On the earth or Over the Earth

Revelation 5:9-10 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

⁹ And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and purchased for God with your blood men
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
¹⁰ and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign over the earth.”

ἐπί epí [2093] is in the genitive and can range from: on, upon; over; at, by; before, in the presence of; when, under, at the time of;[1] Below, you are going to find a list the genitive epi within Revelation that has a similar construction. Please pay special attention to 5:10, 9:11, and 11:6, but there will be others that are similar.

If we are to establish that some translations are choosing a rendering because it suits their doctrine, we must compare how they render the same thing elsewhere. You do not need to be a Greek scholar below, so you can ignore the grammar talk and just notice the similarities and differences.

John 18:36 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
³⁶ Jesus answered, “my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, my kingdom is not of this world.”

Andreas J. Köstenberger writes, “Jesus disavows any political aspirations; he does not deny being a king.”[1] We can immediately get at the meaning of Jesus’ word when we ask, what did he mean by “this world”? Was Jesus saying that his kingdom would never rule over or on the earth in the future? No, the demonstrative pronoun “this,” which is used to identify a specific person or thing close at hand, refers to the political governmental systems under the Roman Empire. Jesus had no interest in political movements. Jesus made known his non-political position to the Roman authorities. Pontius Pilate asked Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33) It is likely that the governor worried about Jesus causing some kind of political unrest like the zealot Jews had been doing, which was a major worry throughout Pilate’s rule. Jesus answered: “my kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36) Jesus was not going to involve himself in the political system of his day, for his kingdom was going to be from heaven, where he and his co-ruler priests and judges were going to “reign over the earth.” Jesus told Pilate that his work at that time was “to testify to the truth.” The full reading of John 18:37 says, “Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.’” So “this world” that Jesus referred to as his kingdom being no part of was the fallen, imperfect world and humanity at present. It has nothing to do with the new heavens and the new earth of the coming renewed creation.

[1] Andreas J. Köstenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 529.

I do believe that the English is a problem in trying to say, “they shall reign on the earth.” First, because this is not a location issue: i.e., where. The genitive epi is dealing not with where, but with authority over, which is expressed by having it over _____ not on _____

 Please also take special note that the context of all of these epi genitives that follow the active indicative verb and then are followed by the genitive definite article and noun are dealing with authority.

 The verb “to reign” is properly used of kings and queens, and here implies complete power over the world and its inhabitants. So another way of expressing this is “and they shall rule over the world and its inhabitants” or “they shall have power over ….”[2]

Rev 5:10: basileusousin epi tēs gēs (“They are reigning [opon, on, over] the earth”)[3]

ESV: they shall reign on the earth

NASB: they will reign upon the earth

ASV: they reign upon earth

DBY: they shall reign over the earth

UASV: they shall reign over the earth

ἐπί epí is in the genitive and comes after the future active indicative verb followed by the definite article and followed by a definite genitive article and noun

 Rev 9:11: echousin ep autōn basilea (They are having [upon, on, over] them king)

ESV: They have as king over them

NASB: They have as king over them

ASV: They have over them as king

DBT: They have a king over them

ἐπί epí is in the genitive and comes after the present active indicative verb followed by a definite genitive article and noun

Rev 11:6: exousian echousin epi tōn hudatōn (they are having authority [upon, on, over] the water)

ESV: they have power over the waters

NASB: they have power over the waters

ASV: they have power over the waters

DBY: they have power over the waters

ἐπί epí is in the genitive and comes after the future active indicative verb followed by a definite genitive article and noun

 Rev 2:26: dōsō autō exousian epi tōn ethnōn (I shall give to him authority [upon, on, over] the nations)

ESV:  I will give authority over the nations

NASB: I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS

ASV: I give authority over the nations

DBY: will I give authority over the nations,

ἐπί epí is in the genitive and comes after the future active indicative verb followed by a definite genitive article and noun

Rev 6:8: edothē autois exousia epi to tetarton tēs gēs (was given to them authority [upon, on, over] the fourth of the earth)

