Came out from the altar: this is the altar of incense in heaven. It is possible that the Greek text means that the angel emerged from inside the altar, but this does not seem very likely. Rather, he came from the area near the altar. So one may also translate “came from near (or, by) the altar.”

Who has power over fire: this probably identifies him as the angel in charge of the fire on the altar (see 8.3-5). But it is possible that the phrase means this is the angel in charge of fire, like the one in charge of water in 16.5 (see also the ones in charge of the winds in 7.1). But it is more probable that he is in charge of the fire on the altar. This angel’s action answers the cries of the martyrs in 6.10. Has power over may also be rendered as “looks after,” “takes care of,” or “is responsible for.”

To him who had the sharp sickle: this is the angel of verse 17.

Gather the clusters of the vine of the earth: this is the action of cutting the clusters of grapes off the vine (see the verb in Luke 6.44). So it may be better to say “cut the grapes from the vineyard of the earth” (Good News Translation). Here the vine of the earth is used in the same way as “the harvest of the earth” in verse 15. This is a vision of the punishment of the wicked, who are represented as clusters of ripe grapes. In cultures where grapes are unknown, translators should not substitute some other fruit that grows on a vine. One way to translate this clause is to use a generic term for fruit and say “gather the bunches of fruit named grape from the vine that is the earth.” It will also be helpful for translators to include a picture of a grape vine with bunches of grapes hanging from it.

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 .