(7)Behold! he is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall lament bitterly, smiting their bosoms, because of him: even so! Amen.
(8)I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is coming--the Almighty.
(9)I John, your brother and companion also with you in the tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the island which is called Patmos, for the word of G.o.d, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (10)I was _rapt_ in spirit on the Lord"s day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, (11)saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last; and what thou seest write in a book, and send to the churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (12)And I turned to see what voice spake to me. And when I turned round I saw seven lamps of gold; (13)and in the midst of the seven lamps one like unto a son of man, clothed to the very feet, and girded about the b.r.e.a.s.t.s with a golden zone; (14)his head and flowing locks white as a white fleece of wool, even as the snow; and his eyes as a flame of fire; (15)and his feet resembled molten bra.s.s, as though they glowed in the furnace; and his voice was as the roar of many waters. (16)And he held in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as when the sun shineth in his meridian l.u.s.tre. (17)And when I beheld him, I fell at his feet as dead: and he laid his right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last, (18)and I am the living one, though I was dead and lo! I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I hold the keys of h.e.l.l and of death. (19)Write the things which thou seest, and the things which are, and the things which shall be in future after these, (20)the mystery of the seven stars which thou seest in my right hand, and the seven golden lamps. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamps which thou seest are the seven churches.
CHAP. II.
TO the angel of the Ephesian church write; These things saith he who grasps the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh round in the midst of the seven golden lamps; (2)I know thy works, and thy travail, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear the wicked; and hast tried those who give themselves out as apostles, yet are not, and hast found them liars; (3)and hast borne, and hast exercised patience, and for my name sake hast endured great toil, and hast not fainted. (4)Yet have I a charge against thee, that thou art gone back from thy first love. (5)Remember then from whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and practise thy first works; but if not, I am coming to thee quickly, and I will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou repent. (6)But this thou holdest, that thou abhorrest the deeds of the Nicolatans, which I also abhor. (7)He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of G.o.d.
(8)And to the angel of the church of the Smyrnians write, These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive: (9)I know thy works, and thy tribulation, and thy poverty (though thou art rich), and the calumnies of those who say they are Jews, yet are not, but are Satan"s synagogue. (10)Fear nothing from the things which thou shalt suffer: lo! the devil will cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have a ten day"s tribulation: be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (11)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall receive no injury from the second death.
(12)And to the angel of the church at Pergamos write, These things saith he who holdeth the sharp two-edged sword; (13)I know thy works and where thou hast thy abode, even where Satan"s throne _is erected_: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was put to death among you, where Satan dwelleth. (14)Yet I have a few things against thee, that thou hast there some who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to lay a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat of idol sacrifices, and to commit wh.o.r.edom. (15)Thou hast also some who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I abhor. (16)Repent!
but if not, I am coming to thee quickly, and will war against them with the sword of my mouth. (17)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble, and upon the pebble a new name inscribed, which no man knoweth except the person who receiveth it.
(18)And to the angel of the church which is at Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of G.o.d, who hath his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet like the molten bra.s.s; (19)I know thy deeds, and thy love, and thy charity to the poor, and thy faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and that the last are more abundant than the first. (20)Yet I have a few things against thee, because thou hast suffered that woman Jezabel, calling herself a prophetess, to teach, and to lead my servants into error, to commit wh.o.r.edom, and eat the idol sacrifices.
(21)And I gave her a s.p.a.ce that she should repent of her wh.o.r.edom, and she hath not repented. (22)Behold, I am about to cast her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. (23)And I will slay her children by death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the reins and the hearts: and I will give to you, even to every one, according to your works. (24)But to you I say, and to the rest that are at Thyatira, as many as do not hold this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak, I will lay upon them no other burden.
(25)Nevertheless that which you have, hold fast till I come. (26)And he who overcometh, and perseveres in my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations; (27)he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as a potter"s vessels they shall be broken in pieces, even as I have received authority from my Father: (28)and I will give him the star of the morning. (29)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
CHAP. III.
AND to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of G.o.d, and the seven stars; I know thy works, and that thou hast a name, as though thou wert alive, yet art dead. (2)Be vigilant and strengthen the things which remain, which are ready to die; for I have not found thy works complete before G.o.d.
(3)Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and observe, and repent. If then thou art not found watching, I will come upon thee as a thief, and thou shalt in no wise know at what hour I will come upon thee. (4)Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white robes, for they are worthy. (5)He that overcometh, this man shall be clothed in white robes; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (6)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(7)And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things saith the Holy One, he that is true, who hath the key of David, who openeth, and none shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth. (8)I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; because thou hast but little strength, yet hast thou kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (9)Behold, I give thee out of Satan"s synagogue those who say they are Jews, yet they are not, but do lie. Lo! I will make them that they shall come and prostrate themselves at thy feet, and they shall know that I have loved thee. (10)Because thou hast keep the word of my patience, I also will preserve thee from the hour of temptation, which is coming upon the whole habitable globe to try the dwellers upon earth. (11)Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (12)He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my G.o.d, and he shall never more go out from thence: and I will write upon him the name of my G.o.d, and the name of the city of my G.o.d, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my G.o.d, and my own new name. (13)He that hath an ear to hear, let him ear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(14)And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of the creation of G.o.d; (15)I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: (16)I wish thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth: (17)because thou sayest, I am rich, and wallow in wealth, and have no want unsupplied; yet thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and pitiable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (18)I advise thee to buy of me gold purified by the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white robes, that thou mayest be completely clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thine eyes with a collyrium, that thou mayest see. (19)As many as I love, I rebuke and correct: be zealous then, and repent. (20)Lo! I stand at the door, and knock: if any person hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me. (21)He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit on my throne, as I also have overcome, and have sat down with my Father on his throne. (22)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
CHAP. IV.
