BHT with Abridged Translator’s NotesRevelation 4 =
4
“There before Me Was a Door, Standing Open in Heaven”
1 After these things I had another vision.+ There before me+ was a door, standing open in heaven. And the booming voice that I had heard earlier, which was as loud as a trumpet blast,+ spoke to me. “Come up here,” the voice said, “and I will show ˢyou the things that are appointed to take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I came under the power of the Spirit.+ There before me in heaven was a throne, and on the throne one who was seated. 3 The one seated on the throne was shining with a brilliant light the color of jasper and carnelian,+ and encircling the throne was a rainbow, radiant green, like an emerald.+ 4 I also saw, in a circle around the throne, twenty-four other thrones, on which+ were seated twenty-four elders, dressed in white and wearing+ victor’s crowns made of gold. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. Blazing in front of the throne were seven fiery torches,+ which are the sevenfold Spirit+ of God. 6 Also in front of the throne was what looked like a body of water+ made of glass, as bright+ as crystal.+ Right next to the throne, on each side of it,+ were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature looked like a lion, the second living creature resembled an ox, the third living creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth living creature looked like an eagle in flight. 8 The four living creatures: Each of them had six wings,+ and all over their bodies, even under their wings,+ they were covered with eyes. Day and night their song never stops:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and who is and who is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives forever into the ages of the ages, 10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever into the ages of the ages, casting their victor’s crowns before his throne and declaring,
11 “Worthy you are, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
because you created all things,
and it is by your will that they came into existence and were created.”
+1:1Divine necessity is implied by the verb used here (see translation and notes at Mt 16:21, Jn 3:15; UBSHS [Re], 12).+1:1Cf Lk 21:31.+1:1Or happen soon, or happen suddenly.+1:1Or messenger.+1:2Cf NLT.+1:2Or word.+1:3Or and pay close attention to.+1:4Cf Ex 3:14 (LXX). See NET Bible Notes, Re 1:4, for a solid explanation of the rough grammar here (ie, John is not wanting to alter the divine name). See also Wallace, Grammar, 62.+1:4Or from the seven spirits. Cf CJB, HCSB footnote, NIV footnote, NLT. An allusion to Is 11:2-3 (LXX).+1:5Cf Ps 89:38. The nominative case is being used in apposition to the genitive here to preserve the titles from the OT (see Wallace, Grammar, 62). In other words, the grammar here is intentionally violated for the sake of theological connection to the OT.+1:5Cf Ps 89:27; Re 17:14, 19:16.+1:5Cf NET.+1:6Cf Ex 19:6; Ml 1:11; Jn 4:21-24; Rm 12:1-2, 15:16; 1 Th 1:3; 1 Pt 2:9; Heb 13:15.+1:7Dn 7:13 (LXX)+1:7Or even.+1:7Or of the earth. Cf Zc 12:10-14. The Greek word that is used here can mean “land,” “earth,” “ground,” or “region,” depending on the context. So throughout Revelation.+1:7Zc 12:10-14+1:9Lit your brother and fellow-sharer. Cf Php 1:7.+1:9IT (see UBSHS [Re], 25). Cf Ac 14:22; Rm 8:17; Php 3:10-11; Re 11:15, 12:10.+1:9Cf, eg, Rm 8:17; Php 3:10-11.+1:10Lit I became in the Spirit. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 28). The entrance into a state signaled by the verb here is difficult to convey in natural English without an ME. Hence the rendering here. Cf CEV, TEV.+1:10Lit I heard behind me a great voice like a trumpet. In English, “voice” is typically used for intelligible messages, while trumpets make “sound.” Hence the rendering here. Cf UBSHS (Re), 28.+1:11Or in a book.+1:12Lit to see the voice that was speaking with me. ME. Cf CJB, NCV, NLT, TEV.+1:13Or among the lampstands.+1:13Dn 7:13+1:13Lit girded about at the chest with a golden sash. Cf ISV, NIV, NLT.+1:15Lit [was] like the sound/voice of many waters. ME(OTB)/IT (see BDAG, 1071, sv φωνή 1; ESS [Re 1-11], 36; UBSHS [Re], 31). Cf CJB, ESV, NET, NIV; ISV, NCV, NET, NLT, TEV at Ezk 43:2; NCV, NIV, NLT, NRSV at Ps 93:4.+1:16Lit And his face was like the sun shining in its power. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 32). Cf HCSB, ISV, NET, TEV.+1:18Lit Hades. ME(OTB). Hades is the Greek word used in the LXX for Sheol, the abode of the dead (see, eg, Ps 6:6 in the LXX).+1:19Lit the things that are. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 34).+1:19Lit destined to happen after these things. ME. Cf NIV. “These things” are referring to “the things that are,” and therefore “after these things” is referring to future occurrences.+1:20Or angels.+2:1Or angel.+2:2Here the pronoun is singular because Jesus is speaking to the assembly as a whole.+2:3Lit And you have patient endurance. ME. Cf ESV, NRSV, RSV.+2:3Or for the sake of my name.+2:4Cf Ac 19:17-20.+2:6Cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV.+2:7Lit He who has an ear, let him hear. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 11:15).+2:7Or Eden, or Paradise. ME(OTB) (see BDAG, 761, sv παράδεισος 1; NASB Dic, #3857; LEH LXX Lex, sv παράδεισος; ANLEX, 294, sv παράδεισος 1; UBSHS [Re], 44). In the LXX, this was the word used for the Garden of Eden.+2:7Cf Gn 2:8-9; Ezk 47:12; Re 22:1-2.+2:8Or angel.+2:9Lit but are not. ME (see translation and notes at Rm 2:25-29, Ga 6:16, and Re 3:9). Cf NCV; Re 3:9. Cf also Lv 26:41; Dt 10:16, 30:6; Ps 32:2, 73:1; Jr 4:4, 9:25; Jn 1:47; Ac 7:51, 14:2, 17:5; Rm 2:17-29; 15:31; Re 2:2, 3:9. In both the Old and New Testaments, a “true Israelite/Jew” is a Jew who is circumcised outwardly (see Gn 17) and circumcised inwardly (ie, on the inside he is free of deceit, repentant, loyal to God, etc), while a “false Jew/Israelite” is a Jew who is circumcised outwardly but full of wickedness and deceit inwardly (cf Lv 26:41; Dt 10:16, 30:6; Ps 32:2, 73:1; Jr 4:4, 9:25; Jn 1:47; Ac 7:51, 14:2, 17:5; Rm 2:17-29; 15:31). Thus, for a “Jew” to “not be a Jew” simply means that a Jewish person (or Gentile proselyte; cf Mt 23:15), though circumcised outwardly, is still uncircumcised of heart (cf Re 2:2 and 3:2, where the same language is used in context to discriminating the true [authentic] from the false [inauthentic]). In Smyrna and Asia more widely, this uncircumcision of heart (cf Ac 5:17, 17:5) sometimes manifested itself in slander and persecution of followers of the Messiah (eg Ac 19:33), both Jew and Gentile (cf Ac 19:17). (It is worth noting here that in the book of Acts, Jewish persecution against believers was most often instigated by Jewish leaders and those influenced by them [see ESV footnotes at Ac 9:23, 13:50, 17:5, 18:12]; in fact, prior to Acts 10, every example of persecution we see involves Jews persecuting other Jews!) That some Jews had uncircumcised hearts, however, does not mean that God has abandoned the Jewish people and his covenant promises to Israel (see Rm 9-11)! Nor does it mean that the Jewish people are any more inherently vile or wicked than Gentiles! We all deserve the Lake of Fire, and it is by the blood of Jesus alone that any of us are spared such punishment.+2:10Lit for ten days. ME. “In apocalyptic literature ten days stands for a short, limited amount of time” ( UBSHS [Re], 48; cf BDAG, 216, sv δέκα). Cf Gn 24:55, Dn 1:12-14.+2:11Lit He who has an ear, let him hear. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 11:15).+2:12Or angel.+2:13Lit in the days of. ME. Cf CJB, NCV, TEV.