Beginning
9 Then[a] the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky[b] to the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss.[c] 2 He[d] opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it[e] like smoke from a giant furnace. The[f] sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft. 3 Then[g] out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth, and they were given power[h] like that of the scorpions of the earth. 4 They[i] were told[j] not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people[k] who did not have the seal of God on their[l] forehead. 5 The locusts[m] were not given permission[n] to kill[o] them, but only to torture[p] them[q] for five months, and their torture was like that[r] of a scorpion when it stings a person.[s] 6 In[t] those days people[u] will seek death, but[v] will not be able to[w] find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.
7 Now[x] the locusts looked like horses equipped for battle. On[y] their heads were something like crowns similar to gold,[z] and their faces looked like men’s[aa] faces. 8 They[ab] had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates[ac] like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots charging into battle. 10 They have[ad] tails and stingers like scorpions, and their ability[ae] to injure people for five months is in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.[af]
12 The first woe has passed, but[ag] two woes are still coming after these things!
13 Then[ah] the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a single voice coming from the[ai] horns on the golden altar that is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel, the one holding[aj] the trumpet, “Set free[ak] the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” 15 Then[al] the four angels who had been prepared for this[am] hour, day,[an] month, and year were set free to kill[ao] a third of humanity. 16 The[ap] number of soldiers on horseback was 200,000,000;[aq] I heard their number. 17 Now[ar] this is what the horses and their riders[as] looked like in my[at] vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red,[au] dark blue,[av] and sulfurous[aw] yellow in color.[ax] The[ay] heads of the horses looked like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur[az] came out of their mouths. 18 A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is,[ba] by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 For the power[bb] of the horses resides[bc] in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries. 20 The rest of humanity, who had not been killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made[bd] of gold, silver,[be] bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk about. 21 Furthermore,[bf] they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells,[bg] of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing.
The Angel with the Little Scroll
10 Then[bh] I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped[bi] in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire.[bj] 2 He held[bk] in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. 3 Then[bl] he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices. 4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was preparing to write, but[bm] just then[bn] I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders spoke and do not write it down.” 5 Then[bo] the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will be no more delay![bp] 7 But in the days[bq] when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed,[br] just as he has[bs] proclaimed to his servants[bt] the prophets.” 8 Then[bu] the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak[bv] to me[bw] again,[bx] “Go and take the open[by] scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So[bz] I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He[ca] said to me, “Take the scroll[cb] and eat it. It[cc] will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 So[cd] I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it did taste[ce] as sweet as honey in my mouth, but[cf] when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 Then[cg] they[ch] told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations,[ci] languages, and kings.”
The Fate of the Two Witnesses
11 Then[cj] a measuring rod[ck] like a staff was given to me, and I was told,[cl] “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. 2 But[cm] do not measure the outer courtyard[cn] of the temple; leave it out,[co] because it has been given to the Gentiles,[cp] and they will trample on the holy city[cq] for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant my two witnesses authority[cr] to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.” 4 (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)[cs] 5 If[ct] anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths[cu] and completely consumes[cv] their enemies. If[cw] anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way. 6 These two have the power[cx] to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the time[cy] they are prophesying. They[cz] have power[da] to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want. 7 When[db] they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer[dc] them and kill them. 8 Their[dd] corpses will lie in the street[de] of the great city that is symbolically[df] called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified. 9 For three and a half days those from every[dg] people, tribe,[dh] nation, and language will look at their corpses, because they will not permit them to be placed in a tomb.[di] 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. 11 But[dj] after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and tremendous fear seized[dk] those who were watching them. 12 Then[dl] they[dm] heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them: “Come up here!” So the two prophets[dn] went up to heaven in a cloud while[do] their enemies stared at them. 13 Just then[dp] a major earthquake took place and a tenth of the city collapsed; seven thousand people[dq] were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has come and gone;[dr] the third is coming quickly.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 Then[ds] the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:
“The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord
and of his Christ,[dt]
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
16 Then[du] the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground[dv] and worshiped God 17 with these words:[dw]
“We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful,[dx]
the one who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.[dy]
18 The[dz] nations[ea] were enraged,
but[eb] your wrath has come,
and the time has come for the dead to be judged,
and the time has come to give to your servants,[ec]
the prophets, their reward,
as well as to the saints
and to those who revere[ed] your name, both small and great,
and the time has come[ee] to destroy those who destroy[ef] the earth.”
