3 God will bless everyone who reads this prophecy to others, and he will bless everyone who hears and obeys it. The time is almost here.
4 From John to the seven churches in Asia.I pray that youwill be blessedwith kindness and peacefrom God, who is and wasand is coming.May you receivekindness and peacefrom the seven spiritsbefore the throne of God.
5 May kindness and peacebe yoursfrom Jesus Christ,the faithful witness.Jesus was the firstto conquer death,and he is the rulerof all earthly kings.Christ loves us,and by his bloodhe set us freefrom our sins.
6 He lets us rule as kingsand serve God his Fatheras priests.To him be glory and powerfor ever and ever! Amen.
7 Look! He is comingwith the clouds.Everyone will see him,even the ones who stucka sword through him.All people on earthwill weep because of him.Yes, it will happen! Amen.
8 The Lord God says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the one who is and was and is coming. I am God All-Powerful!”
9 I am John, a follower together with all of you. We suffer because Jesus is our king, but he gives us the strength to endure. I was sent to Patmos Island, because I had preached God's message and had told about Jesus.