Revised Standard Version (also New International Version, New American Bible, Revised) includes this verse in the lament of the seafaring people, but this seems most unlikely. Good News Translation does not indicate who the speaker is. Some believe it is the voice that speaks in verse 4; others take it to be the angel of verse 1; and others take it to be the writer of the book. Good News Bible intends the verse to be read as the writer’s words.

Rejoice over her, O heaven: this is a command for all heavenly beings to rejoice over Babylon’s downfall. See a similar command in 12.12. For the translation of Rejoice see 11.10.

O saints and apostles and prophets: they are also exhorted to be glad; for saints see 5.8; for prophets see 10.7. Here apostles probably are the twelve apostles of Jesus (as in 21.14). In certain languages this will be expressed as “Christ’s chief messengers.”

It is uncertain whether these saints and apostles and prophets are thought of as being in heaven, that is, that they are martyrs (see 17.6 and the references there), or whether they are alive. Commentators are divided on the subject. But the statement that follows seems to indicate that they are martyrs, for it compares what God is doing to Babylon with what Babylon had done to them. The statement can be translated “by condemning her, God has vindicated your cause,” or “God has judged in your favor by condemning her,” or “God has imposed on her the sentence she passed on you.” The last one seems preferable; it conforms to the requirement of Deut 19.16-19, that the same punishment be meted out to a guilty person which that person inflicted on the victim—the so-called lex talionis, “the law of revenge.” For ways to translate has given judgment, see comments on the verb “judge” at 6.10.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• You who live in Heaven, be glad (or, let your heart [or, liver] be bright), because God has destroyed Babylon. God’s people, along with Christ’s chief messengers (or, apostles) and those who proclaim God’s message should rejoice. For God has condemned Babylon for the things that she has done to you.

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 .