To the Church in Sardis

“To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis(A) write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b](B) of God and the seven stars.(C) I know your deeds;(D) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(E) Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(F) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(G) and you will not know at what time(H) I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.(I) They will walk with me, dressed in white,(J) for they are worthy. The one who is victorious(K) will, like them, be dressed in white.(L) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,(M) but will acknowledge that name before my Father(N) and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear(O) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia(P) write:

These are the words of him who is holy(Q) and true,(R) who holds the key of David.(S) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds.(T) See, I have placed before you an open door(U) that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(V) I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,(W) who claim to be Jews though they are not,(X) but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet(Y) and acknowledge that I have loved you.(Z) 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you(AA) from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world(AB) to test(AC) the inhabitants of the earth.(AD)

11 I am coming soon.(AE) Hold on to what you have,(AF) so that no one will take your crown.(AG) 12 The one who is victorious(AH) I will make a pillar(AI) in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God(AJ) and the name of the city of my God,(AK) the new Jerusalem,(AL) which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear(AM) what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(AN) write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(AO) the ruler of God’s creation.(AP) 15 I know your deeds,(AQ) that you are neither cold nor hot.(AR) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(AS) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(AT) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(AU) so you can become rich; and white clothes(AV) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(AW) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(AX) So be earnest and repent.(AY) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(AZ) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(BA) I will come in(BB) and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious,(BC) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(BD) just as I was victorious(BE) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(BF) what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The Throne in Heaven

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open(BG) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet(BH) said, “Come up here,(BI) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(BJ) At once I was in the Spirit,(BK) and there before me was a throne in heaven(BL) with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(BM) and ruby.(BN) A rainbow(BO) that shone like an emerald(BP) encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(BQ) They were dressed in white(BR) and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(BS) In front of the throne, seven lamps(BT) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[c](BU) of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(BV) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(BW) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(BX) The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.(BY) Each of the four living creatures(BZ) had six wings(CA) and was covered with eyes all around,(CB) even under its wings. Day and night(CC) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[d](CD)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(CE)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(CF) and who lives for ever and ever,(CG) 10 the twenty-four elders(CH) fall down before him(CI) who sits on the throne(CJ) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,(CK)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(CL)

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(CM) a scroll with writing on both sides(CN) and sealed(CO) with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel(CP) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(CQ) of the tribe of Judah,(CR) the Root of David,(CS) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb,(CT) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(CU) and the elders.(CV) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(CW) which are the seven spirits[e](CX) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(CY) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(CZ) and the twenty-four elders(DA) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(DB) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(DC) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(DD)

“You are worthy(DE) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(DF) you purchased(DG) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(DH)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(DI) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[f] on the earth.”(DJ)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(DK) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(DL) and the elders.(DM) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(DN) who was slain,(DO)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(DP)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(DQ) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(DR) and to the Lamb(DS)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(DT)

14 The four living creatures(DU) said, “Amen,”(DV) and the elders(DW) fell down and worshiped.(DX)

The Seals

I watched as the Lamb(DY) opened the first of the seven seals.(DZ) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(EA) say in a voice like thunder,(EB) “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(EC) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(ED) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(EE)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(EF) say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(EG) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(EH) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(EI) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(EJ) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(EK) saying, “Two pounds[g] of wheat for a day’s wages,[h] and six pounds[i] of barley for a day’s wages,[j](EL) and do not damage(EM) the oil and the wine!”

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(EN) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(EO) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(EP) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(EQ)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(ER) the altar(ES) the souls of those who had been slain(ET) because of the word of God(EU) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(EV) Sovereign Lord,(EW) holy and true,(EX) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(EY) and avenge our blood?”(EZ) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(FA) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[k] were killed just as they had been.(FB)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(FC) The sun turned black(FD) like sackcloth(FE) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(FF) as figs drop from a fig tree(FG) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(FH) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(FI)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(FJ) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(FK) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(FL) and hide us[l] from the face of him who sits on the throne(FM) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(FN) of their[m] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(FO)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
  2. Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  3. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  4. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
  5. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  6. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
  7. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  8. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  9. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  10. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  11. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  12. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  13. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?