An angel standing in the sun: many times John has seen an angel (5.2; 7.2; 10.1; 14.6, 8, 9; 14.15, 17, 18; 18.1; 20.1), but this is the only one described as standing in or on the sun. The Greek preposition normally means “in,” and this is how most translations render it. But “on” seems more appropriate.

All the birds that fly in midheaven: “all the birds flying high in the air” (see 8.13; 14.6). These are carrion birds, that is, birds that eat dead bodies, and in certain languages it will be necessary to designate them this way.

Come, gather for the great supper of God: they are to gather together for the feast that God will provide for them. Instead of the literal great supper of God, it may be better to translate “the bountiful feast (or, fiesta) that God is going to prepare.”

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 .