Have sent my angel to you: in English this appears to say the same thing, in direct speech, that is said in narrative in 1.1, that is, you is John, the writer of the book. But in Greek you here is plural and means the believers, the readers of the book. So Good News Translation has “to announce these things to you in the churches,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translates “declare all of this to the churches.” Some take the plural you here to mean the prophets as a group, of whom John is one (see Rev. 22.9); this is possible but does not seem likely. The churches are the seven churches of chapters 2-3. See 1.11 for information on the translation of “churches.”

With this testimony: this translates the Greek infinitive “to testify” (see the same verb in verses 18 [“I warn”] and 20). Instead of the precise sense of “testify,” the more general meaning of “declare,” “announce” is intended here.

I am the root and the offspring of David: the phrase the root and the offspring means “the descendant.” Here root is used in the sense of what comes from the root, that is, a shoot (see 5.5; Isa 11.10; Rom 15.12 “a root of Jesse”). And the word translated offspring is used also in Acts 17.28-29, “we are indeed his offspring” (Good News Translation “we are God’s children”). If the figurative language of root or “shoot” can be kept in translation, it should be done. But if this is not a natural way of speaking of a descendant, the translation should say “the descendant of” or “the one who descends from.” This is not merely genealogical information; it is the assertion that he is the Messianic King, “the Son of David.” For “descendant of David” or “Root of David” see 5.5.

The bright morning star: this also seems to have Messianic overtones (see Num 24.17). See the use of the phrase “the morning star” in 2.28. As the morning star announces the day, Jesus is the sign and evidence of the coming of God’s new Day. One may also say “the one who is like the star that shines at sunrise.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• “I, Jesus, have sent my messenger (or, angel) to announce these things to you [plural] who are in the groups of God’s people. I am the descendant of King David; I am the one who is like the star that appears (or, shines) at sunrise.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .