Revelation 8:2 - Exposition

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets; which stand (Revised Version). "And I saw" introduces the new vision, as in Revelation 5:1 ; Revelation 6:1 , etc. Probably not during the silence (as Alford), but subsequent to it. "The seven angels" probably refers to a particular order of angels, or rather to those with a special mission; though, with our limited knowledge, it is impossible to determine exactly who they are or what their mission is. The passage in Tobit 12:15 is so similar as to be at once suggested: "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels which present the prayers of the saints." But here the seven do not present the prayers of the saints, but another angel does so (verse 3). De Wette and others think the seven are archangels (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 , "With the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God"). Arethas, Ewald, etc., identify them with "the seven Spirits of God" ( Revelation 1:4 ; Revelation 4:5 ; Revelation 5:6 ). Others incline to the opinion that the seven are only distinguished from the other angels by being the seven who sound the trumpets, just as four others are alluded to in Revelation 7:1 . (On the use of the number seven, see above; also on Revelation 1:4 ; Revelation 5:1 , etc.)