The seven angels who stand before God: these are the seven chief angels, “the Angels of the Presence,” who are believed to be continually in God’s presence. See Tobit 12.15, “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him” (Good News Bible); and Luke 1.19, “I am Gabriel … I stand in the presence of God” (Good News Bible). This is the first time they appear in Revelation (see the seven spirits in front of the throne in 1.4; 4.5).

Trumpets: see 1.10. A modern trumpet is a brass wind instrument. The biblical trumpet could be a ram’s horn (1 Kgs 1.34) or a metal instrument (Num 10.2). There is no way of determining which type the writer had in mind; in the Septuagint the same Greek word translates the Hebrew names of both instruments. Trumpets were used mainly in war and for religious celebrations. In cultures where the horns of animals are still used for blowing, the terms in those cultures can be used here. But in cultures where trumpets are unknown, a picture will be helpful along with a footnote describing this musical instrument. In such cultures a loan word may have to be used for trumpet.

Were given to them: either by God or by an angel. In languages that do not use the passive, one may say, for example, “and they received trumpets” or “someone gave trumpets to them.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Then I saw the seven chief angels (or, heavenly messengers) who stand before God, and they received trumpets.

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 .