The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 59

(7)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of G.o.d.

(8)And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things says the first and the last, who became dead, and lived again. (9)I know thy affliction, and poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. (10)Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye will have affliction ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.

(11)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He that overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

(12)And to the angel of the church in Pergamus write: These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword. (13)I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny the faith in me, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.

(14)But I have a few things against thee. Thou hast there men holding the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the sons of Israel, to eat things offered to idols, and to commit fornication. (15)Thus thou also hast men holding the teaching of the Nicolaitans, in like manner. (16)Repent therefore; but if not, I come to thee quickly, and will make war with them, with the sword of my mouth.

(17)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna; and I will give to him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he that receives it.

(18)And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things says the Son of G.o.d, who has his eyes as a flame of fire, and his feet are like to burnished bra.s.s. (19)I know thy works, and thy love, and faith, and service, and patience; and thy last works are more than the first.

(20)But I have against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel[2:20], who calls herself a prophetess; and she teaches and seduces my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things offered to idols. (21)And I gave her time that she might repent; and she will not repent of her fornication. (22)Behold, I cast her into a bed, and those who together with her commit adultery, into great affliction, if they repent not of their works[2:22]. (23)And her children I will slay with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts; and I will give to you every one according to your works.

(24)But to you I say, the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who knew not the depths of Satan, as they speak: I put upon you no other burden; (25)but that which ye have, hold fast till I come. (26)And he that overcomes, and he that keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; (27)and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter are they dashed in pieces, as I also have received from my Father; (28)and I will give him the morning star.

(29)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

III.

AND to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things says he who has the seven spirits of G.o.d, and the seven stars. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (2)Be watchful, and strengthen the remaining things, that were ready to die; for I have not found thy works complete before my G.o.d. (3)Remember therefore how thou hast received, and didst hear, and keep, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come upon thee.

(4)But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which did not defile their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

(5)He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed[3:5] in white garments; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, and I will acknowledge his name before my Father, and before his angels.

(6)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

(7)And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things says the Holy, the True, he who has the key of David, he who opens, and no one shall shut, and shuts, and no one opens. (8)I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which no one can shut; because thou hast little power and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.

(9)Behold, I make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie, behold, I will make them to come and bow down before thy feet, and to know that I loved thee.

(10)Because thou didst keep my word of patient endurance, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which is about to come upon the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.

(11)I come quickly; hold fast that which thou hast, that no one may take thy crown. (12)He that overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my G.o.d, and he shall go out no more; and I will write upon him the name of my G.o.d, and the name of the city of my G.o.d, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my G.o.d, and my new name.

(13)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

(14)And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of G.o.d. (15)I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. (16)So, because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth.

(17)Because thou sayest: I am rich, and have gotten wealth, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art the wretched and the pitiable one, and poor, and blind, and naked; (18)I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white garments, that thou mayest be clothed, and the shame of thy nakedness not be made manifest, and to anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. (19)As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

(20)Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any one hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him and he with me. (21)He that overcomes, I will give to him to sit with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.

(22)He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

IV.

AFTER these things I saw, and, behold, a door set open in heaven, and that first voice (which I heard as of a trumpet speaking with me) saying: Come up hither, and I will show thee what things must take place after these.

(2)Immediately I was in the Spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (3)And he who sat was like in appearance to a jasper and sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round the throne, like in appearance to an emerald; (4)and around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads crowns of gold. (5)And out of the throne proceed lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of G.o.d; (6)and before the throne as it were a sea of gla.s.s like to crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, four animals full of eyes before and behind. (7)And the first animal was like to a lion, and the second animal like to a calf, and the third animal having its face as of a man, and the fourth animal like to an eagle flying. (8)And the four animals had each of them six wings apiece; around and within they are full of eyes; and they have no rest by day and by night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord G.o.d the Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.

(9)And when the animals shall give glory, and honor, and thanksgiving, to him who sits upon the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, (10)the twenty-four elders will fall down before him who sits upon the throne, and will wors.h.i.+p him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying: (11)Worthy art thou, our Lord and our G.o.d, to receive the glory, and the honor, and the power; because thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.

V.

AND I saw, on the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written within and on the back side, sealed up with seven seals.

(2)And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose its seals?

(3)And no one was able, in heaven, nor on the earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look thereon. (4)And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, nor to look thereon.

(5)And one of the elders says to me: Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, prevailed to open the book, and its seven seals.

(6)And I saw, in the midst of the throne and of the four animals, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as if having been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of G.o.d sent forth into all the earth. (7)And he came, and has taken the book out of the right hand of him who sits upon the throne.

(8)And when he took the book, the four animals, and the twenty-four elders, fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden cups full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. (9)And they sing a new song, saying: Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; because thou wast slain, and didst redeem to G.o.d by thy blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10)and didst make them unto our G.o.d[5:10] a kingdom and priests, and they will reign on the earth.

(11)And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels, around the throne and the animals and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, (12)saying with a loud voice: Worthy is the Lamb that has been slain, to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (13)And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: To him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever. (14)And the four animals said: Amen. And the elders fell down and wors.h.i.+ped.

VI.

AND I saw, when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four animals saying, as a voice of thunder: Come! (2)And I saw, and behold a white horse, and he who sat on him having a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

(3)And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second animal saying: Come! (4)And there went forth another horse that was red. And to him who sat thereon it was given to take away peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

(5)And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third animal saying: Come! And I saw, and behold a black horse, and he who sat on him having a balance in his hand. (6)And I heard a voice in the midst of the four animals, saying: A quart of wheat[6:6] for a denary, and three quarts of barley for a denary; and: Hurt not the oil and the wine.

(7)And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth animal saying: Come! (8)And I saw, and behold a pale horse; and he who sat on him, his name was Death, and the underworld followed with him.

And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

(9)And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain on account of the word of G.o.d, and on account of the testimony which they had. (10)And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth? (11)And a white robe was given to each one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet a little time, until also their fellow-servants and their brethren, who are about to be killed as they were, should be fully numbered.

(12)And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became all as blood; (13)and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig-tree casts its untimely figs, when shaken by a great wind; (14)and the heaven parted asunder as a scroll rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (15)And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the chief captains, and the rich men, and the strong men, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; (16)and they say to the mountains and to the rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; (17)because the great day of his wrath is come, and who is able to stand?

VII.

AND after this, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

(2)And I saw another angel coming up from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living G.o.d; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, (3)saying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our G.o.d upon their foreheads.