Revelation 1:9–18

John’s Vision of the Risen Lord

9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, j kingdom, k and endurance l that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. m n 10 I was in the Spirit o p q on the Lord’s day, r and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet s 11 saying, “Write t on a scroll u what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12 I turned to see whose voice v it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, w 13 and among the lampstands was One like the * Son of Man, x y dressed in a long robe z and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. a 14 His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow b—and His eyes like a fiery flame. c 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, d and His voice like the sound of cascading e waters. f 16 He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, g and His face was shining like the sun at midday. hi

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. j He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, k 18 and the Living One. l I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, m and I hold the keys n of death and * Hades.