1 THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
4 JOHN to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
JOHN ON THE ISLE OF PATMOS 9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

1The Reuelation of Iesus Christ, which God gaue vnto him, to shewe vnto his seruants things which must shortly come to passe; and he sent and signified it by his Angel vnto his seruant Iohn,

2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimonie of Iesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3Blessed is hee that readeth, and they that heare the words of this prophesie, and keepe those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

4Iohn to the seuen Churches in Asia, Grace be vnto you, & peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seuen spirits which are before his throne:

5And from Iesus Christ, who is the faithful witnesse, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth: vnto him that loued vs, and washed vs from our sinnes in his owne blood,

6And hath made vs Kings and Priests vnto God and his Father: to him be glory and dominion for euer and euer, Amen.

7Behold he commeth with clouds, and euery eye shal see him, and they also which pearced him: and all kinreds of the earth shall waile because of him: euen so. Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9I Iohn, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ, was in the Isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimonie of Iesus Christ.

10I was in the spirit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and what thou seest, write in a booke, and send it vnto the seuen Churches which are in Asia, vnto Ephesus, and vnto Smyrna, and vnto Pergamos, and vnto Thyatira, and vnto Sardis, and Philadelphia, and vnto Laodicea.

12And I turned to see the voice that spake with mee. And being turned, I saw seuen golden Candlesticks,

13And in the midst of the seuen candlestickes, one like vnto the Sonne of man, clothed with a garment downe to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14His head, and his haires were white like wooll as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire,

15And his feet like vnto fine brasse, as if they burned in a furnace: and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16And hee had in his right hand seuen starres: and out of his mouth went a sharpe two edged sword: and his countenance was as the Sunne shineth in his strength.

17And when I sawe him, I fell at his feete as dead: and hee laid his right hand vpon me, saying vnto mee, Feare not, I am the first, and the last.

18 I am hee that liueth, and was dead: and behold, I am aliue for euermore, Amen, and haue the keyes of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seene, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter,

20 The mysterie of the seuen starres which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seuen golden Candlestickes. The seuen Starres are the Angels of the seuen Churches: and the seuen candlestickes which thou sawest, are the seuen Churches.

I == John 3:32

III == Luke 11:28 ; 1st Peter 4:7

IV == Ex 3:14 ; Zech 3:9 ; Rev 1:8 ; 3:1 ; 4:5 ; 5:6

V == John 8:14 ; 13:34 ; 15:9

VI == 1st Tim 6:16 ; Heb 13:21 ; 1st Peter 2:5 , 9 ; 4:11 ; 5:11 ; Rev 5:10 ; 20:6

VII == Dan 7:13 ; Zech 12:10

VIII == Rev 2:8 ; 4:8 ; 11:17 ; 16:5 ; 21:6 ; 22:13

IX == Rom 8:17 ; Phil 1:7 ; 4:14 ; 2nd Tim 1:8 ; 2:12 ; Rev 1:2 ; 6:9

X == John 20:26 ; Rev 4:1-2 ; 10:8 ; 17:3 ; 21:10

XII == Ex 25:37

XIII == Ezek 1:26 ; Dan 7:13

XIV Dan 7:9 ; 10:6 ; Rev 2:18 ; 19:12

XV == Ezek 1:7 ; 43:2

XVI == Isa 49:2 ; Acts 26:13

XVII == Ezek 1:28 ; Dan 8:18 ; 10:10

XVIII == Ps 68:20 ; Rom 6:9 ; Rev 4:9 ; 5:14 ; 20:1

XIX == Rev 1:12 ; 2:1 ; 4:1

XX == Zech 4:2 ; Mal 2:7 ; Matt 5:15

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. 4 John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever (and ever). Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."9 I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God's word and gave testimony to Jesus. 10 I was caught up in spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, 11 which said, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." 12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. 17 When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18 the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. 19 Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards. 20 This is the secret meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Written AD 95 or 96 before Domitian died in 96 and John was returned to Ephesus. The difficulty of explaining an ice berg to a native of tropics illustrates the difficulty of the human mind understanding Revelation. However, God explains many statements, modern developments and history are helping to understand others. This book completes the theme of prophecies by the Old Testament and Christ, and reveals events taking place immediately before, during and following the 2nd coming of christ. 