19 Then[eg] the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring,[eh] crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.[ei]
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
12 Then[ej] a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.[ek] 2 She[el] was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling[em] to give birth. 3 Then[en] another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns.[eo] 4 Now[ep] the dragon’s[eq] tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then[er] the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 So[es] the woman gave birth to a son, a male child,[et] who is going to rule[eu] over all the nations[ev] with an iron rod.[ew] Her[ex] child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and she[ey] fled into the wilderness[ez] where a place had been prepared for her[fa] by God, so she could be taken care of[fb] for 1,260 days.
War in Heaven
7 Then[fc] war broke out in heaven: Michael[fd] and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But[fe] the dragon was not strong enough to prevail,[ff] so there was no longer any place left[fg] in heaven for him and his angels.[fh] 9 So[fi] that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. 10 Then[fj] I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,
“The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the ruling authority[fk] of his Christ,[fl] have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,[fm]
the one who accuses them day and night[fn] before our God,
has been thrown down.
11 But[fo] they overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their lives[fp] so much that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them!
But[fq] woe to the earth and the sea
because the devil has come down to you!
He[fr] is filled with terrible anger,
for he knows that he only has a little time!”
13 Now[fs] when the dragon realized[ft] that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But[fu] the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness,[fv] to the place God[fw] prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time.[fx] 15 Then[fy] the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to[fz] sweep her away by a flood, 16 but[ga] the earth came to her rescue;[gb] the ground opened up[gc] and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 17 So[gd] the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children,[ge] those who keep[gf] God’s commandments and hold to[gg] the testimony about Jesus.[gh] 18 And the dragon[gi] stood[gj] on the sand[gk] of the seashore.[gl]
Footnotes
- Revelation 9:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 9:1 tn Or “from heaven” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
- Revelation 9:1 tn On this term BDAG 2 s.v. ἄβυσσος 2 states, “netherworld, abyss, esp. the abode of the dead Ro 10:7 (Ps 106:26) and of demons Lk 8:31; dungeon where the devil is kept Rv 20:3; abode of the θηρίον, the Antichrist 11:7; 17:8; of ᾿Αβαδδών (q.v.), the angel of the underworld 9:11…φρέαρ τῆς ἀ. 9:1f; capable of being sealed 9:1; 20:1, 3.”
- Revelation 9:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:2 tn Grk “the shaft,” but since this would be somewhat redundant in English, the pronoun “it” is used here.
- Revelation 9:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 9:3 tn See BDAG 352 s.v. ἐξουσία 2, “potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power.”
- Revelation 9:4 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:4 tn The dative indirect object (αὐταῖς, autais) was converted into the subject (“they”) as this more closely approximates English usage. The following ἵ῞να (hina) is taken as substantival, introducing a direct object clause. In this case, because it is reported speech, the ἵνα is similar to the declarative ὅτι (hoti).
- Revelation 9:4 tn Grk “men”; but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used in a generic sense here of both men and women.
- Revelation 9:4 tn The article τῶν (tōn) has been translated as a possessive pronoun here (ExSyn 215).
- Revelation 9:5 tn Grk “It was not permitted to them”; the referent (the locusts) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 9:5 tn The word “permission” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
- Revelation 9:5 tn The two ἵνα (hina) clauses of 9:5 are understood to be functioning as epexegetical or complementary clauses related to ἐδόθη (edothē).
- Revelation 9:5 tn On this term BDAG 168 s.v. βασανισμός states, “1. infliction of severe suffering or pain associated with torture or torment, tormenting, torture Rv 9:5b.—2. the severe pain experienced through torture, torment vs. 5a; 14:11; 18:10, 15; (w. πένθος) vs. 7.”
- Revelation 9:5 tn The pronoun “them” is not in the Greek text but is picked up from the previous clause.
- Revelation 9:5 tn Grk “like the torture,” but this is redundant in contemporary English.
- Revelation 9:5 tn Grk “a man”; but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used here in an individualized sense without being limited to the male gender.
- Revelation 9:6 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:6 tn Grk “men”; but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used in a generic sense here of both men and women.
- Revelation 9:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 9:6 tn The phrase “not be able to” was used in the translation to emphasize the strong negation (οὐ μή, ou mē) in the Greek text.
- Revelation 9:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of the description of the locusts, which is somewhat parenthetical in the narrative.
- Revelation 9:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:7 tn The translation attempts to bring out the double uncertainty in this clause in the Greek text, involving both the form (ὡς στέφανοι, hōs stephanoi, “like crowns”) and the material (ὅμοιοι χρυσῷ, homoioi chrusō, “similar to gold”).
- Revelation 9:7 tn Or “human faces.” The Greek term ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is often used in a generic sense, referring to both men and women. However, because “women’s hair” in the next clause suggests a possible gender distinction here, “men’s” was retained.
- Revelation 9:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:9 tn Or perhaps, “scales like iron breastplates” (RSV, NRSV) although the Greek term θώραξ (thōrax) would have to shift its meaning within the clause, and elsewhere in biblical usage (e.g., Eph 6:14; 1 Thess 5:8) it normally means “breastplate.” See also L&N 8.38.
- Revelation 9:10 tn In the Greek text there is a shift to the present tense here; the previous verbs translated “had” are imperfects.
- Revelation 9:10 tn See BDAG 352 s.v. ἐξουσία 2, “potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power.”
- Revelation 9:11 sn Both the Hebrew Abaddon and the Greek Apollyon mean “Destroyer.”
- Revelation 9:12 tn Grk “behold.” Here ἰδού (idou) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in the context.
- Revelation 9:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 9:13 tc ‡ Several key mss (P47 א1 A 0207 1611 2053 2344 lat syh co) lack the word τεσσάρων (tessarōn, “four”) before κεράτων (keratōn, “horns”). The word seems to have been added by scribes because a “horned” altar (described in the OT [Exod 30:2, 10]) could have only four “horns” or projections at the corners. NA28 includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
- Revelation 9:14 tn Grk “having.”
- Revelation 9:14 tn On λῦσον (luson) BDAG 606-7 s.v. λύω 2 states, “set free, loose, untie—a. lit. a pers., animal, or thing that is bound or tied…Angels that are bound Rv 9:14f.”
- Revelation 9:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 9:15 tn The Greek article τήν (tēn) has been translated with demonstrative force here.
- Revelation 9:15 tn The Greek term καί (kai) has not been translated here and before the following term “month” since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 9:15 tn Grk “so that they might kill,” but the English infinitive is an equivalent construction to indicate purpose here.
- Revelation 9:16 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:16 tn Grk “twenty thousand of ten thousands.”
- Revelation 9:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of the description of the horses and riders, which is somewhat parenthetical in the narrative.
- Revelation 9:17 tn Grk “and those seated on them.”
- Revelation 9:17 tn Grk “the vision”; the Greek article has been translated as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).
- Revelation 9:17 tn L&N 79.33 states, “‘fiery red’…. One may also render ‘fiery red’ as ‘red like fire’ or ‘the color of fire.’”
- Revelation 9:17 tn On this term BDAG 1022 s.v. ὑακίνθινος states, “hyacinth-colored, i.e., dark blue (dark red?) w. πύρινος Rv 9:17.”
- Revelation 9:17 tn On this term BDAG 446 s.v. θειώδης states, “sulphurous Rv 9:17.”
- Revelation 9:17 sn The colors of the riders’ breastplates parallel the three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur in v. 18.
- Revelation 9:17 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 9:17 tn Traditionally, “brimstone.”
