Revelation is meant to be heard. More than any other book it is built of voices — a command like a trumpet, a seer who keeps saying “I heard,” the One on the throne, the slain Lamb, and choir behind choir answering: the four living creatures nearest the throne, the twenty-four elders just beyond them, then myriads of angels, then every created thing in heaven and earth and sea. Printed flat, the praise blurs into one long shout. Colored, it becomes what John actually describes — concentric rings of voice opening outward, each taking up the song in turn. This curated edition follows the hymns from the first vision to the last “Come,” and flags the places the book keeps deliberately unresolved: the voice that comes simply “from the throne,” and the Alpha-and-the-Omega — a name the Lord God speaks in chapter 1, and the Lord Jesus claims, identically, in chapter 22.
I · The first and the last · 1:8–18
Before any vision, a voice; and the figure the seer turns to find.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“I, John, your brother and partner in the oppression… was on the isle that is called Patmos… I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet.”
“What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies.”
“I turned to see the voice… and among the lamp stands one like a son of man… His face was like the sun shining at its strongest.”
“Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more… I have the keys of Death and of Hades.”
II · The throne · 4:1–11
The door opens, and the first ring of choirs is already singing.
“A door opened in heaven… a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on it… twenty-four elders… and four living creatures full of eyes, who have no rest day and night, saying:”
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
“When the living creatures give glory… the twenty-four elders fall down before him… and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:”
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things.”
III · The Lamb and the new song · 5:1–14
The book's first great crescendo — the song taken up ring by ring, from the throne-circle out to every creature that exists.
“I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book… sealed shut with seven seals.”
“Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
“No one… was able to open the book… And I wept much, because no one was found worthy.”
One of the elders: “Don't weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome.”
“I saw… a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain… he took the book… and the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.”
The creatures and elders sing: “You are worthy to take the book… for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood… and made us kings and priests.”
“The voice of many angels… ten thousand times ten thousand: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!’”
“Every created thing… in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea: ‘To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever!’”
“The four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.”
IV · The multitude no one could number · 7:9–17
A new choir the throne-circle has not seen before — and an elder turns to ask the seer who they are.
“A great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation… standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes.”
“Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
“All the angels… and the elders and the four living creatures… fell on their faces before the throne, and worshiped God, saying:”
“Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
“These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and from where did they come?”
“My lord, you know.” — and the elder answers him: “These are those who came out of the great tribulation… the Lamb… will shepherd them, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
V · The kingdom of the world has become · 11:15–12:12
The seventh trumpet, and heaven announcing in advance a victory not yet seen on earth.
“The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever!”
“We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty… because you have taken your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came.”
“Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God… have come… They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood. Rejoice, heavens… Woe to the earth.”
VI · The Hallelujah · 19:1–9
The second great crescendo, and the only place in the New Testament the word “Hallelujah” is sung — four times, ring answering ring.
“Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God, for true and righteous are his judgments.”
“Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.”
“The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God… saying, ‘Amen! Hallelujah!’”
“Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!”
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! Let us rejoice… for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.”
“Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’”
VII · All things new, and “Come” · 21:3–8; 22:7–21
At the end the choirs fall quiet and the principals speak plainly — the Throne, the Lamb, the seer, and the bride — until the last word is a prayer.
“Behold, God's dwelling is with people… He will wipe away from them every tear… Death will be no more.”
“Behold, I am making all things new… It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End… He who overcomes will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.”
“Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
“Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel —”
“See you don't do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you… Worship God.”
“Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me… I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ He who hears, let him say, ‘Come!’ … He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.”
“Yes, I come quickly.” — and the seer answers: “Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.”
Scripture: World English Bible · Public Domain · Wroot Press