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·Blessed [Happy] is the one who reads the words of ·God’s message [L the prophecy], and ·blessed [happy] are the people who hear this message and ·do [keep; obey] what is written in it [C the context envisioned is a leader reading to a congregation]. ·The time is near when all of this will happen [L For the time is near].

Jesus’ Message to the Churches

From John.

To the seven churches in Asia [C the Roman province of Asia, today part of western Turkey]:

Grace and peace to you from the One who is and [the One who] was and [the One who] is coming [C these three descriptions function like titles for God; Ex. 3:14–15], and from ·the seven spirits [C referring either to angels or to the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection (the number seven indicating completeness)] before his throne, and from Jesus Christ. Jesus is ·the faithful witness [or the faithful one, the witness], the ·first among those raised from [L firstborn of/from among] the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth.

·He is the One [L To him] who loves us, who made us free[a] from our sins ·with the blood of his death [L by his blood].

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 1:5 who made us free Some Greek copies read “who washed us.”

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,(A) because the time is near.(B)

Greetings and Doxology

John,

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

Grace and peace to you(D) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,(E) and from the seven spirits[a](F) before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,(G) the firstborn from the dead,(H) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.(I)

To him who loves us(J) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,(K)

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Footnotes

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