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THE FIRST VISION

OF

ST. JOHN.

THE SEVEN CANDLESTICKS.

SECTION I.

PREFACE.

John, a member of the kingdom of Christ, receives a commission from the Son of man, the High-Priest, and eternal omnipotent God, master of the intermediate state of good and bad, to write the things which he had already seen, the things then existing, and the things which were to happen hereafter, and to send the account thereof to the seven churches of the Lydian Asia, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, and through them to all churches, of which the seven are the representatives. Christ stands ever present in the midst of the churches to the end; and the ministry of each of them he himself holds firm as it were in his right hand.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and for the

10 testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on

the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great 11 voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and

Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, 12 and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I 13 saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of 15 fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they

burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound 16 of many waters. And he had in his right hand

seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as 17 the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear 18 not; I am the first and the last: I am he that

liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hades 19 and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things 20 which shall be hereafter. The mystery of the

seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks, is: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

SECTION II.

Address to the Ministry and Church of Ephesus.

I. 1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the 2 midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil : and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my

name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, 5 because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen; and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick 6 out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Ni7 colaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give

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to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

SECTION III.

Address to the Ministry and Church of Smyrna.

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, 9 which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich,) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of 10 Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried: and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

SECTION IV.

Address to the Ministry and Church of Pergamos.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the 13 sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works,

and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain 14 among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacri15 ficed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of 16 the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent;

or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

SECTION V.

Address to the Ministry and Church of Thyatira.

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his 19 feet are like fine brass; I know thy works,

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