The Bible — World English Bible
Revelation 1
In brief
Revelation 1 opens the last book of the Bible. John presents his vision as the revelation of Jesus Christ, and promises a blessing to the one who reads, hears and keeps its words. He greets the seven churches of Asia. Exiled on Patmos, he sees Christ among seven golden lampstands, in a vision of glory that makes him fall as though dead. Christ lays his hand on him, declares himself the first and the last, the living one who holds the keys of death, and commands him to write.
The chapter in 5 parts
- v. 1-3Prologue: the revelation of Jesus Christ and the promised blessing
- v. 4-8Greeting to the seven churches: the one who is, who was and who is coming
- v. 9-11John on Patmos: “What you see, write in a book”
- v. 12-16The vision of Christ among the seven lampstands
- v. 17-20“Don't be afraid”: the living one who holds the keys of death
1This 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 to his servant, John,
2who testified to God’s word and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.
3Blessed 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.
4John, 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;
5and 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—
6and 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.
7Behold, 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.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
9I 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.
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet
11saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. Having turned, I saw seven golden lamp stands.
13And 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.
14His head and his hair were white as white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.
15His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
16He 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.
17When 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,
18and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
19Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter.
20The 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 of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
Key verses
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.
The book opens with a blessing that contains three verbs: read, hear, keep. Revelation is meant to be put into practice, not only decoded.
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— 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.
Jesus is presented as the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood. He has made his disciples a kingdom and priests to God his Father.
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.
The announcement of Christ's return with the clouds, when every eye will see him. Christians understand the sequence of the end times in different ways, but all affirm that he will return.
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, 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.
Before the vision, John falls as though dead. Christ lays his hand on him and says, “Don't be afraid,” then, “I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever.” The resurrection is the basis of the believer's confidence.
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 of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
Christ explains the symbols: the seven lampstands are the seven churches, and the seven stars are their angels. He stands among his churches and holds them in his hand.
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Frequently asked questions about Revelation 1
What does Revelation 1 mean?
Revelation 1 presents the book as the revelation of Jesus Christ given to John. After a greeting to the seven churches of Asia, John tells of his vision of the glorious Christ among the seven lampstands. The chapter stresses the identity of Christ: the first and the last, the living one who has conquered death, and the courage he gives his people.
What do the seven lampstands and the seven stars represent?
In verse 20, Christ himself gives the explanation: the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches, and the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. The text says little, however, about what to understand by these angels: some see heavenly messengers, others church leaders. The main image is that of Christ present among his churches.
Why is John on Patmos?
John writes that he was on the island called Patmos because of God's word and the testimony of Jesus. Christian tradition sees an exile linked to persecution. It is in this difficult situation, not in a moment of comfort, that John receives the vision of Christ.
What does “I have the keys of death and of Hades” mean?
In verse 18, Jesus affirms that, having conquered death by his resurrection, he has authority over it. The keys stand for the power to open and shut. For Christians, this word means that death does not have the last word and that the believer need not fear it.
Articles quoting Revelation 1
World English Bible translation — public domain.