John's Vision of Christ

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are [fn]in Christ Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus [fn]Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like that of a trumpet, 11 saying, “[fn]Write what yoʋ see in a book and send it to the [fn]seven [fn]churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned [fn]in that direction to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the [fn]seven lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he placed his right hand on me and [fn]said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18 the living one. I was dead, but behold, I am alive forevermore. [fn]Amen. I have the keys of [fn]Death and Hades. 19 [fn]Therefore write what yoʋ have seen, what is now and what will take place after this. 20 This is the mystery of the seven stars that yoʋ saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven [fn]lampstands are the seven churches.