The Scroll And The Lamb (Revelation 5) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 

2    And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 

3    But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

4    Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 

5    But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6    Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 

7    He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.

8    And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

9    And they sang a new song with these words:  “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it.  For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10  And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God.  And they will reign on the earth.”

11  Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 

12  And they sang in a mighty chorus:  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

13  And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:  “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

14  And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne; it was covered with writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 

2    And I saw a mighty angel, who announced in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 

3    But there was no one in heaven or on earth or in the world below who could open the scroll and look inside it. 

4    I cried bitterly because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

5    Then one of the elders said to me, “Don't cry. Look! The Lion from Judah's tribe, the great descendant of David, has won the victory, and he can break the seven seals and open the scroll.”

6    Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb appeared to have been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that have been sent through the whole earth. 

7    The Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. 

8    As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. 

9    They sang a new song:  “You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals.  For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.

10  You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth.”

11  Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, 

12  and sang in a loud voice:  “The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!”

13  And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea—all living beings in the universe—and they were singing:  “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!”

14  The four living creatures answered, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Worship In Heaven (Revelation 4:1-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”

2    And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 

3    The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 

4    Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 

5    From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 

6    In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.  In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 

7    The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 

8    Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—

    the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

9    Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 

10  the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

11  “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.  For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    At this point I had another vision and saw an open door in heaven.  And the voice that sounded like a trumpet, which I had heard speaking to me before, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 

2    At once the Spirit took control of me. There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it. 

3    His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald. 

4    In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, on which were seated twenty-four elders dressed in white and wearing crowns of gold. 

5    From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne seven lighted torches were burning, which are the seven spirits of God. 

6    Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.  Surrounding the throne on each of its sides, were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and behind. 

7    The first one looked like a lion; the second looked like a bull; the third had a face like a human face; and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. 

8    Each one of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop singing:  “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.”

9    The four living creatures sing songs of glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. When they do so, 

10  the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They throw their crowns down in front of the throne and say,

11  “Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.  For you created all things, and by your will they were given existence and life.”

The Message To The Church In Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

14  “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

15  “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

16  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 

17  You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 

18  So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 

19  I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

20  “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 

21  Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

22  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

14  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  “This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. 
15  I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! 
16  But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth! 
17  You say, ‘I am rich and well off; I have all I need.’ But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. 
18  I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. 
19  I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins. 
20  Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. 
21  To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne.
22  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!”

The Message To The Church In Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

7    “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.  This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David.  What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:

8    “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

9    Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

10  “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 

11  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 

12  All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

13  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

7    “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  “This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He has the key that belonged to David, and when he opens a door, no one can close it, and when he closes it, no one can open it. 
8    I know what you do; I know that you have a little power; you have followed my teaching and have been faithful to me. I have opened a door in front of you, which no one can close. 
9    Listen! As for that group that belongs to Satan, those liars who claim that they are Jews but are not, I will make them come and bow down at your feet. They will all know that I love you. 
10  Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you safe from the time of trouble which is coming upon the world to test all the people on earth.
11  I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize. 
12  I will make those who are victorious pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my new name.
13  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

The Message To The Church In Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:  “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 

2  Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 

3  Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

4  “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 

5  All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

6  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

“This is the message from the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you are doing; I know that you have the reputation of being alive, even though you are dead! 
2  So wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely. For I find that what you have done is not yet perfect in the sight of my God. 
3  Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come. 
4  But a few of you there in Sardis have kept your clothes clean. You will walk with me, clothed in white, because you are worthy to do so. 
5  Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.
6  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

The Message To The Church In Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

18  “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:

19  “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.

20  “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.

21  I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.

22  “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. 

23  I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.

24  “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you 

25  except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 

26  To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,  To them I will give authority over all the nations.

27  They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.

28  They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!

29  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

18  “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:  “This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire, whose feet shine like polished brass. 
19  I know what you do. I know your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your patience. I know that you are doing more now than you did at first. 
20  But this is what I have against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a messenger of God. By her teaching she misleads my servants into practicing sexual immorality and eating food that has been offered to idols. 
21  I have given her time to repent of her sins, but she does not want to turn from her immorality. 
22  And so I will throw her on a bed where she and those who committed adultery with her will suffer terribly. I will do this now unless they repent of the wicked things they did with her. 
23  I will also kill her followers, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who knows everyone's thoughts and wishes. I will repay each of you according to what you have done.
24  “But the rest of you in Thyatira have not followed this evil teaching; you have not learned what the others call ‘the deep secrets of Satan.’ I say to you that I will not put any other burden on you. 
25  But until I come, you must hold firmly to what you have. 
26-28  To those who win the victory, who continue to the end to do what I want, I will give the same authority that I received from my Father: I will give them authority over the nations, to rule them with an iron rod and to break them to pieces like clay pots. I will also give them the morning star.
29  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

