1 1 THIS IS THE REVELATION given by God to Jesus Christ. It was given to him so that he might show his servants what must shortly happen. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 1 2 who, in telling all that he saw, has borne witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. 1 3 Happy is the man who reads, and happy those who listen to the words of this prophecy and heed what is written in it. For the hour of fulfilment is near.
1 4 JOHN TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES in the province of Asia.
Grace be to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come, from the seven spirits before his throne, 1 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins with his life's blood, 1 6 who made of us a royal house, to serve as the priests of his God and Father - to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Amen.
1 7 [ Dn.7.13, Zch.12.10. ] Behold, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye shall see him, and among them those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the world shall lament in remorse. So it shall be. Amen.
1 8 'I am the Alpha and the Omega', says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the sovereign Lord of all.