Translation
After these things, I looked
Go to footnote numberand behold,
Go to footnote numbera door was standing opened in heaven and the voice I had
heard at first, the voice like a trumpet, was speaking to me and saying: “Come up here
Go to footnote numberand I will show you what will
inevitably happen
Go to footnote numberafter these things.”
Paraphrase
After these things, my vision continued, and wow! I was amazed to see that heaven was offering me an opportunity, and the voice I had heard at first, the one that gives important announcements, was speaking to me saying: “Come up here and I will show you what will inevitably happen after these things.”
Footnotes
1: "I Looked"
Was this one vision or many visions? Have you ever wondered why Revelation often starts a new section with a phrase that is sometimes translated, “I looked and I saw?” I am convinced that it is first of all an indication that, as he was watching the continuation of the vision, this is what he saw. It does not indicate a different or separate vision. However, there is a sense of wonder that is lost by translating it “I looked and I saw.” The second verb is a command to look, as such it is 2nd person, addressed to “you,” not first person, “I.” To render it “I saw” is not even close to the original. A literal rendering would be “I looked and, LOOK!” The King James uses “behold,” which is accurate but not very well understood today. For that, see the next footnote.
Let’s go back for a moment to the issue of one continuous vision. I find it interesting that many preachers and writers see the letters to the churches (chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation) as having relevance to any believer of any era that happens to find himself in a situation that resembles the one being described in any of those letters. However, the rest of the book of Revelation only pertains to the “end times” or the time immediately preceding the “end times.” It seems like a contradiction to me. I find the text to convey one consistent and cohesive message throughout, which applies to most believers since the Resurrection.
2
“Behold” is an accurate translation, and in years past it possibly communicated much of its original meaning; but today that word is just an antiquated term found only in the Bible, so it has no connection to real life. The original audience would have understood this word as an attention-grabber or an exclamation of amazement. I use a variety of options in English to get your attention or express this amazement because changes in John’s situation require changes in the expression of John’s amazement.
3: “Come up here”
John had no ability to go up there. Instead this was an inquiry into his willingness to take the opportunity being offered him to receive a message from heaven.
4: Persecution
If the believers continue to remain faithful, the outcome is sure. While in the midst of the suffering the believers cannot see how it will end, this message is intended to give them assurance that, not only will Jesus win in the long term, He will win in and through them and their situation personally. That does not always mean that they will be taken out of suffering, but that God the Father and God the Son will be glorified through that suffering. Even martyrdom is a fulfillment of this promise. It was a way of saying: “You can do this. You can hang on a little longer. I know you can remain faithful. The opposition is not too strong for you, no matter how you feel. So stay encouraged.”