+2:13Lit was killed at you. ME (see BDAG, 757, sv παρά B.1.b.β.). Cf CJB, NCV, NET NIV.+2:14Lit ˢyou have there. ME. Cf NET at v 15; TEV. The singular pronoun is addressing the assembly as a whole.+2:14An allusion to Nu 25.+2:15Lit ˢyou too have. ME. Cf NET; TEV at v 14. The singular pronoun is addressing the assembly as a whole.+2:16Or soon, or without delay, or quickly. So throughout Revelation. Cf NLT.+2:16Lit them.+2:17Cf Ex 16:32-34; Jr 3:15-17; Jn 6:31-41; Heb 9:4. See also 2 Mac 2:4-8.+2:17The “white stone” here most likely means either (1) a vote of acquittal (see BDAG, 1098, sv ψῆφος 1; cf Ac 26:10); or (2) admission to the Messianic feast as guests with special privileges (see ANLEX, 414, sv ψῆφος 3; JNTC, Re 2:17).+2:17Lit and on the stone.+2:17Cf Is 62:2, 65:15 (LXX).+2:18Or angel.+2:19Or are more than.+2:19Lit that your last works are more than/excel the first. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 58). Cf CJB, NCV, NIV, TEV.+2:20Lit She teaches and deceives. The coordinated verbs are interpreted as a hendiadys (ie, the expression of a unified concept by means of coordination). This is reflected in the translation. Cf NCV, NET, NIV, TEV.+2:21Lit to repent of. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 59). Cf NCV, NLT, TEV.+2:22Lit throw her onto a bed. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 23.152; UBSHS [Re], 59).+2:22Cf Dt 28:22, 29:22; 32:39;1 Sm 2:6, 25:38; 2 Sm 24:16; 2 Ki 19:35; 2 Ch 21:11-20; Ps 106:15; Hs 6:1; Ac 5:1-11, 13:8-12, 12:23.+2:23Lit her children. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 36.40; NET Bible Notes, Re 2:23). Cf NCV, NET, TEV.+2:23Lit will kill with death. ME. In this context, “death” means a deadly pestilence or plague (see BDAG, 443, sv θάνατος 3; L-N, 23.158; NET Bible Notes, Re 2:23).+2:24Or experienced.+2:24The genitive here is interpreted as the Lord’s evaluation of, and indignation towards, the teachings and practices taught by Jezebel, rather than as a self-designated description (following Vincent; see Vincent, Word Studies, 2:457). This is reflected in the translation.+2:24Or burden. Cf Ac 15:28.+2:26Lit the deeds of me. The genitive here is a subjective genitive, and ἔργα ( erga) approximates “commands” in meaning (see BDAG, 390, sv ἔργον 1.c.β.; UBSHS [Re], 63). Cf CJB, NCV, TEV here; NCV, NET, NIV, TEV at Jn 6:28. Here Jesus is stressing the things that he commands his disciples to do, in contrast to the things that Jezebel commands her disciples to do (v 20, 22, 24).+2:27Ps 2:9 (LXX). Cf Nu 24:17; Ps 149; Is 11:14; Zc 14:17-19.+2:28As the context makes clear, the morning star, usually identified with Venus (see, eg, BDAG, 147, sv ἀστήρ; L-N, 1.33; UBSHS [Re], 64), represents governmental authority granted in context to the commencement of the new “Day,” ie, the Messianic Kingdom to be established at Jesus’ return (see note at 2 Pt 2:19). Cf Gn 1:14-19 (“rule/govern” the night); Nu 24:17; Jb 9:9, 38:32; Ps 19:1-6, 84:11; Is 40:25-26, 60:1-2; Dn 7:27, 12:3; Ml 4:2; Mt 13:43; Lk 1:78; Rm 10:14-18, 13:11-12; 2 Pt 1:19; Re 20:4, 22:16. Jesus will be the chief ruler in the coming Kingdom as “the Bright Morning Star” (Re 22:16). Cf FSB, Re 2:28.+2:29Lit He who has an ear, let him hear. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 11:15).+3:1Or angel.+3:1Or the seven spirits.+3:1Lit name. ME. Cf CJB, HCSB, NET, NIV, TEV.+3:3Lit how, or what. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 68). Cf BRCL.+3:3Lit at what hour. ME. Cf ISV, NIV, TEV.+3:3Or upon.+3:4Lit names. ME (see BDAG, 714, sv ὄνομα 2; UBSHS [Re], 68).+3:4Cf NCV, TEV.+3:5Or in the same way.+3:5Cf Ex 32:32-3; Ps 69:28; Dn 7:10, 12:1; Php 4:3; Re 20:12.+3:5Lit openly acknowledge his name. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 70). Cf translation and notes at Mt 10:32-33.+3:5Cf Mt 10:32-33.