Revelation 9

— as the torment of a scorpion.] The sting of a scorpion, “when he striketh a man,” is severe, attended with inflammation and violent pain. Lowman.

— Abaddon, — Apollyon. &c.] The one name in Hebrew, the other in Greek, means “the destroyer.” Mr. Mede imagines that here is some allusion to the name of Obodas, the common title of the kings of that part of Arabia, from which Mahomet came, as Pharaoh was the common name of the kings of Egypt, and Cesar of the emperours of Rome; and such allusions are not unusual in the style of Scripture. Bp. Newton.

— the third part of men.] Meaning, the men of the Roman empire. Bp. Newton. Or, more generally, a considerable number of the countries which they invaded. Lowman.

The kingdoms subdued by the Mahometans, if examined by the maps, will be found to compose a full third part of the then Christian world; and it may be assumed as a general position, that about one third part of the world which was once Christian, was cut off from Christianity by the Mahometan invaders. Dean Woodhouse.

—were as the heads of lions.] Having a fierce and terrible appearance. Jos. Mede.

—fire and smoke and brimstone.] Here is a manifest allusion to great guns and gunpowder, which were invented in the period marked by this trumpet, and were of signal service to the Othmans in their wars. For “by these three was the third part of the men killed,” that is, by these the Othmans made such havock and destruction in the Greek or Eastern empire. In particular, at the siege of Constantinople, Mahomet employed guns of such a size, as were never made before; one is described so monstrous, that it was drawn by seventy yoke of oxen, and two thousand men. Bp. Newton, Jos. Mede.

Chap. X. ver. 1. And I saw another &c.] St. John, in the conclusion of the last chapter, having touched upon the corruptions of the western church, proceeds now to deliver some prophecies relating to this lamentable event. But, before he enters upon it, he (and the church in him) is prepared for it by an august and consolatory vision. Bp. Newton.

—clothed with a cloud: &c.] The sublimity of this description, ver. 1—3, made an early impression on the mind of the great Sir William Jones: and ‘at a period of mature judgment,’ says his biographer, ‘he considered it as equal in sublimity to any passage in the inspired writings, and far superiour to any that could be produced from merely human compositions.’ Dean Woodhouse.

—a cloud:—a rainbow &c.] To come in the clouds, or with the clouds, of heaven, is among the Jews a known symbol of Divine power and majesty. The “rainbow” was the emblem of God’s covenant with mankind after the flood, and therefore fit to be made a sign that God is always mindful of His covenant and promise. The brightness and splendor of the sun and fire were also proper figures to express the majesty of a Divine appearance. Lowman.

Revelation 9:2

2. And he opened the bottomless pit;] This prison of Satan, and of his angels, is permitted to be opened for the just punishment of apostate churches, who would not repent of their evil works. Here is something more terrible than we have hitherto seen. Hell opens, and Satan appears, followed by an army of a stronger figure than St. John has any where else described. Lowman, Bossuet.

— and there arose a smoke] That is, a false religion, the religion of the impostor Mahomet, was set up, which filled the world with darkness and error. Bp. Newton.

2.—a little book open.] A “little book,” or codicil, different from the “book” mentioned before; “open,” that all men might freely read and consider it. It was indeed a codicil to the larger book, and properly comes under the sixth trumpet, to describe the state of the western church, after the description of the state of the eastern; and this is with good reason made a separate and distinct prophecy, on account of the importance of the matter, as well as for the purpose of engaging greater attention. Bp. Newton.

—he set his right foot &c.] This was intended perhaps to shew the extent of his power and commission. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:3

3. And there came out of the smoke locusts] Here is an allusion to the habit of locusts, which, as Pliny and the eastern historians tell us, breed in pits and deep slimy holes in the latter part of the summer; and from the eggs or spawn there laid arise the vast swarms in the spring following. By this, in the same figurative language which is used by the Prophet Joel, (Joel i. 6; ii. 5—7,) are described the terrible forces of the Saracens and Arabians under Mahomet and his successors, their leaders; invading and ravaging not only the European kingdoms, but large tracts both of Asia and Africa: their false and impious religion was as smoke and darkness arising out of hell, and their armies fifty resembled locusts for multitude, and both of them together were as mischievous to the minds and liberties of men, as the poison of serpents is to the human body. Pyle.