- Revelation 9:18 tn The phrase ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ τοῦ καπνοῦ καὶ τοῦ θείου τοῦ ἐκπορευομένου ἐκ τῶν στομάτων αὐτῶν (“by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths”) is taken as epexegetical (explanatory) to the phrase τῶν τριῶν πληγῶν τούτων (“these three plagues”).
- Revelation 9:19 tn See BDAG 352 s.v. ἐξουσία 2, “potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power.”
- Revelation 9:19 tn Grk “is.”
- Revelation 9:20 tn The word “made” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
- Revelation 9:20 tn The Greek conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here or before the following materials in this list, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 9:21 tn Grk “and.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation, with “furthermore” used to indicate a continuation of the preceding.
- Revelation 9:21 tn On the term φαρμακεία (pharmakeia, “magic spells”) see L&N 53.100: “the use of magic, often involving drugs and the casting of spells upon people—‘to practice magic, to cast spells upon, to engage in sorcery, magic, sorcery.’ φαρμακεία: ἐν τῇ φαρμακείᾳ σου ἐπλανήθησαν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ‘with your magic spells you deceived all the peoples (of the world)’ Re 18:23.”
- Revelation 10:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:1 tn Or “clothed.”
- Revelation 10:1 tn Or “like fiery pillars,” translating πυρός (puros) as an attributive genitive.
- Revelation 10:2 tn Grk “and having.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”
- Revelation 10:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 10:4 tn The words “just then” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
- Revelation 10:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:6 tn On this phrase see BDAG 1092 s.v. χρόνος.
- Revelation 10:7 tn Grk “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel.”
- Revelation 10:7 tn The aorist ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē) has been translated as a proleptic (futuristic) aorist (ExSyn 564 cites this verse as an example).
- Revelation 10:7 tn The time of the action described by the aorist εὐηγγέλισεν (euēngelisen) seems to be past with respect to the aorist passive ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē). This does not require that the prophets in view here be OT prophets. They may actually refer to the martyrs in the church (so G. B. Caird, Revelation [HNTC], 129).
- Revelation 10:7 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 10:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:8 tn The participle λαλοῦσαν (lalousan) has been translated as “began to speak.” The use of πάλιν (palin) indicates an ingressive idea.
- Revelation 10:8 tn Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ (met’ emou, “with me”) was translated as “to me.”
- Revelation 10:8 tn Grk “again, saying.” The participle λέγουσαν (legousan) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- Revelation 10:8 tn The perfect passive participle ἠνεῳγμένον (ēneōgmenon) is in second attributive position and has been translated as an attributive adjective.
- Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the voice.
- Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 10:9 tn The words “the scroll” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
- Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 10:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the angel.
- Revelation 10:10 tn Grk “it was.” The idea of taste is implied.
- Revelation 10:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 10:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:11 tn The referent of “they” is not clear in the Greek text.
- Revelation 10:11 tn Grk “and nations,” but καί (kai) has not been translated here or before the next item since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 11:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “a reed” (but these were used for measuring). Cf. Ezek 40:3ff.
- Revelation 11:1 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 11:2 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 11:2 tn On the term αὐλήν (aulēn) BDAG 150 s.v. αὐλή 1 states, “(outer) court of the temple…Rv 11:2.”
- Revelation 11:2 tn The precise meaning of the phrase ἔκβαλε ἔξωθεν (ekbale exōthen) is difficult to determine.
- Revelation 11:2 tn Or “to the nations” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
- Revelation 11:2 sn The holy city appears to be a reference to Jerusalem. See also Luke 21:24.
- Revelation 11:3 tn The word “authority” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. “Power” would be another alternative that could be supplied here.
- Revelation 11:4 sn This description is parenthetical in nature.
- Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:5 tn This is a collective singular in Greek.
- Revelation 11:5 tn See L&N 20.45 for the translation of κατεσθίω (katesthiō) as “to destroy utterly, to consume completely.”
- Revelation 11:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
- Revelation 11:6 tn Grk “the days.”