AFTER these things I beheld, and, lo! a door was opened in heaven, and a voice, the first which I heard, as of a trumpet, speaking to me, said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee what things will be after these. (2)And immediately I was _rapt_ in spirit: and, lo! a throne was placed in heaven, and upon the throne a person sitting. (3)And he that sat was in appearance like a stone of jasper and sardine: and a rainbow encircled the throne, like in hue to an emerald. (4)And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon these thrones I saw twenty-four presbyters seated, clothed in white robes; and they had on their heads golden crowns. (5)And out of the throne issued forth lightnings, and thunder, and loud voices; and seven lamps of fire burned before the throne, which are the seven spirits of G.o.d. (6)And before the throne was a sea of gla.s.s like crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and within the circle of the throne, were four living beings full of eyes before and behind. (7)And the first living being was like a lion, and the second living being was like a calf, and the third living being had a face as a man, and the fourth living being was like an eagle with wings expanded. (8)And the four living beings had each for himself six wings encircling him, and within they were full of eyes; and they never cease day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord G.o.d Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is coming. (9)And when these living beings give glory, and honour, and thanksgiving to him that sitteth on the throne, to him who liveth for ever and ever, (10)the four and twenty presbyters prostrate themselves before him who is Seated on the throne, and worship him who liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11)Worthy art thou, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and by thy will they exist, and were created.
CHAP. V.
AND I saw on the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a _volume of a_ book written within, and on the back sealed with seven seals. (2)And I saw mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to break the seals thereon? (3)And no man was able in heaven, nor upon earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look into it.
(4)And I wept much because no man was found worthy either to open or read the book, or even to look upon it. (5)And one of the presbyters said unto me, Weep not: behold the lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed, to open the book, and to break the seven seals upon it. (6)And I beheld, and lo! in the midst of the throne, and of the four living beings, and in the midst of the presbyters, stood a lamb as just slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of G.o.d that are sent forth into all the world: (7)and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that was seated upon the throne. (8)And when he had taken the book, the four living beings and the four and twenty presbyters prostrated themselves before the lamb, having each harps, and vases of gold, full of perfumes smoaking, which are the prayers of the saints.
(9)And they sung a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereon; because thou hast been slaughtered, and hast redeemed us for G.o.d by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10)and hast made us for our G.o.d kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.
(11)And I looked, and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the living beings, and the presbyters, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, (12)crying with a loud voice, Worthy is the slaughtered lamb to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (13)And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and those who are on the sea, and all things which are therein, heard I, saying, To him who is seated on the throne, and to the lamb, be blessing, and honour, and glory, and might for ever and ever. (14)And the four living beings said, Amen. And the four and twenty presbyters prostrated themselves, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
CHAP. VI.
AND I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living beings, saying, as with a voice of thunder, Come, and see.
(2)And I looked, and lo! a white horse; and he who sat on it held a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
(3)And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living being say, Come and see. (4)And there went out another horse flame-coloured; and to him who sat thereon there was power given to take peace from the earth, and that men should kill each other; and there was given to him a great sword.
(5)And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living being say, Come and see. And I saw, and lo! a black horse; and he that sat upon it had a pair of scales in his hand. (6)And I heard a voice from amidst the four living beings saying, A choenix[154] of wheat for a denarius[155], and three choenixs of barley for a denarius; yet to the oil and the wine do no injury.
(7)And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being saying, Come and see. (8)And I looked, and lo! a pale coloured horse, and one sat on it, whose name was Death, and the grave followed after him: and power was given to them to kill the fourth part of the earth with the sword, and with famine, and with death, and with the wild beasts of the earth.
(9)And when he opened the fifth seal I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of G.o.d, and for the testimony which they maintained. (10)And they cried with a loud voice, How long will it be, O sovereign, the holy one and the true, ere thou judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? (11)And to each of them were given white robes, and it was told them that they should wait yet a little longer s.p.a.ce, until the number of their fellow-servants and their brethren, who should be slain as well as they, should be completed.
(12)And I saw when he 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 to the earth, as the fig-tree sheddeth her early ripe figs when shaken by a mighty wind: (14)and the heaven was removed away as a volume rolled up and every mountain and island were removed out of their places: (15)and the kings of the earth, and the grandees, and the rich, and the military commanders, and the men in power, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves, and in the rocks of the mountains; (16)and said to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (17)for the great day of his wrath is come, and who is able to stand?
