16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword was coming from his mouth. His face was shining as bright as the sun at midday.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead person. But he put his right hand on me and said:Don't be afraid! I am the first, the last,
18 and the living one. I died, but now I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys to death and the world of the dead.
19 Write what you have seen and what is and what will happen after these things.
20 I will explain the mystery of the seven stars that you saw at my right side and the seven gold lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the lampstands are the seven churches.