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Revelation 1:10-20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

10 I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day[a] and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, 11 which said, “Write on a scroll[b] what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 [c]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,[d] wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.(A) 14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow,[e] and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace,[f] and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars.[g] A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest.(B)

17 When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.[h] He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last,(C) 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.[i] 19 Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.[j] 20 This is the secret meaning[k] 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:10 The Lord’s day: Sunday. As loud as a trumpet: the imagery is derived from the theophany at Sinai (Ex 19:16, 19; cf. Hb 12:19 and the trumpet in other eschatological settings in Is 27:13; Jl 2:1; Mt 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16).
  2. 1:11 Scroll: a papyrus roll.
  3. 1:12–16 A symbolic description of Christ in glory. The metaphorical language is not to be understood literally; cf. Introduction.
  4. 1:13 Son of man: see note on Mk 8:31. Ankle-length robe: Christ is priest; cf. Ex 28:4; 29:5; Wis 18:24; Zec 3:4. Gold sash: Christ is king; cf. Ex 28:4; 1 Mc 10:89; 11:58; Dn 10:5.
  5. 1:14 Hair…as white as white wool or as snow: Christ is eternal, clothed with the dignity that belonged to the “Ancient of Days”; cf. Rev 1:18; Dn 7:9. His eyes were like a fiery flame: Christ is portrayed as all-knowing; cf. Rev 2:23; Ps 7:10; Jer 17:10; and similar expressions in Rev 2:18; 19:12; cf. Dn 10:6.
  6. 1:15 His feet…furnace: Christ is depicted as unchangeable; cf. Ez 1:27; Dn 10:6. The Greek word translated “refined” is unconnected grammatically with any other word in the sentence. His voice…water: Christ speaks with divine authority; cf. Ez 1:24.
  7. 1:16 Seven stars: in the pagan world, Mithras and the Caesars were represented with seven stars in their right hand, symbolizing their universal dominion. A sharp two-edged sword: this refers to the word of God (cf. Eph 6:17; Hb 4:12) that will destroy unrepentant sinners; cf. Rev 2:16; 19:15; Wis 18:15; Is 11:4; 49:2. His face…brightest: this symbolizes the divine majesty of Christ; cf. Rev 10:1; 21:23; Jgs 5:31; Is 60:19; Mt 17:2.
  8. 1:17 It was an Old Testament belief that for sinful human beings to see God was to die; cf. Ex 19:21; 33:20; Jgs 6:22–23; Is 6:5.
  9. 1:18 Netherworld: Greek Hades, Hebrew Sheol, the abode of the dead; cf. Rev 20:13–14; Nm 16:33.
  10. 1:19 What you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards: the three parts of the Book of Revelation, the vision (Rev 1:10–20), the situation in the seven churches (Rev 2–3), and the events of Rev 6–22.
  11. 1:20 Secret meaning: literally, “mystery.” Angels: these are the presiding spirits of the seven churches. Angels were thought to be in charge of the physical world (cf. Rev 7:1; 14:18; 16:5) and of nations (Dn 10:13; 12:1), communities (the seven churches), and individuals (Mt 18:10; Acts 12:15). Some have seen in the “angel” of each of the seven churches its pastor or a personification of the spirit of the congregation.
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Revelation 1:10-20
New International Version

10 On the Lord’s Day(A) I was in the Spirit,(B) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(C) 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(D) and send it to the seven churches:(E) to Ephesus,(F) Smyrna,(G) Pergamum,(H) Thyatira,(I) Sardis,(J) Philadelphia(K) and Laodicea.”(L)

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

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet(X) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me(Y) and said: “Do not be afraid.(Z) I am the First and the Last.(AA) 18 I am the Living One; I was dead,(AB) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!(AC) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.(AD)

19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen,(AE) what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand(AF) and of the seven golden lampstands(AG) is this: The seven stars are the angels[b] of the seven churches,(AH) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(AI)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
  2. Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

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