ecause of my loyalty to God's
message and to the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was under the
influence of the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a
trumpet calling, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven
churches."

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me; and on turning
around I saw seven golden lamps and in the midst of the lamps One, like
a Son of man, clothed in a long robe and with a belt of gold around his
breast. His head and hair were white as wool, white as snow; his eyes
were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze melted in
the furnace, his voice was like the sound of many waters. In his right
hand he held seven stars; a sharp, two-edged sword came out from his
mouth, and his face shone like the sun in its full strength.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead; but he laid his
hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last, I
was dead but now I am alive for evermore. Therefore write down what you
see and what is now and shall be hereafter. As for the secret meaning of
the seven stars which you have seen in my right hand and of the seven
golden lamps--the seven stars represent the angels of the seven
churches, and the seven lamps represent the seven churches."

After this I saw a door opening into heaven. And the voice like a
trumpet which I had previously heard talking with me, said: "Come up
here, and I will show you what must take place in the future." At once I
found myself under the influence of the Spirit, and there stood a throne
in heaven whose appearance was like a diamond or ruby and One was
sitting on the throne. Encircling the throne was a rainbow which looked
like an emerald; also around the throne were twenty-four other thrones,
and on these thrones were seated twenty-four elders, clothed in white
robes with golden crowns upon their heads. From the throne came flashes
of lightning and voices and peals of thunder, while in front of the
throne were seven flaming torches, which were the seven spirits of God.

In front of the throne there appeared to be a sea of glass which looked
like crystal. In the space about the throne and encircling it were four
living creatures, and day and night they never ceased chanting:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and ever shall be."

Then I saw, lying at the right hand of him who was seated on the throne,
a book