The Message To The Church At Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

12  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

13  “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

14  “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 

15  In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. 

16  Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

12  “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:  “This is the message from the one who has the sharp two-edged sword. 
13  I know where you live, there where Satan has his throne. You are true to me, and you did not abandon your faith in me even during the time when Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed there where Satan lives.
14  But there are a few things I have against you: there are some among you who follow the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak how to lead the people of Israel into sin by persuading them to eat food that had been offered to idols and to practice sexual immorality. 
15  In the same way you have people among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 
16  Now turn from your sins! If you don't, I will come to you soon and fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.
17  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!  “To those who win the victory I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

The Message To The Church In Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

8    “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:

9    “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. 

10  Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

11  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

8    “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
“This is the message from the one who is the first and the last, who died and lived again. 
9    I know your troubles; I know that you are poor—but really you are rich! I know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be Jews but are not; they are a group that belongs to Satan! 
10  Don't be afraid of anything you are about to suffer. Listen! The Devil will put you to the test by having some of you thrown into prison, and your troubles will last ten days. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give you life as your prize of victory.
11  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!  “Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.

The Message To The Church In Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:

2  “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 

3  You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

4  “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 

5  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 

6  But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.

7  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

“This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands. 
2  I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how patient you have been. I know that you cannot tolerate evil people and that you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and have found out that they are liars. 
3  You are patient, you have suffered for my sake, and you have not given up. 
4  But this is what I have against you: you do not love me now as you did at first. 
5  Think how far you have fallen! Turn from your sins and do what you did at first. If you don't turn from your sins, I will come to you and take your lampstand from its place. 
6  But this is what you have in your favor: you hate what the Nicolaitans do, as much as I do.
7  “If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

“To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the Garden of God.

A Vision Of Christ (Revelation 1:9-20) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

9    I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. 

10  It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.  Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 

11  It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

12  When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 

13  And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man.  He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 

14  His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire.

15  His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves.

16  He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

17  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 

18  I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

19  “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.

20  This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

9    I am John, your brother, and as a follower of Jesus I am your partner in patiently enduring the suffering that comes to those who belong to his Kingdom. I was put on the island of Patmos because I had proclaimed God's word and the truth that Jesus revealed. 
10  On the Lord's day the Spirit took control of me, and I heard a loud voice, that sounded like a trumpet, speaking behind me. 
11  It said, “Write down what you see, and send the book to the churches in these seven cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12  I turned around to see who was talking to me, and I saw seven gold lampstands, 
13  and among them there was what looked like a human being, wearing a robe that reached to his feet, and a gold band around his chest. 
14  His hair was white as wool, or as snow, and his eyes blazed like fire; 
15  his feet shone like brass that has been refined and polished, and his voice sounded like a roaring waterfall. 
16  He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth. His face was as bright as the midday sun. 
17  When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last. 
18  I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead. 
19  Write, then, the things you see, both the things that are now and the things that will happen afterward.
20  Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars that you see in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John’s Greeting To The Seven Churches (Revelation 1:1-8) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, 

2  who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

3  God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.

4  This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia.  Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 

5  and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.  All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 

6  He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

7  Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven.  And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him.
And all the nations of the world will mourn for him.  Yes! Amen!

8  “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  This book is the record of the events that Jesus Christ revealed. God gave him this revelation in order to show to his servants what must happen very soon. Christ made these things known to his servant John by sending his angel to him, 

2  and John has told all that he has seen. This is his report concerning the message from God and the truth revealed by Jesus Christ. 

3  Happy is the one who reads this book, and happy are those who listen to the words of this prophetic message and obey what is written in this book! For the time is near when all these things will happen. 

4  From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia:  Grace and peace be yours from God, who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits in front of his throne, 

5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the ruler of the kings of the world.  He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins 

6  and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. To Jesus Christ be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

7  Look, he is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him. All peoples on earth will mourn over him. So shall it be!  
8  “I am the first and the last,” says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.

A Call To Remain Faithful (Jude 1:17-25) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

17  But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. 

18  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 

19  These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

20  But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

21  and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

22  And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 

23  Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,  but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

24  Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 

25  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

17  But remember, my friends, what you were told in the past by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
18  They said to you, “When the last days come, people will appear who will make fun of you, people who follow their own godless desires.” 
19  These are the people who cause divisions, who are controlled by their natural desires, who do not have the Spirit. 
20  But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 
21  and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.
22  Show mercy toward those who have doubts; 
23  save others by snatching them out of the fire; and to others show mercy mixed with fear, but hate their very clothes, stained by their sinful lusts.
24  To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence— 
25  to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and forever and ever! Amen.

