Seven slender golden lampstands standing in a gentle curve in deep darkness, each with a small oil lamp burning at the top, warm light pooling on a plain stone floor.

The Book of

Revelation 1

An old man in exile on a rocky island hears a voice like a trumpet behind him. He turns, and sees the risen Christ.

20 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3Seven churchesChrist among His lampstandsChapter 1
4–11Seals & trumpetsThe Lamb opens the scroll
12–16The great conflictThe dragon, the beasts, the bowls
17–20The King comesBabylon falls; the Lamb wins
21–22All things newA new heaven and a new earth

Prologue

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

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Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

John Greets the Seven Churches

From JohnTo the seven churches in the province of Asia

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne,

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 1:4–6

Revelation 1:7

I am the Alpha and the Omega

Revelation 1:8

Reflect

To Him who loves us

John can’t finish his greeting without breaking into praise: “To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood.” He loves us now, and He has already set us free. Write a few lines of your own thanks to Jesus for what He has done for you.

John’s Vision on Patmos

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Patmos and the seven churches

John is on Patmos, a small, bare island in the Aegean about 60 miles from Ephesus. The voice tells him to send what he sees “to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” In that order the cities make a loop along the Roman roads of the province of Asia, likely the very road the messenger walked with the scroll.

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.

An old man in a plain wool cloak, seen from behind, sits on a boulder high above a small bay of a bare, rocky Aegean island at early morning.

On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest.

Question

Quick question

John turns to see who is speaking to him.

What did John see when he turned toward the voice?

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.

Revelation 1:17–18

A heavy ancient bronze key on an iron ring lying on the worn stone threshold of an open rock-cut tomb at sunrise, warm light falling into the empty doorway.

And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

Therefore write down the things you have seen, the things that are, and the things that will happen after this. This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Pray

Do not be afraid

Bow before Jesus as John did, and hear His words to you: “Do not be afraid.” Thank Him that He is “the First and the Last,” that He was dead and now is alive forever, and that He holds “the keys of Death and of Hades.” Ask Him for courage to stay faithful this week, whatever comes.

You’ve experienced

Revelation 1

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A verse to carry with you

Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

Revelation 1:17–18

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