[1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, (Not of John) which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel (messenger) unto his servant John: (John was scribe, not the author - John is a type of the Bride of Jesus Christ)
[2] Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (these visions occurred over a period of 2 years)
[3] Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy (whether you are illiterate and can't read it, or you can read, you will still receive a blessing), and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (The time was not at hand previously)
[4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia (Asia Minor): Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come (The self-same Person); and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne (from the Old Testament);
[5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed (washed means loosed) us from our sins in his own blood,
[6] And hath made us kings (spiritual kings over a spiritual kingdom) and priests (spiritual priests of a spiritual kingdom) unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
[7] Behold, he cometh with clouds (clouds of glory); and every eye shall see him (not the rapture - No matter how far back they died; they'll still see him), and they also which pierced him (when He Fights for Israel): and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
[8] I am Alpha and Omega (Jesus Christ was Alpha, His Bride at His second coming is Omega), the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is (Son of God - High Priest), and which was (Son of Man - The Prophet), and which is to come (Son of David - in the Millennium), the Almighty (Jesus Christ is God, Acts 2:36, Isaiah 9:6, I Tim 3:16).
[9] I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (exiled to Roman prison island).
[10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day (not Saturday or Sunday, but "The Day of the Lord“), and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (the heralding of the message)
[11] Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book , and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia (John was commanded to write down his visions); unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
[12] And I turned to see the voice (the Voice and the Person are the same thing) that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks (actually lampstands, not candles that burn out);
[13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man (the Bride - Christ veiled in His Bride), clothed with a garment down to the foot (the Church is clothed in His Righteousness), and girt about the paps (the woman's breasts - where judges were girted - no longer the waist as a priest) with a golden girdle (the Gospel).
[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow (wisdom, as Judge of the earth); and his eyes were as a flame of fire (Judgment);
[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace (judgment).
[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars (seven church age messengers): and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword (the Word of God, Heb 4:12).
[17] And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead (no human could stand the full effect of the vision). And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
[18] I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Christ conquered death and hell).
[19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
[20] The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels (messengers, not heavenly angels) of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.