Devine Scripture

Revelation 8:2

What does Revelation 8:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 8:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 8:2 means

John sees seven angels who stand in God’s presence, and they are entrusted with seven trumpets. Trumpets in Scripture herald divine intervention—summoning, warning, and warring. Here, they will punctuate a series of judgments that proceed from God’s throne. The angels do not seize authority; they receive instruments. This emphasizes that what follows is commissioned, not capricious. The number seven speaks of completeness; the trumpet series will accomplish the full measure intended in this phase of judgment. The scene reveals heaven’s ordered readiness: God’s servants are poised to act at His word, and the unfolding events on earth trace back to decisions made before His face.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I saw the seven angels who had their place before God; and seven horns were given to them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and I saw the seven messengers who before God have stood, and there were given to them seven trumpets,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I saw seven angels standing in the presence of God: and there were given to them seven trumpets.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I saw the seven angels who stand beforeGod, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Context

The hush of verse 1 shifts to purposeful preparation. The opened seal becomes a gateway to a new sequence: the seven trumpets. Yet before any trumpet sounds, the vision will slow again to show the prayers of the saints offered with incense (verses 3–4), and then a sign of judgment cast to earth (verse 5). This arrangement highlights that divine judgments are connected to intercession and to God’s sovereign court, not to random forces in the world below.

v.1And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

v.2This passage

v.3And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 15:1

    And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.

  • Revelation 11:15

    And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is becomethe kingdomof our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:25

    And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets.

  • Revelation 16:1

    And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

  • Numbers 10:1

    And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

  • Matthew 18:10

    See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

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