Revelation 2:2

2:2 ‘I know your works as well as your ¹  labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate ²  evil. You have even put to the test ³  those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false.

Revelation 2:9

2:9 ‘I know the distress you are suffering ⁴  and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know ⁵  the slander against you ⁶  by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue ⁷  of Satan.

Revelation 4:5

4:5 From ⁸  the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring ⁹  and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, ¹⁰  were burning in front of the throne

Revelation 5:8

5:8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground ¹¹  before the Lamb. Each ¹²  of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). ¹³ 

Revelation 7:15

7:15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve ¹⁴  him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. ¹⁵ 

Revelation 16:14

16:14 For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth ¹⁶  to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful. ¹⁷ 

Revelation 17:10

17:10 five have fallen; one is, ¹⁸  and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time.

Revelation 17:12

17:12 The ¹⁹  ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority ²⁰  as kings with the beast for one hour.

Revelation 19:9

19:9 Then ²¹  the angel ²²  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.”

Revelation 21:5

21:5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then ²³  he said to me, “Write it down, ²⁴  because these words are reliable ²⁵  and true.”

¹ tn Although the first possessive pronoun σου (sou) is connected to τὰ ἔργα (ta erga) and the second σου is connected to ὑπομονήν (Jupomonhn), semantically κόπον (kopon) is also to be understood as belonging to the Ephesian church. The translation reflects this.

² tn The translation “tolerate” seems to capture the sense of βαστάσαι (bastasai) here. BDAG 171 s.v. βαστάζω 2.b.β says, “bear, endure…κακούς Rv 2:2.…bear patiently, put up with: weaknesses of the weak Ro 15:1; cf. IPol 1:2; evil Rv 2:3.”

³ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was broken off from the previous sentence and translated as an indicative verb beginning a new sentence here in the translation.

⁴ tn Or “know your suffering.” This could refer to suffering or distress caused by persecution (see L&N 22.2).

⁵ tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “I also know” to link this English sentence back to “I know” at the beginning of the verse.

⁶ tn The words “against you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

⁷ sn A synagogue was a place for Jewish prayer and worship, with recognized leadership (e.g., Mt 4:23, Mk 1:21, Lk 4:15, Jn 6:59).

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁸ tn Or “sounds,” “voices.” It is not entirely clear what this refers to. BDAG 1071 s.v. φωνή 1 states, “In Rv we have ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (cp. Ex 19:16) 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18 (are certain other sounds in nature thought of here in addition to thunder, as e.g. the roar of the storm?…).”

⁹ sn Some interpret the seven spirits of God as angelic beings, while others see them as a reference to the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁰ tn Grk “fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”

¹¹ tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

¹² sn This interpretive comment by the author forms a parenthesis in the narrative.

¹³ tn Or “worship.” The word here is λατρεύω (latreuw).

¹⁴ tn Grk “will spread his tent over them,” normally an idiom for taking up residence with someone, but when combined with the preposition ἐπί (epi, “over”) the idea is one of extending protection or shelter (BDAG 929 s.v. σκηνόω).

¹⁶ tn BDAG 699 s.v. οἰκουμένη 1 states, “the inhabited earth, the world…ὅλη ἡ οἰκ. the whole inhabited earth…Mt 24:14; Ac 11:28; Rv 3:10; 16:14.”

¹⁷ 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.”

¹⁹ tn That is, one currently reigns.

²² tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

²³ tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.

²⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.

²⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

²⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

²⁹ 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.

³⁰ tn Grk “faithful.”