“We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, 7
the one who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and begun to reign. 8
19:9 Then 15 the angel 16 said to me, “Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
21:5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then 17 he said to me, “Write it down, 18 because these words are reliable 19 and true.”
22:6 Then 20 the angel 21 said to me, “These words are reliable 22 and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants 23 what must happen soon.”
22:18 I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described 28 in this book. 22:19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life 29 and in the holy city that are described in this book.
1 tn The word “this” is used to translate the Greek article τῆς (ths), bringing out its demonstrative force.
2 tn The word “aloud” has been supplied to indicate that in the original historical setting reading would usually refer to reading out loud in public rather than silently to oneself.
3 tn The words “blessed are” are repeated from the beginning of this verse for stylistic reasons and for clarity.
4 tn Grk “keep.” L&N 36.19 has “to continue to obey orders or commandments – ‘to obey, to keep commandments, obedience.’”
5 sn The time refers to the time when the things prophesied would happen.
6 tn Grk “saying.”
7 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.”
8 tn The aorist verb ἐβασίλευσας (ebasileusa") has been translated ingressively.
9 tn Grk “hearts.”
10 tn Or “his intent.”
11 tn The infinitive ποιῆσαι (poihsai) was translated here as giving the logical means by which God’s purpose was carried out.
12 tn On this term BDAG 203 s.v. γνώμη 4 states, “declaration, decision, resolution…of God Rv 17:17.”
13 tn For this translation see BDAG 168 s.v. βασιλεία 1.a, “kingship, royal power, royal rule.”
14 tn Or “completed.”
15 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
16 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
18 tn The words “it down” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
19 tn Grk “faithful.”
20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
21 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel mentioned in 21:9, 15; 22:1) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
22 tn Grk “faithful.”
23 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
24 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
25 tn On the elliptical expression ὅρα μή ({ora mh) BDAG 720 s.v. ὁράω B.2 states: “Elliptically…ὅρα μή (sc. ποιήσῃς) watch out! don’t do that! Rv 19:10; 22:9.”
26 tn Grk “fellow slave.” Though σύνδουλος (sundoulos) is here translated “fellow servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
27 tn Grk “keep” (an idiom for obedience).
28 tn Grk “written.”
29 tc The Textus Receptus, on which the KJV rests, reads “the book” of life (ἀπὸ βίβλου, apo biblou) instead of “the tree” of life. When the Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus translated the NT he had access to no Greek