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who testified and gave supporting evidence to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to everything that he saw [in his visions]. [a]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near.

Message to the Seven Churches

[b]John, to the seven churches that are in [the province of] [c]Asia: [d]Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, and from [e]the seven Spirits that are before His throne,(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:3 This is the first of the seven promised blessings (beatitudes) of the Revelation. See also 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.
  2. Revelation 1:4 John and his brother James were among the first apostles chosen by Jesus, and were the sons of Zebedee and Salome. In addition to the Revelation, John wrote the Gospel and the three letters that bear his name.
  3. Revelation 1:4 The Roman province of Asia (now western Turkey) was formed in 129 b.c.
  4. Revelation 1:4 Like Paul, the apostle John takes the standard Jewish greeting of “Peace [Heb shalom] to you” and modifies it by adding grace, without which no one could obtain peace with God.
  5. Revelation 1:4 A literal translation, perhaps referring to the perfect fullness of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God(A) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.(B) 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,(C) because the time is near.(D)

Greetings and Doxology

John,

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

Grace and peace to you(F) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,(G) and from the seven spirits[a](H) before his throne,

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit