Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Revelation 1
New International Version

### Prologue

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave(A) him to show his servants what must soon take place.(B) He made it known by sending his angel(C) to his servant John,(D) 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God(E) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.(F) 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,(G) because the time is near.(H)

### Greetings and Doxology

4 John,

To the seven churches(I) in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you(J) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,(K) and from the seven spirits[a](L) before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,(M) the firstborn from the dead,(N) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.(O)

To him who loves us(P) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,(Q) 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests(R) to serve his God and Father(S)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.(T)

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b](U)
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;(V)
and all peoples on earth “will mourn(W) because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”(X) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,(Y) the Almighty.”(Z)

### John’s Vision of Christ

9 I, John,(AA) your brother and companion in the suffering(AB) and kingdom(AC) and patient endurance(AD) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God(AE) and the testimony of Jesus.(AF) 10 On the Lord’s Day(AG) I was in the Spirit,(AH) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(AI) 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(AJ) and send it to the seven churches:(AK) to Ephesus,(AL) Smyrna,(AM) Pergamum,(AN) Thyatira,(AO) Sardis,(AP) Philadelphia(AQ) and Laodicea.”(AR)

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(AS) 13 and among the lampstands(AT) was someone like a son of man,[d](AU) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet(AV) and with a golden sash around his chest.(AW) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(AX) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(AY) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(AZ) 16 In his right hand he held seven stars,(BA) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.(BB) His face was like the sun(BC) shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet(BD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me(BE) and said: “Do not be afraid.(BF) I am the First and the Last.(BG) 18 I am the Living One; I was dead,(BH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!(BI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.(BJ)

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen,(BK) what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand(BL) and of the seven golden lampstands(BM) is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches,(BN) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(BO)

#### Footnotes

1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
2. Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
3. Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
4. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
5. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers

#### Cross references

1. Revelation 1:1 : Jn 12:49; 17:8
2. Revelation 1:1 : ver 19; Da 2:28, 29; Rev 22:6
3. Revelation 1:1 : Rev 22:16
4. Revelation 1:1 : ver 4, 9; Rev 22:8
5. Revelation 1:2 : ver 9; S Heb 4:12
6. Revelation 1:2 : ver 9; 1Co 1:6; Rev 6:9; 12:17; 19:10
7. Revelation 1:3 : Lk 11:28; Rev 22:7
8. Revelation 1:3 : S Ro 13:11
9. Revelation 1:4 : ver 11, 20
10. Revelation 1:4 : S Ro 1:7
11. Revelation 1:4 : ver 8; Rev 4:8; 11:17; 16:5
12. Revelation 1:4 : Isa 11:2; Rev 3:1; 4:5; 5:6
13. Revelation 1:5 : Isa 55:4; Jn 18:37; Rev 3:14
14. Revelation 1:5 : Ps 89:27; Col 1:18
15. Revelation 1:5 : S 1Ti 6:15
16. Revelation 1:5 : S Ro 8:37
17. Revelation 1:5 : S Ro 3:25
18. Revelation 1:6 : S 1Pe 2:5; Rev 5:10; 20:6
19. Revelation 1:6 : Ro 15:6
20. Revelation 1:6 : S Ro 11:36
21. Revelation 1:7 : Da 7:13; S Mt 16:27; 24:30; 26:64; S Lk 17:30; S 1Co 1:7; S 1Th 2:19; 4:16, 17
22. Revelation 1:7 : Jn 19:34, 37
23. Revelation 1:7 : Zec 12:10; Mt 24:30
24. Revelation 1:8 : S ver 17; Rev 21:6; 22:13
25. Revelation 1:8 : S ver 4
26. Revelation 1:8 : Rev 4:8; 15:3; 19:6
27. Revelation 1:9 : ver 1
28. Revelation 1:9 : S Ac 14:22; 2Co 1:7; Php 4:14
29. Revelation 1:9 : ver 6
30. Revelation 1:9 : 2Ti 2:12
31. Revelation 1:9 : ver 2; S Heb 4:12
32. Revelation 1:9 : S ver 2
33. Revelation 1:10 : Ac 20:7
34. Revelation 1:10 : Rev 4:2; 17:3; 21:10
35. Revelation 1:10 : Ex 20:18; Rev 4:1
36. Revelation 1:11 : ver 19
37. Revelation 1:11 : ver 4, 20
38. Revelation 1:11 : S Ac 18:19
39. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 2:8
40. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 2:12
41. Revelation 1:11 : Ac 16:14; Rev 2:18, 24
42. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 3:1
43. Revelation 1:11 : Rev 3:7
44. Revelation 1:11 : S Col 2:1; Rev 3:14
45. Revelation 1:12 : ver 20; Ex 25:31-40; Zec 4:2; Rev 2:1
46. Revelation 1:13 : Rev 2:1
47. Revelation 1:13 : Eze 1:26; Da 7:13; 10:16; Rev 14:14
48. Revelation 1:13 : Isa 6:1
49. Revelation 1:13 : Da 10:5; Rev 15:6
50. Revelation 1:14 : Da 7:9; 10:6; Rev 2:18; 19:12
51. Revelation 1:15 : Eze 1:7; Da 10:6; Rev 2:18
52. Revelation 1:15 : Eze 43:2; Rev 14:2; 19:6
53. Revelation 1:16 : ver 20; Rev 2:1; 3:1
54. Revelation 1:16 : Isa 1:20; 49:2; Heb 4:12; Rev 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21
55. Revelation 1:16 : Jdg 5:31; Mt 17:2
56. Revelation 1:17 : Eze 1:28; Da 8:17, 18
57. Revelation 1:17 : Da 8:18
58. Revelation 1:17 : S Mt 14:27
59. Revelation 1:17 : Isa 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev 2:8; 22:13
60. Revelation 1:18 : Ro 6:9; Rev 2:8
61. Revelation 1:18 : Dt 32:40; Da 4:34; 12:7; Rev 4:9, 10; 10:6; 15:7
62. Revelation 1:18 : Rev 9:1; 20:1
63. Revelation 1:19 : ver 11; Hab 2:2
64. Revelation 1:20 : S ver 16
65. Revelation 1:20 : S ver 12
66. Revelation 1:20 : ver 4, 11
67. Revelation 1:20 : Mt 5:14, 15

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Explore the virtues of faith, hope, and love
Retail: $69.98
Our Price: $48.99
Save: $20.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Journal the Word Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Reflect, Take Notes, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $27.99
Save: $12.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow God’s Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles