B. The Vision of the Glorified Christ (1:9-18)
C. The Apostle’s Commission to Write (1:19, 20)
II. The Things which Are (2:1-3:22)
A. The Letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:1-7)
B. The Letter to the Church at Smyrna (2:8-11)
C. The Letter to the Church at Pergamos (2:12-17)
D. The Letter to the Church at Thyatira (2:18-29)
E. The Letter to the Church at Sardis (3:1-6)
F. The Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (3:7-13)
G. The Letter to the Church at Laodicea (3:14-22)
III. The Things which Will Take Place after This (4:1-22:21)
A. Worship in Heaven (4:1-5:14)
B. The Great Tribulation (6:1-18:24)
C. The Return of the King (19:1-21)
D. The Millennium (20:1-10)
E. The Great White Throne Judgment (20:11-15)
F. The Eternal State (21:1-22:21)
THE REVELATION
of Jesus Christ
Revelation 1
Introduction and Benediction
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, awhich God gave Him to show His servants—things which must 1shortly take place. And bHe sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,
2cwho bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things dthat he saw.
3eBlessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for fthe time is near.
Greeting the Seven Churches
4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him gwho is and hwho was and who is to come, iand from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
5and from Jesus Christ, jthe faithful kwitness, the lfirstborn from the dead, and mthe ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him nwho 2loved us oand washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6and has pmade us 3kings and priests to His God and Father, qto Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Behold, He is coming with rclouds, and every eye will see Him, even sthey who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8t“I am the Alpha and the Omega, 4the Beginning and the End,” says the 5Lord, u“who is and who was and who is to come, the vAlmighty.”
Vision of the Son of Man
9I, John, 6both your brother and wcompanion in the tribulation and xkingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10yI was in the Spirit on zthe Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me aa loud voice, as of a trumpet,
11saying, 7“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches 8which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned bI saw seven golden lampstands,
13cand in the midst of the seven lampstands dOne like the Son of Man, eclothed with a garment down to the feet and fgirded about the chest with a golden band.
14His head and ghair were white like wool, as white as snow, and hHis eyes like a flame of fire; The Seven Churches
15iHis feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and jHis voice as the sound of many waters;
16kHe had in His right hand seven stars, lout of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, mand His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
17And nwhen I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But oHe laid His right hand on me, saying 9to me, “Do not be afraid; pI am the First and the Last.
18q“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, rI am alive forevermore. Amen. And sI have the keys of 10Hades and of Death.
1911“Write the things which you have tseen, uand the things which are, vand the things which will take place after this.
20“The 12mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are wthe 13angels of the seven churches, and xthe seven lampstands 14which you saw are the seven churches.
Revelation 2
The Loveless Church
1“To the 1angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says aHe who holds the seven stars in His right hand, bwho walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2c“I know your works, your labor, your 2patience, and that you cannot 3bear those who are evil. And dyou have tested those ewho say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3“and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have fnot become weary.
4“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, gor else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
6“But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7h“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give ito eat from jthe tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
The Persecuted Church
8“And to the 4angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says kthe First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
9“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are lrich); and I know the blasphemy of mthose who say they are Jews and are not, nbut are a 5synagogue of Satan.
10o“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. pBe faithful until death, and I will give you qthe crown of life.
11r“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by sthe second death.” ’
The Compromising Church
12“And to the 6angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says tHe who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of uBalaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, vto eat things sacrificed to idols, wand to commit sexual immorality.
15“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, 7which thing I hate.
16“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and xwill fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden ymanna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone za new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
The Corrupt Church
18“And to the 8angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, awho has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
19b“I know your works, love, 9service, faith, and your 10patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
20“Nevertheless I have 11a few things against you, because you allow 12that woman cJezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, 13to teach and seduce My servants dto commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21“And I gave her time eto 14repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of 15their deeds.
23“I will
kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who fsearches16 the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24“Now to you I say, 17and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the gdepths of Satan, as they say, hI 18will put on you no other burden.
