Revelation 5:10
Context5:10 You have appointed 1 them 2 as a kingdom and priests 3 to serve 4 our God, and they will reign 5 on the earth.”
Revelation 11:4
Context11:4 (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.) 6
Revelation 17:18
Context17:18 As for 7 the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 18:11
Context18:11 Then 8 the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo 9 any longer –
Revelation 21:24
Context21:24 The nations 10 will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur 11 into it.
1 tn The verb ἐποίησας (epoihsas) is understood to mean “appointed” here. For an example of this use, see Mark 3:14.
2 tc The vast majority of witnesses have αὐτούς (autous, “them”) here, while the Textus Receptus reads ἡμᾶς (Jhmas, “us”) with insignificant support (pc gig vgcl sa Prim Bea). There is no question that the original text read αὐτούς here.
3 tn The reference to “kingdom and priests” may be a hendiadys: “priestly kingdom.”
4 tn The words “to serve” are not in the Greek text, but are implied by the word “priests.”
5 tc The textual problem here between the present tense βασιλεύουσιν (basileuousin, “they are reigning”; so A 1006 1611 ÏK pc) and the future βασιλεύσουσιν (basileusousin, “they will reign”; so א 1854 2053 ÏA pc lat co) is a difficult one. Both readings have excellent support. On the one hand, the present tense seems to be the harder reading in this context. On the other hand, codex A elsewhere mistakes the future for the present (20:6). Further, the lunar sigma in uncial script could have been overlooked by some scribes, resulting in the present tense. All things considered, there is a slight preference for the future.
6 sn This description is parenthetical in nature.
7 tn Grk “And.” Because this remark is somewhat resumptive in nature, “as for” is used in the translation.
8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
9 tn On γόμος (gomos) BDAG 205 s.v. states, “load, freight…cargo of a ship…Ac 21:3. W. gen. of the owner Rv 18:11. W. gen. of content…γ. χρυσοῦ a cargo of gold vs. 12.”
10 tn Or “the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
11 tn Or “splendor”; Grk “glory.”