1 The Revelation of John, a servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass, [ Reference to the second coming of Christ. ] that he sent and signified by his angel unto his servant John,

2 Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

4 Now this is the testimony of John to the seven servants who are over the seven churches in Asia. [ John is writing this to in essence the seven stake presidents who were leading the seven stakes in Asia at the time. These seven church were given this revelation because of their specific circumstances at the time, and those circumstances would be similar to the circumstances that would be found with the church in the last days. The prophecy is very dualistic in it nature - applying to different time periods - then and the last days. ] Grace unto you, and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come; who hath sent forth his angel from before his throne, to testify unto those who are the seven servants over the seven churches. [ The number seven represents completness. It represents all of Christendom in the last days. ]

5 Therefore, I, John, the faithful witness, bear record of the things which were delivered me of the angel, and from Jesus Christ the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.

6 And unto him who loved us, be glory; who washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, [ Ancient text would always us the masculine form of speech unless the group referenced was entirely female. So here it means both the male and the female counterparts queens and priestesses. This phrase was discuss by Orson Pratt as follows "The Kingly authority is not separate and distinct from the Priesthood, but merely a branch or portion of the same. The Priestly authority is universal, having power over all things; the Kingly authority until perfected is limited to the kingdoms placed under its jurisdiction: the [priest] appoints and ordains the [king]; but the [king] never appoints and ordains the [priest]: the [priest] controls the laws of nature, and exercises jurisdiction over the elements, as well as over men; the [king] controls men only, and administers just and righteous laws for their government. Where the two are combined and the individual perfected, he has almighty power both as a King and as a Priest..." (Orson Pratt - The Seer - Chapter Seven. ] his Father. To him be glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.

7 For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the kingdom, clothed with the glory of his Father. And every eye shall see him; and they who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8 For he saith, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.