Revelation 2:3-4

2:3 I am also aware ¹  that you have persisted steadfastly, ²  endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. 2:4 But I have this against you: You have departed ³  from your first love!

Revelation 2:25

2:25 However, hold on to what you have until I come.

Revelation 3:8-9

3:8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put ⁴  in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) ⁵  I know ⁶  that you have little strength, ⁷  but ⁸  you have obeyed ⁹  my word and have not denied my name. 3:9 Listen! ¹⁰  I am going to make those people from the synagogue ¹¹  of Satan – who say they are Jews yet ¹²  are not, but are lying – Look, I will make ¹³  them come and bow down ¹⁴  at your feet and acknowledge ¹⁵  that I have loved you.

Revelation 3:11

3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away ¹⁶  your crown. ¹⁷ 

Revelation 4:1

The Amazing Scene in Heaven

4:1 After these things I looked, and there was ¹⁸  a door standing open in heaven! ¹⁹  And the first voice I had heard speaking to me ²⁰  like a trumpet ²¹  said: “Come up here so that ²²  I can show you what must happen after these things.”

Revelation 12:10

12:10 Then ²³  I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

“The salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God,

and the ruling authority ²⁴  of his Christ, ²⁵  have now come,

because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, ²⁶ 

the one who accuses them day and night ²⁷  before our God,

has been thrown down.

Revelation 22:20

22:20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

[2:3]  ¹ 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 am also aware” to link this English sentence back to “I know” at the beginning of v. 2.

[2:3]  ² tn The Greek word translated “persisted steadfastly” (ὑπομονή, Jupomonh) is the same one translated “steadfast endurance” in v. 2.

[2:4]  ³ tn The Greek word translated “departed from” (ἀφίημι, afihmi; L&N 15.48) can actually be used of divorce (L&N 34.78), so the imagery here is very strong.

[3:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “I have given.”

[3:8]  ⁶ tn Grk “to shut it,” but English would leave the direct object understood in this case.

[3:8]  ⁷ tn This translation is based on connecting the ὅτι (Joti) clause with the οἶδα (oida) at the beginning of the verse, giving the content of what is known (see also 3:1, 3:15 for parallels). Because of the intervening clause that is virtually parenthetical (see the note on the word “shut” earlier in this verse), the words “I know that” from the beginning of the verse had to be repeated to make this connection clear for the English reader. However, the ὅτι could be understood as introducing a causal subordinate clause instead and thus translated, “because you have.”

[3:8]  ⁸ tn Or “little power.”

[3:8]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[3:8]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “and having kept.” The participle ἐτήρησας (ethrhsas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. For the translation of τηρέω (threw) as “obey” see L&N 36.19. This is the same word that is used in 3:10 (there translated “kept”) where there is a play on words.

[3:9]  ⁷ tn Grk “behold” (L&N 91.13).

[3:9]  ⁸ sn See the note on synagogue in 2:9.

[3:9]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast between what these people claimed and what they were.

[3:9]  ¹⁰ tn The verb here is ποιέω (poiew), but in this context it has virtually the same meaning as δίδωμι (didwmi) used at the beginning of the verse. Stylistic variation like this is typical of Johannine literature.

[3:9]  ¹¹ tn The verb here is προσκυνήσουσιν (proskunhsousin), normally used to refer to worship.

[3:9]  ¹² tn Or “and know,” “and recognize.”

[3:11]  ⁹ tn On the verb λάβῃ (labh) here BDAG 583 s.v. λαμβάνω 2 states, “to take away, remove…with or without the use of force τὰ ἀργύρια take away the silver coins (fr. the temple) Mt 27:6. τὰς ἀσθενείας diseases 8:17. τὸν στέφανον Rv 3:11.”

[3:11]  ¹⁰ sn Your crown refers to a wreath consisting either of foliage or of precious metals formed to resemble foliage and worn as a symbol of honor, victory, or as a badge of high office – ‘wreath, crown’ (L&N 6.192).

[4:1]  ¹¹ tn Grk “and behold.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) at the beginning of this statement has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[4:1]  ¹² tn Or “in the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).

[4:1]  ¹³ 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.”

[4:1]  ¹⁴ sn The phrase speaking to me like a trumpet refers back to Rev 1:10.

[4:1]  ¹⁵ tn The conjunction καί (kai), much like the vav-consecutive in Hebrew, appears to be introducing a final/purpose clause here rather than a coordinate clause.

[12:10]  ¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

[12:10]  ¹⁴ tn Or “the right of his Messiah to rule.” See L&N 37.35.

[12:10]  ¹⁵ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[12:10]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). The translation “fellow believer” would normally apply (L&N 11.23), but since the speaker(s) are not specified in this context, it is not clear if such a translation would be appropriate here. The more generic “brothers and sisters” was chosen to emphasize the fact of a relationship without specifying its type.

[12:10]  ¹⁷ tn Or “who accuses them continually.”