+3:6Lit He who has an ear, let him hear. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 11:15).+3:7Or angel.+3:7Or the True One, or the Dependable One.+3:8Cf 2 Co 11:23-33, 12:7-10.+3:8Or word, or message.+3:8Cf Jn 14:15; Mt 10:24-33.+3:9Lit cause/produce/bring about some from among. ME(OTB). A partitive idea is implied in the prepositional phrase here, ie, “a part/portion out from among...,” or “some out from among...” (see JFB, Commentary, Re 3:9; Robertson, Word Pictures, Re 3:9). The theme of God calling forth and creating a believing Jewish remnant out from the unbelieving nation as a whole, especially in context to Israel’s dispersion among the Gentiles, is a prominent theme in Scripture (see, eg, Lv 26:33; Dt 4:25-27, 28:64, 32:21; Ne 1:8; Ps 44:11; Is 4:2-6, 10:22, 11:11-16, 28:5; Jr 9:16, 23:3, 31:2, 31:35-37; Ezk 12:15-16, 20:35-44, 22:15-16; Mic 4:6-8, 7:18-20; Ho 1:6-2:23; Am 9:9-10; Zp 2:7-11; Zc 7:14, 8:1-8, 13:7-9; Mt 25:31-40; Jn 6:37-40, 8:31-59, 10:1-18; Rm 9-11). Here δίδωμι ( didōmi) is functioning in its causative sense (see BDAG, 242, sv 4; DBL Greek, #1443.2; L-N, 13.128). While many translations rightly treat both δίδωμι and ποιέω ( poieō) causatively here, it is unfortunate that most of them seem to assume simple redundancy (“stylistic variation” [ NET Bible Notes, Re 3:9]), and thus don’t connect the first verb with the partitive idea.+3:9Lit but are not. ME (see translation and notes at Rm 2:25-29; Ga 6:16; Re 2:9).+3:9Lit and are not, but are false/are lying/deal falsely. ME(OTB) (see translation and notes at Rm 2:25-29; Ga 6:16; Re 2:9). Cf NCV; NIV at Re 21:27. Here, falsehood should be understood covenantally, that is, in its well-attested OT sense of “unfaithfulness” (“false to,” “acting falsely towards,” “dealing falsely with,” which often involves false/empty verbal pronouncements with respect to God [eg, Is 29:13]), in contrast to God’s own faithfulness and truthfulness (cf v 7 above). For this usage of ψεύδομαι ( pseudomai), see, eg, the LXX at Lv 6:2 (middle voice, “dealt falsely” [Brenton]), Jsh 24:27 (middle voice, “deal falsely with the Lord my God” [Brenton]; cf the NIV’s translation of the MT), Jb 31:28 (middle voice; translations of the MT include “been false to God” [ESV, NET, NRSV, RSV], “denied God” [HCSB, NASB], and “been unfaithful to” [NCV, NIV]). Cf also Jm 3:14 (see esp ESV, NRSV, RSV), and Heb 6:18 (see esp ISV, NRSV, RSV).+3:9Cf Gn 35:5-7, 43:26, 44:14, 45:7. In the story of Joseph, God took Jacob’s younger son, deprived him of his own strength and refined him through suffering in Egypt, and then used him to preserve his older brothers, who were driven to Egypt by means of a God-ordained crisis. The door God opened for Joseph was opened in an unusual and sovereign way, and could not be reversed. Only when the older brothers finally got to Egypt in the time of crisis did they realize that Joseph was their brother. In the same way, the assembly in Philadelphia (and the type of believers she represents) has been emptied of her own strength and refined through suffering, and thus the younger son (the “one new man,” comprised of both Jews and Gentiles “in Messiah”), becomes the instrument God will use to preserve a remnant from among the older brother (Israel, the “firstborn son” [Ex 4:22]) in context to a time of great crisis (v 10; cf Jr 30:6-7).+3:9Or acknowledge.+3:9Lit that I have loved you. ME(OTB) (see NET Bible Notes, Ml 1:2-3; translation and notes at Jn 17:23 and Rm 9:13). Cf Dt 7:7, 10:15; Lk 9:35; Ac 10:44-48, 15:14, 22:21-22, 28:28; Rm 8:26-20, 11:28-32; Eph 1:4; Col 3:12; 1 Th 1:4; 2 Th 2:13; 1 Pt 1:19-20; Re 17:14. The point here is not that the Gentiles are chosen in place of Israel, but that God has chosen a remnant from among the Gentiles (see Rm 11:22-25) and joined them to the believing remnant of Jews (see Rm 11:5) as one body, and has appointed this body for a certain task in relation to the older brother who has yet to believe (like Joseph and his brothers; cf Rm 10:19, 11:11-12).