- Revelation 11:6 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:6 tn Or “authority.”
- Revelation 11:7 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:7 tn Or “be victorious over”; traditionally, “overcome.”
- Revelation 11:8 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:8 tn The Greek word πλατεῖα (plateia) refers to a major (broad) street (L&N 1.103).
- Revelation 11:8 tn Grk “spiritually.”
- Revelation 11:9 tn The word “every” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the following list.
- Revelation 11:9 tn The Greek term καί (kai) has not been translated before this and the following items in the list, since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
- Revelation 11:9 tn Or “to be buried.”
- Revelation 11:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 11:11 tn Grk “fell upon.”
- Revelation 11:12 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 11:12 tn Though the nearest antecedent to the subject of ἤκουσαν (ēkousan) is the people (“those who were watching them”), it could also be (based on what immediately follows) that the two prophets are the ones who heard the voice.
- Revelation 11:12 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the two prophets) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 11:12 tn The conjunction καί (kai) seems to be introducing a temporal clause contemporaneous in time with the preceding clause.
- Revelation 11:13 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:13 tn Grk “seven thousand names of men.”
- Revelation 11:14 tn Grk “has passed.”
- Revelation 11:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 11:15 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
- Revelation 11:16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 11:16 tn Grk “they fell down on their faces.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
- Revelation 11:17 tn Grk “saying.”
- Revelation 11:17 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.…Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
- Revelation 11:17 tn The aorist verb ἐβασίλευσας (ebasileusas) has been translated ingressively.
- Revelation 11:18 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 11:18 tn Or “The Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
- Revelation 11:18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 11:18 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 11:18 tn Grk “who fear.”
- Revelation 11:18 tn The words “the time has come” do not occur except at the beginning of the verse; the phrase has been repeated for emphasis and contrast. The Greek has one finite verb (“has come”) with a compound subject (“your wrath,” “the time”), followed by three infinitive clauses (“to be judged,” “to give,” “to destroy”). The rhetorical power of the repetition of the finite verb in English thus emulates the rhetorical power of its lone instance in Greek.
- Revelation 11:18 tn Or “who deprave.” There is a possible wordplay here on two meanings for διαφθείρω (diaphtheirō), with the first meaning “destroy” and the second meaning either “to ruin” or “to make morally corrupt.” See L&N 20.40.
- Revelation 11:19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 11:19 tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”
- Revelation 11:19 tn Although BDAG 1075 s.v. χάλαζα gives the meaning “hail” here, it is not clear whether the adjective μεγάλη (megalē) refers to the intensity of the storm or the size of the individual hailstones, or both.
- Revelation 12:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 12:1 sn Sun…moon…stars. This imagery is frequently identified with the nation Israel because of Joseph’s dream in Gen 37.
- Revelation 12:2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 12:2 tn Grk “and being tortured,” though βασανίζω (basanizō) in this context refers to birth pangs. BDAG 168 s.v. 2.b states, “Of birth-pangs (Anth. Pal. 9, 311 βάσανος has this mng.) Rv 12:2.” The καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Revelation 12:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 12:3 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadēma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.sn Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.
- Revelation 12:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate that this remark is virtually parenthetical.
- Revelation 12:4 tn Grk “its”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 12:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 12:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.
- Revelation 12:5 tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἄρσην states: “male…The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”
- Revelation 12:5 tn Grk “shepherd.”
- Revelation 12:5 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
- Revelation 12:5 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rhabdos) can mean either “rod” or “scepter.” sn An allusion to Ps 2:9 (see also Rev 2:27; 19:15).
- Revelation 12:5 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 12:6 tn Grk “and the woman,” which would be somewhat redundant in English.
- Revelation 12:6 tn Or “desert.”
- Revelation 12:6 tn Grk “where she has there a place prepared by God.”
- Revelation 12:6 tn Grk “so they can take care of her.”
- Revelation 12:7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 12:7 sn The archangel Michael had a special role in protecting the nation of Israel in the OT (Dan 10:13, 21; 12:1; see also Jude 9).
