Revelation 4:1

The Amazing Scene in Heaven

4:1 After these things I looked, and there was ¹  a door standing open in heaven! ²  And the first voice I had heard speaking to me ³  like a trumpet ⁴  said: “Come up here so that ⁵  I can show you what must happen after these things.”

Psalms 15:1

Psalm 15 ⁶ 

A psalm of David.

15:1 Lord, who may be a guest in your home? ⁷ 

Who may live on your holy hill? ⁸ 

Psalms 24:3

24:3 Who is allowed to ascend ⁹  the mountain of the Lord? ¹⁰ 

Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?

Isaiah 40:31

40:31 But those who wait for the Lord’s help ¹¹  find renewed strength;

they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, ¹² 

they run without growing weary,

they walk without getting tired.

[4:1]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Or “in the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).

[4:1]  ³ 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]  ⁴ sn The phrase speaking to me like a trumpet refers back to Rev 1:10.

[4:1]  ⁵ 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.

[15:1]  ⁶ sn Psalm 15. This psalm describes the character qualities that one must possess to be allowed access to the divine presence.

[15:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “Who may live as a resident alien in your tent?”

[15:1]  ⁸ sn In this context the Lord’s holy hill probably refers to Zion/Jerusalem. See Isa 66:20; Joel 2:1; 3:17; Zech 8:3; Pss 2:6; 43:3; 48:1; 87:1; Dan 9:16.

[24:3]  ⁹ tn The imperfects in v. 3 are modal, expressing potential or permission.

[24:3]  ¹⁰ sn In this context the Lord’s mountain probably refers to Zion/Jerusalem (see Isa 2:2-3).

[40:31]  ¹¹ tn The words “for the Lord’s help” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[40:31]  ¹² tn Heb “they rise up [on] wings like eagles” (TEV similar).