v1. 1 The one revealing is Jesus Christ, 2 The messenger, acting under His authority is His angel, identified in 22:6-9 as a fellow servant of John; 3 The recipient is bond servant John. Shortly, meaning suddenly when it comes.

v2. John is a faithful witness 1 of the Word of God, 2  the testimony of Jesus Christ, and 3  the things he saw in his vision, make this a fore view eye witness account.

v3. Blessing is to those who 1 read, 2 hear and 3 keep, or obey. The seven “Beatitudes” of Rev.: 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; and 22:14.  At hand means imminent, not necessarily immediately.

v4. John addresses the seven churches of Asia, representative of churches everywhere. Grace-God’s attitude toward believers, Peace-their standing with God. From (1) The Lord who is, was and is to come. From (2) The sevenfold Spirit of Isa. 11:2. 1 Resting or abiding spirit, 2 wisdom, 3 understanding, 4 counsel, 5 might, 6 knowledge, and 7 fear of the Lord.

v5. And from (3) Jesus Christ. He is: 1 The faithful witness (derived from martyr and source of this revelation); 2 He restored His own body, Jn.10:1 so He was first begotten of the dead (first to be resurrected with an everlasting body, others will be saints of the Church Age, Tribulation martyrs and O.T. saints, and wicked dead of all time); 3 Prince of the kings of the earth. A prayer of eternal honor to Christ who 1 Loves us, 2 Washed us from sin in His blood (the means of salvation 

v6. And 3 made we bond slaves a kingdom of priests unto God. As kings we learn to reign in heaven with Him, but His is the glory and dominion. As priests we may intercede for others, even now.

v7. With clouds (visible to all on earth in contrast to the Rapture) may be or include Shekinah glory cloud. Other places in the world may not see Him by satellite TV but direct miracle. The remnant of Israel, the nation who rejected and pierced  Him shall grieve for what nationally they did, Zech. 12:10.

v8. Christ describes Himself in triple: 1 Alpha and Omega, 2 beginning and ending, 3 is, was and is to come, the Almighty.

v9. “I John”, no disputing the writer, was in exile by order of Domitian on Patmos, a little southwest of Ephesus, in persecution for his ministry for the Lord.

v10. Not, as a few believe, Day of the Lord, which is inconsistent with other statements, but actually the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, Sunday,  when early Christians gathered, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2. The writing extended more days.  A trumpet is noted for clearness, and signals what is to happen.

v11. The vision to be written to the mentioned seven churches, listed in clockwise manner, but it for us too.

v12,13 Unlike the Menorah in the temple which had a main and six side branches, Ex, 25:31, this was seven individual lamp stands so arranged, possibly like the seven churches, that Christ in form of man, stood in the midst of the them. Christ referred to Himself as Son of Man eighty times in the Gospels. Note that all in heaven are fully clothed.

v14-16. Christ’s description. Priestly garments, hair same as Ancient of Days in Dan.7:9, eyes of judgment  that could weep in compassion. Feet bronze as the altar of sacrifice and would trample in judgment. A mighty voice as water falls and elsewhere as thunder. He had but to speak and judgment fell. His word sharper than the Roman two edged killer sword.

v17,18. John falls in awe before the one on whose breast he at one time leaned, but Christ reassures him and reaffirms His resurrection and His eternal state and power. At His death Christ descended into Hades which is still being enlarged by the wicked dead, Isa. 5:14. It was divided, Lk. 16:23-26. Believers He took to heaven at his resurrection, Eph. 4:8-10. He proclaimed victory to the spirits still there, so He has the keys of hell and death. (Comment: Some think Christ descended to the final Hell.)

v19. Told to write:
Rev. 1, Introductory vision, Past, “things which thou hast seen”
Rev. 2,3 Present, existing conditions  “things which are”, Rev.
4-22 Future, future events,  “things which shall be hereafter”
(Some consider only two divisions, present and future, because he saw them).

