says the LORD. "Set forth your arguments," says Jacob's King.22 "Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,23 tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.24 But you are less than nothing and your works are uttererly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable.25 "I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a pottere treading the clay.26 Who told of this from the beginning, so we cloud know, or beforehand, so we cloud say, He was right? No one told of this, no one foretold it, no one heard any words from you.27 I was the first to tell Zion, Look, here they are! I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.28 I look but there is no oone no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.29 See, they are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing; their images are but wind and confusion.