- Revelation 12:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast.
- Revelation 12:8 tn The words “to prevail” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
- Revelation 12:8 tn Grk “found.”
- Revelation 12:8 tn Grk “for them”; the referent (the dragon and his angels, v. 7) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 12:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the war in heaven.
- Revelation 12:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 12:10 tn Or “the right of his Messiah to rule.” See L&N 37.35.
- Revelation 12:10 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
- Revelation 12:10 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelphoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The translation “fellow believer” would normally apply (L&N 11.23), but since the speaker(s) are not specified in this context, it is not clear if such a translation would be appropriate here. The more generic “brothers and sisters” was chosen to emphasize the fact of a relationship without specifying its type.
- Revelation 12:10 tn Or “who accuses them continually.”
- Revelation 12:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.
- Revelation 12:11 sn They did not love their lives. See Matt 16:25; Luke 17:33; John 12:25.
- Revelation 12:12 tn The word “But” is not in the Greek text, but the contrast is clearly implied. This is a case of asyndeton (lack of a connective).
- Revelation 12:12 tn Grk “and is filled,” a continuation of the previous sentence. Because English tends to use shorter sentences (especially when exclamations are involved), a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Revelation 12:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” because the clause it introduces is clearly resumptive.
- Revelation 12:13 tn Grk “saw.”
- Revelation 12:14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
- Revelation 12:14 tn Or “desert.”
- Revelation 12:14 tn The word “God” is supplied based on the previous statements made concerning “the place prepared for the woman” in 12:6.
- Revelation 12:14 tc The reading “and half a time” (καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ, kai hēmisu kairou) is lacking in the significant majuscule C. Its inclusion, however, is supported by P47 א A and the rest of the ms tradition. There is apparently no reason for the scribe of C to intentionally omit the phrase, and the fact that the word “time” (καιρὸν καὶ καιρούς, kairon kai kairous) appears twice before may indicate a scribal oversight.sn The parallel statement in Rev 12:6 suggests that the phrase a time, times, and half a time equals 1,260 days (three and a half years of 360 days each).
- Revelation 12:15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 12:15 tn Grk “so that he might make her swept away.”
- Revelation 12:16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
- Revelation 12:16 tn Grk “the earth helped the woman.”
- Revelation 12:16 tn Grk “the earth opened its mouth” (a metaphor for the ground splitting open).
- Revelation 12:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the woman’s escape.
- Revelation 12:17 tn Grk “her seed” (an idiom for offspring, children, or descendants).
- Revelation 12:17 tn Or “who obey.”
- Revelation 12:17 tn Grk “and having.”
- Revelation 12:17 tn Grk “the testimony of Jesus,” which may involve a subjective genitive (“Jesus’ testimony”) or, more likely, an objective genitive (“testimony about Jesus”).
- Revelation 12:18 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 12:18 tc Grk ἐστάθη (estathē, “he stood”). The reading followed by the translation is attested by the better mss (P47 א A C 1854 2344 2351 lat syh) while the majority of mss (051 M vgmss syph co) have the reading ἐστάθην (estathēn, “I stood”). Thus, the majority of mss make the narrator, rather than the dragon of 12:17, the subject of the verb. The first person reading is most likely an assimilation to the following verb in 13:1, “I saw.” The reading “I stood” was introduced either by accident or to produce a smoother flow, giving the narrator a vantage point on the sea’s edge from which to observe the beast rising out of the sea in 13:1. But almost everywhere else in the book, the phrase καὶ εἶδον (kai eidon, “and I saw”) marks a transition to a new vision, without reference to the narrator’s activity. On both external and internal grounds, it is best to adopt the third person reading, “he stood.”
- Revelation 12:18 tn Or “sandy beach” (L&N 1.64).
- Revelation 12:18 sn The standard critical texts of the Greek NT, NA28 and UBS5, both include this sentence as 12:18, as do the RSV and NRSV. Other modern translations like the NASB and NIV include the sentence at the beginning of 13:1; in these versions chap. 12 has only 17 verses.
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.