25“But hold fast iwhat you have till I come.
26“And he who overcomes, and keeps jMy works until the end, kto him I will give power over the nations—
27‘Hel shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father;
28“and I will give him mthe morning star.
29“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Revelation 3
The Dead Church
1“And to the 1angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who ahas the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before 2God.
3b“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and crepent. dTherefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you eas a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
43“You have fa few names 4even in Sardis who have not gdefiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me hin white, for they are worthy.
5“He who overcomes ishall be clothed in white garments, and I will not jblot out his name from the kBook of Life; but lI will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6m“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Faithful Church
7“And to the 5angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says nHe who is holy, oHe who is true, p“He who has the key of David, qHe who opens and no one shuts, and rshuts and no one opens”:
8s“I know your works. See, I have set before you tan open door, 6and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9“Indeed I will make uthose of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed vI will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10“Because you have kept 7My command to persevere, wI also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon xthe whole world, to test those who dwell yon the earth.
118“Behold, zI am coming quickly! aHold fast what you have, that no one may take byour crown.
12“He who overcomes, I will make him ca pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall dgo out no more. eI will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the fNew Jerusalem, which gcomes down out of heaven from My God. hAnd I will write on him My new name.
13i“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
The Lukewarm Church
14“And to the 9angel of the church 10of the Laodiceans write,
j‘These things says the Amen, kthe Faithful and True Witness, lthe Beginning of the creation of God:
15m“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither 11cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17“Because you say, n‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18“I counsel you oto buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and pwhite garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19q“As many as I love, I rebuke and rchasten.12 Therefore be 13zealous and repent.
20“Behold, sI stand at the door and knock. tIf anyone hears My voice and opens the door, uI will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21“To him who overcomes vI will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22w“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Revelation 4
The Throne Room of Heaven
(Is. 6:1–3)
1After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing aopen in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a btrumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
2Immediately cI was in the Spirit; and behold, da throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
31And He who sat there was elike a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; fand there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
4gAround the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, hclothed in white 2robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
5And from the throne proceeded ilightnings, 3thunderings, and voices. jSeven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are kthe4 seven Spirits of God.
6Before the throne there 5was la sea of glass, like crystal. mAnd in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
7nThe first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8The four living creatures, each having osix wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
p“Holy,6 holy, holy,
q Lord God Almighty,
r Who was and is and is to come!”
9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, swho lives forever and ever,
10tthe twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11“Youu are worthy, 7O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
v For You created all things,
And by wYour will they 8exist and were created.”
Revelation 5
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
1And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne aa scroll written inside and on the back, bsealed with seven seals.
2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, c“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open 1and read the scroll, or to look at it.
5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, dthe Lion of the tribe of eJudah, fthe Root of David, has gprevailed to open the scroll hand 2to loose its seven seals.”
6And I looked, 3and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood ia Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and jseven eyes, which are kthe seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand lof Him who sat on the throne.
Worthy Is the Lamb
8Now when He had taken the scroll, mthe four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the nprayers of the saints.
9And othey sang a new song, saying:
p“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And qhave redeemed us to God rby Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and n
ation,
10And have made 4us skings5 and tpriests to our God;
And 6we shall reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13And uevery 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, I heard saying:
v“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him wwho sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and 7ever!”
14Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the 8twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped 9Him who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 6
First Seal: The Conqueror
1Now aI saw when the Lamb opened one of the 1seals; and I heard bone of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
2And I looked, and behold, ca white horse. dHe who sat on it had a bow; eand a crown was given to him, and he went out fconquering and to conquer.
Second Seal: Conflict on Earth
3When He opened the second seal, gI heard the second living creature saying, “Come 2and see.”
4hAnother horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to itake peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth
5When He opened the third seal, jI heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, ka black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of lscales3 in his hand.
6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A 4quart of wheat for a 5denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and mdo not harm the oil and the wine.”
Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 669