CHAP. VII.
AND after these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, to hold back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, neither on the sea, nor on any tree.
(2)And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living G.o.d; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom power was given for them to hurt the earth and the sea, (3)saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our G.o.d in their foreheads. (4)And I heard the number of those who were sealed; one hundred and forty and four thousand were sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel.
(5)Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. (6)Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Nephtalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Mana.s.seh were sealed twelve thousand. (7)Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. (8)Of the tribe of Zebulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
(9)After these things I looked, and beheld a great mult.i.tude, which no man could number, out of every nation, and tribe, and people, and tongue, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches in their hands (10)and crying with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our G.o.d that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb. (11)And all the angels stood in a circle about the throne, and the presbyters and the four living beings, and fell on their faces before the throne, and worshipped G.o.d, (12)saying, Amen: blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be to our G.o.d for ever and ever. Amen.
(13)And one of the presbyters addressed me, saying, Who are these persons who are clothed in white robes? and from whence came they?
(14)And I said to him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are persons who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
(15)Therefore are they before the throne of G.o.d, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (16)They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun scorch them, nor any burning heat. (17)Because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them, as a shepherd, and lead them unto living fountains of waters; and G.o.d shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
CHAP. VIII.
AND when he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about half an hour. (2)And I saw the seven angels which stood before G.o.d, and there were given to them seven trumpets. (3)And another angel came, and stood by the altar, holding a golden censer; and there were given to him many perfumes, to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (4)And the smoke of the perfumes went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel"s hand before G.o.d. (5)And the angel took the censer, and filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
(6)And the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
(7)And the first angel blew the trumpet, and there were hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast on the earth; and a third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green gra.s.s was burnt up.
(8)And the second angel sounded, and there was cast into the sea as it were a vast mountain burning with fire: and the third part of the sea became blood; (9)and a third part of the creatures having life, which are in the sea, died; and a third part of the ships was destroyed.
(10)And the third angel blew the trumpet, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of water; (11)and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters was turned into wormwood, and mult.i.tudes of men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
(12)And the fourth angel sounded, and a third part of the sun was smitten, and a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars; so that a third part of them was darkened, and the day had no light during a third part of it, and the night likewise.
(13)And I saw and heard one angel flying in the mid-heavens, saying with a loud voice, Wo, wo, wo, to the dwellers upon earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels, which are ready to sound.
CHAP. IX.
AND the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth; and to him was given the key of the pit of the abyss _of h.e.l.l_.
(2)And he opened the pit of the abyss; and a smoke ascended out of the pit like the smoke of a vast furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. (3)And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given to them, such power as the scorpions of the earth possess. (4)And it was told them, Hurt not the gra.s.s of the earth, nor any herb, nor any tree, but only those men who have not the seal of G.o.d in their foreheads. (5)And it was given them in charge that they should not kill these men outright, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment is as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man. (6)And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall earnestly desire to die, and death shall fly from them. (7)And the figures of the locusts were like horses equipped for war; and upon their heads there were as crowns, like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. (8)And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. (9)And they had breastplates, as breastplates of iron: and the sound of their wings was as the rumbling of chariots of many horses rushing to battle. (10)And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and they had power to hurt men five months.
(11)And they had over them a king, the angel of the abyss _of h.e.l.l_, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Appollyon.
(12)One woe is past; and, behold, there are coming yet two woes after these.
(13)And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a great voice from the four horns of the altar of gold which is before G.o.d, (14)saying to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound at the great river Euphrates. (15)And the four angels were loosed, who were ready at the hour, and day, and month, and year, to kill the third part of mankind. (16)And the number of the armies of cavalry was two myriads of myriads and I heard the number of them. (17)And in this manner saw I the horses in the vision, and those who were mounted upon them, having breastplates of the colour of fire, and jacinth, and sulphur; and the horses" heads were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceeded fire and smoke and brimstone. (18)By these three were slain the third part of mankind, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the sulphur, which proceeded out of their mouths. (19)For their powers are in their mouth, and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do hurt. (20)And the residue of mankind, who were not slain by these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of bra.s.s, and of wood, and of stone: which can neither see nor hear, nor walk: (21)and they repented not of their murders, nor of their magical arts, nor of their wh.o.r.edom, nor of their thefts.
CHAP. X.
AND I saw another mighty angel descending from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow on his head, and his countenance as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: (2)and he held in his hand a little book open; and he placed his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land, (3)and cried with a loud voice, as a lion roareth: and when he had cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (4)And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up the things, which the seven thunders have spoken, and write them not down.
(5)And the angel which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the land lifted up his hand towards heaven, (6)and he swore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things which are therein, and the earth and the things which are in it, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that time shall be no longer: (7)but that in the days of the blast of the seventh angel, when he shall sound, then shall the mystery of G.o.d be completed, as he spake by his own servants the prophets.