Prologue

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave^(A) him to show his servants what must soon take place.^(B) He made it known by sending his angel^(C) to his servant John,^(D)

² And I saw a mighty angel^(A) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders^(A) and the four living creatures.^(B) They fell down on their faces^(C) before the throne and worshiped God,

⁹ So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’^[a]”^(A)

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod^(A) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers.

⁷ Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(A) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^(B)

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him.^(A) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!^(B) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”^(C)

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.^(A) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet^(B) of the angel who had been showing them to me.