The Vision on Patmos

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,

NAB footnote:This prologue describes the source, contents, and audience of the book and forms an inclusion with the epilogue (Rev 22:6-21), with its similar themes and expressions.

who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.

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.

NAB footnote:Blessed is the one: this is the first of seven beatitudes in this book; the others are in Rev 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14. The appointed time: when Jesus will return in glory.

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,

NAB footnote:Seven churches in Asia: Asia refers to the Roman province of that name in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Seven is the biblical number suggesting fullness and completeness; thus the seer is writing for the whole church.

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,

NAB footnote:Freed us: the majority of Greek manuscripts and several early versions read 'washed us'; but 'freed us' is supported by the best manuscripts and fits well with Old Testament imagery.

who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever (and ever). Amen.

Saul's insight:Priests in the Catholic Church.

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.

"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."

NAB footnote:The Alpha and the Omega: the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In Rev 22:13 the same words occur together with the expressions 'the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.'

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.

NAB footnote:Island called Patmos: one of the Sporades islands in the Aegean Sea, some fifty miles south of Ephesus, used by the Romans as a penal colony.

I was caught up in spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet,

NAB footnote:The Lord's day: Sunday. As loud as a trumpet: the imagery is derived from the theophany at Sinai.

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."

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands

NAB footnote:A symbolic description of Christ in glory. The metaphorical language is not to be understood literally.

Saul's insight:The seven gold lampstands are the seven Churches. John states this at the end of the chapter (Rev 1:20).

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.

NAB footnote:Son of man: Ankle-length robe: Christ is priest. Gold sash: Christ is king.

The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame.

NAB footnote:Hair as white as white wool or as snow: Christ is eternal, clothed with the dignity that belonged to the 'Ancient of Days.' His eyes were like a fiery flame: Christ is portrayed as all-knowing.

His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing water.

NAB footnote:His feet like a furnace: Christ is depicted as unchangeable. His voice like water: Christ speaks with divine authority.

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.

NAB footnote:Seven stars: symbolizing universal dominion. A sharp two-edged sword: this refers to the word of God that will destroy unrepentant sinners. His face like the sun: symbolizes the divine majesty of Christ.

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,'

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.

NAB footnote:Keys to death and the netherworld: as Lord of life and death, Christ has power over the realm of the dead.

Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.

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.