Those who dwell on the earth: this refers to all the unrepentant sinners in the world (see the use of this expression in 3.10; 6.10; 8.13).

Will rejoice over them and make merry: the Greek text has the present tense, “they rejoice over them and celebrate,” but in this context it is better to maintain the future tense. To rejoice over means to be happy because they have been killed. It is advised that this information be made explicit in the translation, to make it easier to understand. In certain languages one may render the first clause as “will be happy (hearts, or liver, will be cool, or sweet, or bright) because these two have died.” Make merry (Good News Translation “celebrate”): translators should choose an expression for this action that is most natural in the receptor language; for example, “have parties (or, fiestas).”

Exchange presents: a way of showing their happiness. New International Version provides a good model for translators: “… will gloat over them and celebrate by sending each other gifts.”

These two prophets had been a torment: the verbal phrase had been a torment translates the Greek verb “to cause pain,” “to torment” (see 9.5; 12.2 [“anguish”]; 14.10; 20.10). This refers back to verse 6. For prophets see 10.7.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• All the people of the world will gloat because these two have died. They will hold parties and send gifts to each other, because these two prophets have caused humans to suffer terribly.

Or:

• … They will celebrate by exchanging gifts, because these two prophets….

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .