Revelation 8

— and the third part of the sun was smitten,] Darkening, smiting, or setting of the sun, moon, and stars, says Sir Isaac Newton, are put for the setting of a kingdom, or the desolation thereof: and when darkness is opposed to light, Mr. Danihus observes, as light is a symbol of joy and safety, so darkness is a symbol of misery and adversity. See Jer. xiii. 16; Isai. xiii. 10; Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8. Thus, as the subject, order, and scene of action here, is the downfall of the Roman empire, and of the power and authority of Rome, the imperial city, there is fifty represented an entire extinguishing of all its authority and power. Lowman.

Chap. IX. ver. 1. — a star fall from heaven &c.] Stars, in the language of prophecy, (sometimes) signify angels; and the expression here, of a star falling from heaven, or an angel coming down from heaven with a key to open the bottomless pit, seems to denote the permission by Divine Providence of those evil and calamitous events, which are described as ensuing, which could not have happened except by His permission, and according to the wise and holy order of the Divine government. Lowman.

Revelation 8:2

2. — seven trumpets.] The seals foretold the state of the Roman empire till it became Christian, and of the church, till its civil establishment; the trumpets foretell the state of Rome and of the church afterward. They sound the alarm of war, and excite the nations against Rome; they also sound the alarm of religious corruptions. Abp. Newcome.

Revelation 8:3

3. And another angel came and stood at the altar.] This altar is afterwards expressly called “the golden altar which was before the throne.” Upon this altar, standing before the mercy-seat, (the local seat of the Divine glory in the temple,) was to be offered no strange incense, Exod. xxx. 9, 38; or strange fire, Lev. x. 1; and by no strange priest, Numb. xvi.; but incense, offered thereon by the legal priests, was as an atonement for the people, Numb. xvi. 46, who accompanied this offering by their prayers. For it was the custom of devout people to offer up their prayers in the court of the temple, while the priest was burning incense within; see Luke i. 9, 10, 21. This angel may be supposed to represent the Christian priesthood in general, as exercised in subordination to the great High Priest. Dean Woodhouse.

Revelation 8:4

4. — ascended up before God] A testimony of God’s The fifth angel soundeth. The bottomless pit opened. Anno DOMINI 96.

and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Revelation 8:13

13. — saying—Woe, woe, woe,] Notice is now proclaimed by an angel that the three other trumpets sound to still greater and more terrible plagues, and are therefore distinguished from the former by the name of the woes. The design of this messenger is to raise our attention to the following trumpets, which we shall find to be more strongly marked than the foregoing. The foregoing relate chiefly to the downfall of the western empire; the two following to that of the eastern. The former are described more concisely, and comprehend a less compass of time; the two latter are set forth with more particular circumstances, and are of longer duration, as well as of larger description. Bp. Newton.

AND the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.