10. The Holy Spirit took complete control of me on the Lord's Day. I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet.
11. The voice said, "Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
12. I turned around to see who was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.
13. In the middle of them was someone who looked "like a son of man." (Daniel 7:13) He was dressed in a long robe with a gold strip of cloth around his chest.
14. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire.
15. His feet were like bronze metal glowing in a furnace. His voice sounded like rushing waters.
16. He held seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword that had two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brightness.
17. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. Then he put his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18. I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.