Behold, I am coming soon: for Behold see 1.7; and see comment at Rev. 22.7, above. By its use of quotation marks, Revised Standard Version intends to show that someone other than the writer is speaking. It is better to indicate that Jesus is the speaker, as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje do.

Bringing my recompense, to repay every one: this applies to all, the righteous and the evil alike. So my recompense may be reward (see 11.18) or it may be punishment (see 18.6). Another way of expressing this is “I am coming to either reward or punish all people for what they have done.”

For what he has done: see 2.23, “as your works deserve”; 20.12, 13.

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 .

I am the Alpha and the Omega: see 1.8; 21.6; the first and the last: see 1.17; 2.8; the beginning and the end: see 21.6. All three phrases proclaim the same basic truth in three different ways.

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 .

Blessed: see 1.3.

Those who wash their robes: see 7.14. Here nothing is said about “in the blood of the Lamb,” as in 7.14. It is implied, of course, that this washing makes the robes clean, and this may be expressly stated, “those who wash their robes clean” (Good News Translation). For robes see 6.11.

As the RSV footnote indicates, instead of who wash their robes, some Greek manuscripts have “who do his commandments” (see 12.17; 14.12). The text translated by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is to be preferred.

That: this appears to indicate purpose; and by placing a comma after robes, Revised Standard Version seems to connect that with Blessed. It is possible to take the Greek conjunction translated that to express purpose and connect it with the verbal phrase wash their robes: “those who wash their robes in order to….” But it seems better to take the conjunction as final, indicating result: “and as a result they have….” So New Revised Standard Version “so that they will have the right….”

Have the right to the tree of life: that is, have the right to eat the fruit of the tree (see 22.2).

Enter the city by the gates: this is somewhat strange, for it seems to imply that others will have to enter by some other way. The force of this statement may be what would be expressed in English by “the right to enter the city freely,” “full and free access to the city.” Since the tree of life is inside the city, it may be desirable to reverse the two actions as follows: “And so they will have the right to go through the gates into the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life.”

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 .

Outside are: this means that they will not be allowed to enter the city: “They will be kept outside the city” or “The following people will not be allowed to enter the city.”

In 21.8 all of these, except the dogs, are included among those destined to the lake of burning sulfur.

The dogs: as commentators point out, this was an expression that was applied by Jews to Gentiles (see Psa 22.16, 20; Matt 15.26, 27). And in Phil 3.2 it is used of those who were trying to impose Jewish laws on Christians. It is difficult to say what, precisely, the word means here; perhaps it means much the same as the “polluted” in 21.8, that is, “filthy heathens.” Some suggest that this is a general term, further defined by the following terms. Alternative translation models for this phrase are “people who have made themselves dirty (or, unclean) through worshiping idols” or “people who have committed the following foul (or, dirty) sins.”

Sorcerers … fornicators … murderers … idolaters: see 21.8.

Every one who loves and practices falsehood: “all who love to lie and do it all the time” (see “all liars” in 21.8).

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 .

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 .

The translator should consider the possibility of presenting this verse in poetic form, as a stanza of three or four lines (see Section F of the introduction, “Translating the Revelation to John,” pages 6 and following).

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”: the command, or request, is addressed to Christ, asking him to come at once to the world. Here the Spirit is speaking together with the Bride, the people of God (19.7). It may be that the Spirit is speaking through the prophet, but the text does not imply this. It may be necessary to indicate explicitly to whom they speak: “The Spirit and the Bride say to Jesus…” or “… say, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ ” (see verse 20). For Bride see 19.7. In this context another way of expressing this is “the wife of the Lamb.”

Let him who hears say: “and all those who hear this are also to say.” The assembled believers, as they hear this book being read to them (1.3 and comments), are to repeat the prayer of the Spirit and the Bride.

Him who is thirsty … him who desires: the plural form can be used, in order to avoid being exclusive: “All who are thirsty and who want water (or, want water to drink).”

Come … take the water of life without price: “Come … and drink the life-giving water, without having to pay for it” (see 21.6). This invitation is addressed to those who are thirsty and want water.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• The Spirit (or, God’s Spirit) and the Wife of the Lamb say to Jesus, “You [singular] must come.” Everyone who hears this must also say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty must come and accept the water that gives life.

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 .

I warn every one who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: the verb translated warn is the same one translated “to witness” in verse 16. Here the verb carries an explicit threat, which justifies the translation warn. The warning is made by the writer himself, and it is addressed to believers assembled for worship who are listening to the book being read to them. It should be clear that the speaker here is John. For the words of the prophecy of this book, see verses 7 and 10. Warn (Good News Translation “solemnly warn”) may also be expressed as “tell everyone who hears to listen carefully.” This book may be rendered as “this book I have written.”

If any one adds to them: the warning is against any alteration in the contents of the book, either adding material to it or deleting something from it (see Deut 4.2; 12.32). Such additions or deletions would change the message and would therefore bring punishment from God. John is a prophet and his message comes from God.

Add … the plagues described in this book: these are the plagues of chapters 15 and 16. The language add to him the plagues may be difficult to express, and it may be better to translate “God will punish him with the plagues” or “God will add to his punishment the plagues” (Good News Translation). One may also say “God will also punish this person with the seven plagues.” Of course a form including both men and women should be used, to make the warning apply to everyone.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• I, John, solemnly warn every person who listens to the message about things that are happening now and in the future, which I have written in this book: if anyone adds anything to this message, God will add to your punishment. He will punish you with the seven plagues that I have described in this book.

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 .

If any one takes away: this may be translated “Whoever deletes,” or “omits,” or “subtracts.”

The words of the book of this prophecy: Revised Standard Version formally represents the different form and word order of the Greek, but the meaning is the same as in verses 7, 10, 18. See also comments at 1.3.

Take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city: for the Greek noun translated share, see 20.6, “he who shares in,” meaning “who has a right to participate in”; see also 21.8, “their lot” in a negative sense of having a share of punishment. The meaning of this statement is “take away his right to eat the fruit of the tree of life and to enter the holy city” (see verse 14). Or else, taking the words in a more literal sense, the idea may be that God has given each believer a share of the fruits of the tree of life and a place to live in the new Jerusalem: “God will take away from him his share of the fruits of the tree of life and his place in the holy city.” For the holy city see 21.2, 10.

An alternative translation model for verses 18-19 is:

• I, John, solemnly warn all who hear the reading of the prophetic messages that I have written in this book: if you add anything to them, God will add to your punishment. God will punish you with the seven plagues described in this book. And if you take out anything from the prophetic messages of this book, God will take away from you the blessings described in this book. God will take away your right to eat the fruit of the tree of life and to live in the holy city.

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 .