He who testifies to these things: the same verb “to testify,” used in verses 16 and 18, here has the sense of “announce,” “proclaim.” The speaker is Jesus, and these things are the visions and revelations that he has proclaimed and that are recorded in this book. The meaning may be expressed by “He who declares these messages.”

Surely I am coming soon: as in verses 7 and 12.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!: the initial Amen may be translated “So be it” or “May it be so” (see 1.6). The speaker is John, the writer of the book. Come, Lord Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Aramaic Marana tha (1 Cor 16.22, “Our Lord, come!”).

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 grace of the Lord Jesus: this is the usual benediction Paul uses to close his letters (see Rom 16.20; 1 Cor 16.23; Gal 6.18). The only other place in Revelation that the Greek word translated grace is used is in the standard phrase “Grace and peace” in 1.4. The prayer here may be translated “May the Lord Jesus show his great love” or “May the Lord Jesus give his richest blessings.”

All the saints: this means “all of God’s people” (see 5.8). Good News Translation follows another Greek text, “everyone” (or, “all of you”). In this context this reading means the same as all the saints of the text translated by Revised Standard Version. As the Good News Translation and RSV footnotes show, there is still another variant text, “the saints.”

Amen: see comments at 1.6. The Greek text followed by Good News Translation does not have this final word. There is no harm in including it in translation, but it is better to omit it and perhaps mention it in a footnote.

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 .