The Danger Of False Teachers (Jude 1-16 (New Living and Good News Translations)

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.  I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.

2    May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love. 

3    Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 

4    I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5    So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. 

6    And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. 

7    And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.

8    In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. 

9    But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 

10  But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. 

11  What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

12  When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 

13  They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

14  Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones 

15  to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

16  These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    From Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James—To those who have been called by God, who live in the love of God the Father and the protection of Jesus Christ:
2    May mercy, peace, and love be yours in full measure.
3    My dear friends, I was doing my best to write to you about the salvation we share in common, when I felt the need of writing at once to encourage you to fight on for the faith which once and for all God has given to his people. 
4    For some godless people have slipped in unnoticed among us, persons who distort the message about the grace of our God in order to excuse their immoral ways, and who reject Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord. Long ago the Scriptures predicted the condemnation they have received.
5    For even though you know all this, I want to remind you of how the Lord once rescued the people of Israel from Egypt, but afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 
6    Remember the angels who did not stay within the limits of their proper authority, but abandoned their own dwelling place: they are bound with eternal chains in the darkness below, where God is keeping them for that great Day on which they will be condemned. 
7    Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and the nearby towns, whose people acted as those angels did and indulged in sexual immorality and perversion: they suffer the punishment of eternal fire as a plain warning to all.
8    In the same way also, these people have visions which make them sin against their own bodies; they despise God's authority and insult the glorious beings above. 
9    Not even the chief angel Michael did this. In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses, Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 
10  But these people attack with insults anything they do not understand; and those things that they know by instinct, like wild animals, are the very things that destroy them. 
11  How terrible for them! They have followed the way that Cain took. For the sake of money they have given themselves over to the error that Balaam committed. They have rebelled as Korah rebelled, and like him they are destroyed. 
12  With their shameless carousing they are like dirty spots in your fellowship meals. They take care only of themselves. They are like clouds carried along by the wind, but bringing no rain. They are like trees that bear no fruit, even in autumn, trees that have been pulled up by the roots and are completely dead. 
13  They are like wild waves of the sea, with their shameful deeds showing up like foam. They are like wandering stars, for whom God has reserved a place forever in the deepest darkness.
14  It was Enoch, the seventh direct descendant from Adam, who long ago prophesied this about them: “The Lord will come with many thousands of his holy angels 
15  to bring judgment on all, to condemn them all for the godless deeds they have performed and for all the terrible words that godless sinners have spoken against him!”
16  These people are always grumbling and blaming others; they follow their own evil desires; they brag about themselves and flatter others in order to get their own way.

Caring For The Lord's Workers ( III John 1-15) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1    This letter is from John, the elder.  I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.

2    Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.

3    Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 

4    I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

5    Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 

6    They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 

7    For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.

8    So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.

9    I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 

10  When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.

11  Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

12  Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth. 

13  I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. 

14  For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.

15  Peace be with you.  Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1    From the Elder—To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.
2    My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. 
3    I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. 
4    Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth. 
5    My dear friend, you are so faithful in the work you do for other Christians, even when they are strangers.
6    They have spoken to the church here about your love. Please help them to continue their trip in a way that will please God. 
7    For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. 
8    We Christians, then, must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth. 
9    I wrote a short letter to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to be their leader, will not pay any attention to what I say. 
10  When I come, then, I will bring up everything he has done: the terrible things he says about us and the lies he tells! But that is not enough for him; he will not receive the Christians when they come, and even stops those who want to receive them and tries to drive them out of the church!
11  My dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but imitate what is good. Whoever does good belongs to God; whoever does what is bad has not seen God.
12  Everyone speaks well of Demetrius; truth itself speaks well of him. And we add our testimony, and you know that what we say is true. 
13  I have so much to tell you, but I do not want to do it with pen and ink. 
14  I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally.
15  Peace be with you.  All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.

Live In The Truth (II John 1-13) New Living and Good News Translations

(this is the entire Book of 2 John)
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
Greetings

1    This letter is from John, the elder.  I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— 

2    because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

3    Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

Live in the Truth

4    How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

5    I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 

6    Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

7    I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 

8    Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 

9    Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

10   If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 

11  Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

Conclusion

12  I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

13  Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.


GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1    To the dear Lady and to her children, whom I truly love. And I am not the only one, but all who know the truth love you, 
2    because the truth remains in us and will be with us forever.
3    May God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, give us grace, mercy, and peace; may they be ours in truth and love.

Truth and Love
4    How happy I was to find that some of your children live in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.
5    And so I ask you, dear Lady: let us all love one another. This is no new command I am writing you; it is the command which we have had from the beginning. 
6    This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God's commands. The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.
7    Many deceivers have gone out over the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came as a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and the Enemy of Christ. 
8    Be on your guard, then, so that you will not lose what we have worked for, but will receive your reward in full.
9    Anyone who does not stay with the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God. Whoever does stay with the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 
10  So then, if some come to you who do not bring this teaching, do not welcome them in your homes; do not even say, “Peace be with you.” 
11  For anyone who wishes them peace becomes their partner in the evil things they do.

Final Words
12  I have so much to tell you, but I would rather not do it with paper and ink; instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you personally, so that we shall be completely happy.
13  The children of your dear Sister send you their greetings.

Eternal Life (I John 5:13-21) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

13  I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 

14  And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 

15  And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

16  If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. 

17  All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

18  We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 

19  We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

20  And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.  And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

21  Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

13  I am writing this to you so that you may know that you have eternal life—you that believe in the Son of God. 
14  We have courage in God's presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will. 
15  He hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from him.
16  If you see a believer commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray to God, who will give that person life. This applies to those whose sins do not lead to death. But there is sin which leads to death, and I do not say that you should pray to God about that. 
17  All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which does not lead to death.
18  We know that no children of God keep on sinning, for the Son of God keeps them safe, and the Evil One cannot harm them.
19  We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One.
20  We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God—in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.
21  My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods!

The Witness About Jesus Christ ( I John 5:6-12) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
6    And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.
7    So we have these three witnesses—
8    the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.
9    Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.
10  All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
11  And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
6    Jesus Christ is the one who came with the water of his baptism and the blood of his death. He came not only with the water, but with both the water and the blood. And the Spirit himself testifies that this is true, because the Spirit is truth. 
7    There are three witnesses: 
8    the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and all three give the same testimony. 
9    We believe human testimony; but God's testimony is much stronger, and he has given this testimony about his Son. 
10  So those who believe in the Son of God have this testimony in their own heart; but those who do not believe God, have made a liar of him, because they have not believed what God has said about his Son.
11  The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. 
12  Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Faith In The Son Of God (I John 5:1-5) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
1   Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.
2  We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.
3  Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
4  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
5  And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
1  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. 
2  This is how we know that we love God's children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. 
3  For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,
4  because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith. 
5  Who can defeat the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

God Is Love (I John 4:7-21) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

7    Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 

8    But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9    God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 

10  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 

12  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

13  And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 

14  Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 

15  All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 

16  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 

17  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

18  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 

19  We love each other because he loved us first.

20  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 

21  And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

7    Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. 

8    Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

9    And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. 

10  This is what love is: it is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.

11  Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. 

12  No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us.

13  We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit. 

14  And we have seen and tell others that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 

15  If we declare that Jesus is the Son of God, we live in union with God and God lives in union with us.

16  And we ourselves know and believe the love which God has for us.  God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them. 

17  Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Judgment Day; and we will have it because our life in this world is the same as Christ's. 

18  There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

19  We love because God first loved us. 

20  If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. 

21  The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

The True Spirit And The False Spirit ( I John 4:1-6) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

1  Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 

2  This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 

3  But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

4  But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 

5  Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 

6  But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION

1  My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere. 

2  This is how you will be able to know whether it is God's Spirit: anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ came as a human being has the Spirit who comes from God. 

3  But anyone who denies this about Jesus does not have the Spirit from God. The spirit that he has is from the Enemy of Christ; you heard that it would come, and now it is here in the world already.

4  But you belong to God, my children, and have defeated the false prophets, because the Spirit who is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong to the world. 

5  Those false prophets speak about matters of the world, and the world listens to them because they belong to the world. 

6  But we belong to God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This, then, is how we can tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Courage Before God (I John 3:19-24) New Living and Good News Translations

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
19  Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.
20  Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.
21  Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.
22  And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
23  And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.
24  Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
19  This, then, is how we will know that we belong to the truth; this is how we will be confident in God's presence. 
20  If our conscience condemns us, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he knows everything. 
21  And so, my dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have courage in God's presence.
22  We receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
23  What he commands is that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Christ commanded us. 
24  Those who obey God's commands live in union with God and God lives in union with them. And because of the Spirit that God has given us we know that God lives in union with us.