ESV:  they were given authority over a fourth of the earth

NASB: Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth

ASV: here was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth

DBY: authority was given to him over the fourth of the earth

ἐπί epí is in the genitive and comes after the future active indicative verb followed by a definite genitive article and noun

 Rev 13:7: edothē autō exousia epi pasan phulēn kai laon kai glōssan kai ethnos (was given to it authority [upon, on, over] every tribe and people and tongue and nation)

ESV:  authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation

NASB: authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him

ASV: there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation

DBY: was given to it authority over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation

ἐπί epí is in the genitive and comes after the future active indicative verb followed by a genitive noun. While there is no definite article, it still seems definite in that we know which one: everyone.

 Rev 14:18: ho echōn exousian epi tou puros the one having authority [upon, on, over] the fire

ESV:  who has authority over the fire

NASB: the one who has power over fire

ASV: he that hath power over fire

DBY: having power over fire

Rev 16:9: tou echontos tēn exousian epi pas plēgas (the one having the authority (upon, on, over) the plagues)

ESV:  who had power over these plagues

 NASB: who has the power over these plagues

ASV: who hath the power over these plagues

DBY: who had authority over these plagues

Rev 17:18: hē polis megalē hē echousa basileian epi tōn basileōn tēs gēs (the woman whom you saw is the city the great the one having kingdom (upon, on, over) the kingdoms of the earth)

ESV:  the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth

NASB: the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.

ASV: the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

DBY: the great city, which has kingship over the kings of the earth

Revelation 5:9-10 has a high level of theological content. It either says that Jesus and his co-rulers will rule from heaven, over the earth, or on the earth. It is theological bias to have several cases of similar context and the same grammatical construction, rendering the verses the same every time, yet to then render one verse contrary to the others simply because it aligns with one’s theology. Whether that is the case here or not, the readers must determine for themselves. Regardless, the point is that either way, Jesus is ruling the earth, and we are blessed to have had his ransom sacrifice and resurrection. Slow down for the next few pages, as things will get a little deeper. We can grasp it if we just slow down, meditate on what is being said, get out our dictionary if we have to, write the definitions in the book beside the word, and read again.

Heavenly Hope

Revelation 14:1-4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)

14 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. ³ And they sang a new song[4] before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

The whole of chapter 14 is proleptic. As a summary of the Millennium (20:4–6), the first five verses feature the Lamb in place of the beast, the Lamb’s followers with His and the Father’s seal in place of the beast’s followers with the mark of the beast, and the divinely controlled Mount Zion in place of the pagan-controlled earth (Alford, Moffatt, Kiddle).[5]

Revelation 7:4 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
⁴ And I heard the number of the ones who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Various efforts have sought to determine the significance of the number 144,000. An understanding of the number as symbolical divides it into three of its multiplicands, 12 × 12 × 1000. From the symbolism of the three it is concluded that the number indicates fixedness and fullest completeness.[6] Twelve, a number of the tribes, is both squared and multiplied by a thousand. This is a twofold way of emphasizing completeness (Mounce). It thus affirms the full number of God’s people to be brought through tribulation (Ladd). The symbolic approach points out the impossibility of taking the number literally. It is simply a vast number, less than a number indefinitely great (cf. 7:9), but greater than a large number designedly finite (e.g., 1,000, Rev. 20:2) (Lee). Other occurrences of the numerical components that are supposedly symbolic are also pointed out, 12 thousand in Rev. 21:16, 12 in Rev. 22:2, and 24, a multiple of 12, in Rev. 4:4. This is done to enhance the case for symbolism (Johnson). Though admittedly ingenious, the case for symbolism is exegetically weak. The principal reason for the view is a predisposition to make the 144,000 into a group representative of the church with which no possible numerical connection exists. No justification can be found for understanding the simple statement of fact in v. 4 as a figure of speech. It is a definite number in contrast with the indefinite number of 7:9. If it is taken symbolically, no number in the book can be taken literally. As God reserved 7,000 in the days of Ahab (1 Kings 19:18; Rom. 11:4), He will reserve 144,000 for Himself during the future Great Tribulation.[7] (Thomas, Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary 1992, 473-74)

These ones are made up of those under the new covenant, the Law of Christ, those called out of natural Israel, and the new Israelites, also known as the Israel of God. They are a chosen number that is to reign with Jesus as kings, priests, and judges. Therefore, we ask, what is the other hope?

