In 2 the middle of the throne 3 and around the throne were four living creatures 4 full of eyes in front and in back.
7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 7:2 Then 5 I saw another angel ascending from the east, 6 who had 7 the seal 8 of the living God. He 9 shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission 10 to damage the earth and the sea: 11
13:1 Then 18 I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It 19 had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, 20 and on its heads a blasphemous name. 21
18:17 because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” 23
And every ship’s captain, 24 and all who sail along the coast 25 – seamen, and all who 26 make their living from the sea, stood a long way off
1 tn This could refer to rock crystal, but it is possible this refers to ice (an older meaning). See BDAG 571 s.v. κρύσταλλος.
2 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
3 tn Perhaps, “in the middle of the throne area” (see L&N 83.10).
4 tn On the meaning of ζῴον (zwon) BDAG 431 s.v. 2 states, “Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rv 4:6-9 reminds one of the ζῷα in Ezk 1:5ff, the cherubim. S. also Rv 5:6, 8, 11, 14; 6:1, 3, 5-7; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4.”
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
6 tn Grk “from the rising of the sun.” BDAG 74 s.v. ἀνατολή 2.a takes this as a geographical direction: “ἀπὸ ἀ. ἡλίου…from the east Rv 7:2; 16:12…simply ἀπὸ ἀ. …21:13.”
7 tn Grk “having,” but v. 3 makes it clear that the angel’s purpose is to seal others with the seal he carries.
8 tn Or “signet” (L&N 6.54).
9 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.
10 tn The word “permission” is implied; Grk “to whom it was given to them to damage the earth.”
11 tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
12 tn On this phrase see BDAG 1092 s.v. χρόνος.
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
14 tn The participle λαλοῦσαν (lalousan) has been translated as “began to speak.” The use of πάλιν (palin) indicates an ingressive idea.
15 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.”
16 tn Grk “again, saying.” The participle λέγουσαν (legousan) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
17 tn The perfect passive participle ἠνεῳγμένον (hnewgmenon) is in second attributive position and has been translated as an attributive adjective.
18 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
19 tn Grk “having” (a continuation of the previous sentence). All of the pronouns referring to this beast (along with the second beast appearing in 13:11) could be translated as “it” because the word for beast (θηρίον, qhrion) is neuter gender in Greek and all the pronouns related to it are parsed as neuter in the Gramcord/Accordance database. Nevertheless, most interpreters would agree that the beast ultimately represents a human ruler, so beginning at the end of v. 4 the masculine pronouns (“he,” “him,” etc.) are used to refer to the first beast as well as the second beast appearing in 13:11.
20 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) 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.
21 tc ‡ Several
sn Whether this means a single name on all seven heads or seven names, one on each head, is not clear.
22 tn Grk “people, saying.” In the Greek text this is a continuation of the previous sentence. For the translation of λέγω (legw) as “declare,” see BDAG 590 s.v. 2.e.
23 tn On ἠρημώθη (hrhmwqh) L&N 20.41 states, “to suffer destruction, with the implication of being deserted and abandoned – ‘to be destroyed, to suffer destruction, to suffer desolation.’ ἐρημόομαι: μιᾷ ὥρᾳ ἠρημώθη ὁ τοσοῦτος πλοῦτος ‘such great wealth has been destroyed within a single hour’ Re 18:17.”
24 tn On κυβερνήτης (kubernhth") BDAG 574 s.v. 1 states, “one who is responsible for the management of a ship, shipmaster, lit. Rv 18:17.”
25 tn Or perhaps, “everyone who sails as a passenger.” On πλέων (plewn) BDAG 825 s.v. πλέω states, “πᾶς ὁ ἐπὶ τόπον πλέων everyone who sails to a place = seafarer, sea traveler…Rv 18:17. The vv.ll.…have led to various interpretations. Some render: everyone who sails along the coast…See EbNestle, Einführung in das Griech. NT 1909, 182; AFridrichsen, K. Hum. Vetensk.-Samf. i Upps. Årsb. ’43, 31 note ὁ ἐπίτοπον πλέων=one who sails occasionally, a passenger. – S. also IHeikel, StKr 106, ’34/’35, 317).”
26 tn Grk “and as many as.”
27 tn Or “mislead.”
28 sn The battle with Gog and Magog is described in the OT in Ezek 38:1-39:20.
29 tn Grk “of whom the number of them [is] like the sand of the sea” (an allusion to Isa 10:22).
30 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
31 sn Here Death is personified (cf. 1 Cor 15:55).