Bible In Poetry: Revelation 1 Poem by Dr John Celes

Prologue:

1The revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave John to show all,
His servants, of what must take place.
He made it known through his angel,
To his beloved servant John.
2 John testifies to things he saw—
The word of God, the Father and
Testimony of Jesus Christ;
3Bless’d is the one who reads the words
Of prophecy that’s here-in writ,
And blessed are those who hear it,
And take to heart whatev’r is writ,
Because the time is very near.

Greetings and doxology:

4John, to Asia’s seven churches:
Grace, peace to you from Him who is,
Who was, and who is to come soon,
And from the seven spirits that
Reside before the throne of God,
5 And from Christ Jesus, our Savior,
Who is the first-born and witness,
The ruler of the kings of the earth,
Who resurrected from the dead.
To Him who loves and has freed us,
From sins by His blood-shed on cross,
6 And has made us part of His kingdom
And priests to serve His God, Father—
To Him be glory and power,
For ever and ever! Amen.

7 ‘O look, He comes within the clouds,
and every eye will see Him well,
And even those who pierced Him then;
and all the peoples of the earth,
Will mourn because of Him.’ Amen.
8'I am the Alpha, Omega, '
The Lord God says, 'Who is, who was,
And who is to come, Almighty.'

One like a Son of Man:

9 John, your companion and brother,
In the suffering and kingdom
And patient endurance in Christ,
Was on the island of Patmos,
Because of God’s word and Jesus.
10 On the Lord's Day, I, in Spirit,
Behind me heard a loud voice like
A trumpet,11 which said: 'Write on a scroll
Whatever you see and send it
Over to the seven churches:
To Ephesus, Smyrna, Sardis,
Pergamum, and Thyatira,
Philadelphia and Laodicea.'
12 I turned around to see the voice
That spoke to me in majesty.
And when I turned I saw seven
Golden lamp-stands, all in array!
13 And among the lamp-stands was someone,
'Like son of man, ' dressed in a robe,
That was reaching down to his feet
And golden sash, around his chest.
14 His head and hair were white like wool
Snow-white, and his eyes blazed like fire.
15 His feet like bronze glowed in furnace,
Voice sounded like rushing waters.
16 In right hand, he held seven stars,
Out of his mouth, there came a tongue,
That was like sharp, double-edged sword.
His face shone like a brilliant sun.
17 When I saw him, I fell down flat,
At his feet as though I was dead.
He placed his right hand on me, said:
'Don’t be afraid. I’m First and Last.
18 I’m the Living One, Who was dead,
Behold I am alive forev’r!
I hold the keys of death and Hades.
19 'Write down, therefore, whatev’r you’ve seen,
What’s now and will take place later.
20 The mystery of the seven stars,
That you had seen in my right hand,
And seven gold lamp-stands is this:
The seven stars are God’s angels
Who guard the seven churches,
Seven lamp-stands are the churches.