The New Earth: The Earthly Hope

In the O[ld] T[estament] the kingdom of God is usually described in terms of a redeemed earth; this is especially clear in the book of Isaiah, where the final state of the universe is already called new heavens and a new earth (65:17; 66:22) The nature of this renewal was perceived only very dimly by OT authors, but they did express the belief that a humans ultimate destiny is an earthly one.[8] This vision is clarified in the N[ew] T[estament]. Jesus speaks of the “renewal” of the world (Matt 19:28), Peter of the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Paul writes that the universe will be redeemed by God from its current state of bondage (Rom. 8:18-21). This is confirmed by Peter, who describes the new heavens and the new earth as the Christian’s hope (2 Pet. 3:13). Finally, the book of Revelation includes a glorious vision of the end of the present universe and the creation of a new universe, full of righteousness and the presence of God. The vision is confirmed by God in the awesome declaration: “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:1-8)

The new heavens and the new earth will be the renewed creation that will fulfill the purpose for which God created the universe. It will be characterized by the complete rule of God and by the full realization of the final goal of redemption: “Now the dwelling of God is with men” (Rev. 21:3).

The fact that the universe will be created anew[9] shows that God’s goals for humans is not an ethereal and disembodied existence, but a bodily existence on a perfected earth. The scene of the beatific vision is the new earth. The spiritual does not exclude the created order and will be fully realized only within a perfected creation. (Elwell 2001, 828-29)

What have we learned so far in this publication? God created the earth to be inhabited, to be filled with perfect humans, who are over the animals, and under the sovereignty of God. (Gen 1:28; 2:8, 15; Ps 104:5; 115:16; Eccl 1:4) Sin did not dissuade God from his plans (Isa. 45:18); hence, he has saved redeemable humankind by Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. It seems that the Bible offers two hopes to redeemed humans, (1) a heavenly hope, or (2) an earthly hope. It also seems that those with heavenly hope are limited in number and are going to heaven to rule with Christ as kings, priests, and judges either on the earth or over the earth from heaven. It seems that those with earthly hope will receive eternal life here on a paradise earth as originally intended.

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[1] William D. Mounce, Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 1150.

[2] Bratcher, Robert G.; Hatton, Howard: A Handbook on the Revelation to John. New York: United Bible Societies, 1993 (UBS Handbook Series; Helps for Translators), S. 105

[3] English Standard Version (ESV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), American Standard Version (ASV), and the Darby Bible (DBY)

[4] TR WH NU have ᾄδουσιν [ὡς] ᾠδὴν καινήν

[5] Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1995), 189.

[6] Alford, Greek Testament, 4:624; Charles, Revelation, 1:206; Lenski, Revelation, p. 154.

[7] Bullinger, Apocalypse, p. 282. Geyser is correct in observing that the predominant concern of the Apocalypse is “the restoration [on earth] of the twelve tribes of Israel, their restoration as a twelve-tribe kingdom, in a renewed and purified city of David, under the rule of the victorious ‘Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David’ (5:5; 22:16)” (Albert Geyser, “The Twelve Tribes in Revelation: Judean and Judeo Christian Apocalypticism,” NTS 23, no. 3 [July 1982]: 389). He is wrong, however, in his theory that this belief characterized the Judean church only and was not shared by Gentile Christianity spearheaded by Paul (ibid., p. 390).

[8] It is unwise to speak of the written Word of God as if it were of human origin, saying, ‘OT authors express the belief,’ when what was written is the meaning and message of what God wanted to convey by means of the human author.

[9] Creating anew does not mean complete destruction followed by a re-creation, but instead a renewal of the present universe.