Revelation 1:3

1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this ¹  prophecy aloud, ²  and blessed are ³  those who hear and obey ⁴  the things written in it, because the time is near! ⁵ 

Revelation 3:3

3:3 Therefore, remember what you received and heard, ⁶  and obey it, ⁷  and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never ⁸  know at what hour I will come against ⁹  you.

Revelation 22:9

22:9 But ¹⁰  he said to me, “Do not do this! ¹¹  I am a fellow servant ¹²  with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey ¹³  the words of this book. Worship God!”

---

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 The expression πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας (pw" eilhfa" kai hkousa") probably refers to the initial instruction in the Christian life they had received and been taught; this included doctrine and ethical teaching.

⁷ tn Grk “keep it,” in the sense of obeying what they had initially been taught.

⁸ tn The negation here is with οὐ μή (ou mh, the strongest possible form of negation in Koine Greek).

⁹ tn Or “come on.”

¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.

¹¹ 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.”

¹² 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.

¹³ tn Grk “keep” (an idiom for obedience).