⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”^(A) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,^(B) the Almighty.”^(C)

John’s Vision of Christ

⁹ I, John,^(D) your brother and companion in the suffering^(E) and kingdom^(F) and patient endurance^(G) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God^(H) and the testimony of Jesus.^{(I) 10} On the Lord’s Day^(J) I was in the Spirit,^(K) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^{(L) 11} which said: “Write on a scroll what you see^(M) and send it to the seven churches:^(N) to Ephesus,^(O) Smyrna,^(P) Pergamum,^(Q) Thyatira,^(R) Sardis,^(S) Philadelphia^(T) and Laodicea.”^(U)

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,^{(V) 13} and among the lampstands^(W) was someone like a son of man,^[a](X) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet^(Y) and with a golden sash around his chest.^{(Z) 14} The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.^{(AA) 15} His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,^(AB) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.^{(AC) 16} In his right hand he held seven stars,^(AD) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(AE) His face was like the sun^(AF) shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet^(AG) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me^(AH) and said: “Do not be afraid.^(AI) I am the First and the Last.^{(AJ) 18} I am the Living One; I was dead,^(AK) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(AL) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(AM)

¹⁹ “Write, therefore, what you have seen,^(AN) what is now and what will take place later.