+3:10Or word, or message.+3:10Or through, or from, or out from the midst of. In this context, τηρέω ( tēreō) is clearly being used in the sense of “protect,” and therefore “hour” is being used to refer not strictly to the time itself, but to the dangers that will characterize that time (cf, eg, Jn 17:15). In English, we don’t usually speak of protection from “time.” The meaning here is protection from harm during the time of trial (see UBSHS [Re], 75; cf NAB, NJB, TNT). This phrase does not mean that God’s people are separated in heaven by means of a completely unanticipated “pretribulation rapture,” but that certain churches like Philadelphia will experience protection similar to what Lot and his family experienced when Sodom and Gomorroh were about to be destroyed (Gn 19:1-29); or when the people of Israel experienced God’s protection in Goshen during the Exodus events (Ex 8:22, 9:26); or when Noah and his family found protection in the ark as the storm raged around them. Cf Is 26:20-21.+3:10Lit the hour. ME (see ANLEX, 415, sv ὥρα 2).+3:10Cf Ge 19:1-29.+3:10Or upon the whole inhabited earth.+3:10Or the inhabitants of the land. γῆ ( gē) can refer either to the earth more broadly conceived, or to the land of Israel itself (cf, eg, Re 1:7).+3:11Or quickly, or soon, or without delay. Re 16:15 indicates that ταχύς ( tachus) here is most likely meant to be understood in the sense of swiftly/suddenly (cf the NLT at Re 2:16; UBSHS [2 Pt], 104). Cf Is 60:22; Hab 2:3-4; Lk 18:6-8; Heb 10:37; 2 Pt 3:2.+3:12Cf Ps 15:1-2, 16:11, 17:15, 24:3-4, 27:4, 52:8, 65:4, 84:10.+3:12Cf Is 60:14, 62:2-4.+3:13Lit He who has an ear, let him hear. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 11:15).+3:14Or angel.+3:14Or the ruler, or the source.+3:15Lit hot or cold. Cf CJB, NLT, TEV.+3:18When applied to metals, the Greek word used here, πυρόω ( puroō), means to purify/refine by making red hot with fire (see ANLEX, 340, sv 1.b.; BDAG, 899, sv 2; BSL, Re 3:18, sv; DBL Greek, #4792.4; L-N, 79.72). Since Jesus starts off this letter with a rebuke concerning lukewarmness, and then follows this with a description of the dross that needs to be removed, both aspects have been included in translation here.+3:18Cf Lk 12:13-21, 16:9-13; Ti 6:6-10, 17-19; Re 2:9.+3:18Or exposed publicly (see BDAG, 1088, sv φανερόω 1). Cf Ezk 16:37-39.+3:19Cf Heb 12:1-14.+3:20Lit enter to him. ME (see ESS [Re 1-11], 114; NET Bible Notes, Re 3:20; cf Ac 11:3). Cf NET.+3:21Or right. IT. Cf Phps.+3:22Lit He who has an ear, let him hear. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 11:15).+4:1Lit I saw. ME (see ESS [Re 1-11], 116; UBSHS [Re], 86; translation and notes at Jn 8:56). Cf REB, TEV.+4:1Lit behold. Cf CJB, NIV.+4:1Lit the earlier voice which I heard like a trumpet. See note at Re 1:10 (the same applies here).+4:2Lit I became in the Spirit. ME (see translation and note at Re 1:10). Cf TEV.+4:3Lit was like in sight/appearance to a jasper stone and carnelian. ME (see UBSHS [Re], 88). Cf Ex 24:10; Is 6:1-5; Ezk 1:26-27.+4:3Lit was like in sight/appearance to an emerald. ME (see ESS [Re 1-11], 121; M-M, #4664; UBSHS [Re], 88).+4:4Lit and on the thrones.+4:4Lit and on their heads. ME. Cf TEV.+4:5Or lamps.+4:5Or the seven spirits. See note at Re 1:4. Cf Is 11:2-3 (LXX).+4:6Or a sea, or a lake.+4:6Or as clear.+4:6Or as ice.+4:6Or In the middle of each side of the throne, or In the midst of the throne and around the throne. Following the lead of the UBSHS in translation here (see UBSHS [Re], 91).+4:8Cf Is 6:2.+4:8Lit around and within. ME (see ESS [Re 1-11], 126; UBSHS [Re], 92). Cf NIV.
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