v20.  The seven lamp stands represent the light bearing churches, and stars represent angels of the churches. This properly supposes that there is an angel assigned to watch over each church, and as leaders come and go, the angel remains. There is overwhelming belief among scholars of the Bible that the angels, or messengers, are the pastors of those churches. an interpretation that fits comfortably in explanation. That has always been my understanding, but Henry Morris, in The Revelation Record, points out several things hard to refute  If pastor of the church had been meant, He would have said pastor, or elder, as He did twelve times later in Revelation. Angels are messengers, but no where else in the New Testament does it refer to pastors, while it does refer to angels 188 times. The word is used 67 other times in Revelation when it could not possibly mean a pastor. Regardless of which position we hold, the message is to the churches. 
The messages pertain to:
1 The churches actually addressed.
2 Churches of all time to show their true spiritual state in the sight of God.
3 Hearers and over comers on  a personal basis.
4 Prophecy regarding the history of the church with it’s repeated pattern and progress or decline of it’s spiritual state to the end of the Church Age.

1. The seven Spirits (sevenfold Spirit), Rev. 1:4; 4:5; Compare Isa. 11:2
1 Spirit of rest (or abiding Spirit); 2 Spirit of wisdom; 3 Spirit of understanding; 4 Spirit of counsel; 5 Spirit of might; 6 Spirit of  knowledge; 7 Spirit of fear of the Lord
2. The seven churches, 2:1-3:22  (Overlapping dates, not precise)
Ephesus - back slidden. End of apostolic period, first century 
Smyrna - persecuted. Martyrs, Nero AD 64 - Constantine 312 AD
Pergamos - licentious. Babylon’s immoral religion to here, then Rome,300-500 AD
(Mother-Son worship; Sun god “born” Dec. 25, resurrected “Easter”, confessions)
Thyatira - doctrinally lax. Dark ages under Rome’s Papal heresies, 500 -1500 AD
Sardis - dead. Except Luther, Wycliffe, Calvin. etc. (Reformation) 1500 - 1750 AD
Philadelphia - True missionary church of past century. J Wesley, Moody, C Finney
Laodicea - lukewarm. Wealthy false church from Reformation to today.
3. The seven seals, 6:1-8:1
1 White horse, false peace; 2 Red horse, war and bloodshed; 3 Black horse, famine; 4 Pale horse, pestilence, death; 5 Souls under the altar, martyrs of first half of Tribulation; 6 Physical changes of earth, anarchy 7 Silence, Golden Censer emptied to introduce trumpets
4. The seven trumpets, 8:2-11:19
1 Hail - fire - blood; 2  As burning mountain; 3 Star Wormwood; 4 Sun smitten; 5 Plague of Locusts; 6 Plague of horsemen; 7 Remaining bowl judgments - Armageddon
5. The seven personages, 12:1-13:18
1 The woman, 12:1,2;  2 The dragon, 12:3,4  (Anti God or Satan); 3 The Man Child, 12:5;  4 The archangel Michael, 12:7;  5 The Jewish remnant persecuted, 12:17;  6 The beast out of the sea, 13:1-8  (Anti Christ or Beast);  7 The beast out of the earth, 13:11-18  (Anti Spirit or False Prophet)
6. The seven bowls, 15;1-16:21
1 Boils; 2 Sea blood; 3 Rivers blood; 4 Great heat; 5 Darkness; 6 Euphrates dried; 7 Greatest earthquake and hail
7. The seven dooms, 17:1-20:15
Ecclesiastical Babylon, at Rome 17:1-18
Political Babylon, at Euphrates 18:1-24
Antichrist and the false prophet, 19:20
Anti Christian nations, 19:17-21 (Armageddon, Ezekiel 38)
Gog and Magog, 20:8,9  (Not Armageddon)
Satan, 20:10
The wicked dead, 20:11-15
8. The seven new things, 21:1-22:21 (Another case of seven complete, eight new)
New heavens, 21:1
New earth, 21:1
New city, 21:9-13
New nations, 21:24-27
New river, 22:1
New tree, 22:2
New throne, 22:3-5