3.—seven thunders] Here a particular prophecy, or

Revelation 9:4

4. — not hurt the grass &c.] This shews that they were not natural, but symbolical, locusts. Jos. Mede.

— but only those men which have not the seal &c.] That is, those who are not the true servants of God, but are corrupt and idolatrous Christians. Now it appears from history, that in those countries of Asia, Africa, and Europe, where the Saracens extended their conquests,

Anno DOMINI 96. Description of the locusts which came forth from the pit. Anno DOMINI 96.

Revelation 9:5

5. And to them it was given that they should not kill &c.] As they were to hurt only the corrupt and idolatrous Christians, so these they were not to kill, but only to torment, and to bring on them such calamities as would make them weary of their life. Thus, though the Saracens greatly harassed and tormented the Greek and Latin churches, they did not utterly extirpate the one or the other. They besieged also Constantinople, and plundered Rome, but did not make themselves masters of the one city or the other. Bp. Newton.

— but that they should be tormented five months:] Evidently alluding to the time, during which natural locusts commit their devastations, and after which they die. They are hatched, as Bochart observes, about the spring, and die at the latter end of summer, thus living about five months. Lowman.

It is again mentioned at ver. 10, that “their power was to hurt men five months.” If these months be taken for natural months in the interpretation of the prophecy, then the meaning is, that the Saracens, after the manner of locusts, made their excursions during the five summer months, and retreated in the winter. And it appears from history that this was their usual practice: in particular it is related, that at the siege of Constantinople they always retreated at the approach of winter, and renewed their attacks during the summer months, for seven successive years. But if, as seems more probable, and as accords with the prophetic style, these months designate each a space of thirty prophetic days or years, then the whole period denoted is one hundred and fifty years. And accordingly we shall find, that, though the empire of the Saracens had a longer duration, yet within that period they made their principal conquests, and their power of “tormenting men” was chiefly exerted. It appears from their history, that their greatest conquests were made from the year 612, when Mahomet first began to propagate his imposture, to the year 769, when the caliph Almansor built Bagdad, to fix there the seat of his empire. Syria, Persia, India, and the greatest part of Asia, Egypt, and the greatest part of Africa, Spain, and some parts of Europe, were subdued within this period: but when

Revelation 9:6

6. — shall men seek death.] That is, so great shall be the calamities of those times, that men shall be tired of life. Jos. Mede.

Revelation 9:7

7. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses] In the following verses, the nature and qualities of locusts are described, partly in allusion to the properties of natural locusts, and the description given of them by the Prophet Joel, (see Joel ii. 1, &c.) and partly in allusion to the habits and manners of the Arabians. Many authors have observed, that the head of a locust resembles that of a horse; whence the Italians call them cavallette, or little horses. And the Arabians have in all ages been famous for their horses and horsemanship; it being well known that their strength consists chiefly in their cavalry. Bp. Newton.

— on their heads were as it were crowns like gold.] Alluding to the headdress of the Arabians, who constantly wore turbans or mitres. Bp. Newton. The “crowns of gold” may also signify the success and extent of their dominion; for there never was a nation which extended its power so widely, or in so short a space of time reduced beneath its yoke so many countries and kingdoms. Jos. Mede.

7, 8. — faces were as the faces of men. And—hair &c.] The Arabians wore their beards, or at least their mustachios, like men, while the hair of their heads was flowing and plated like that of women. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:8

8. — as the teeth of lions.] That is, strong to devour, Joel i. 6. Jos. Mede.

Revelation 9:9

9. — breastplates, as—of iron;] Locusts have a hard shell or skin, which has often been called their armour. This figure is designed to express the defensive, as the former was the offensive, arms of the Saracens. Bp. Newton.

— and the sound of their wings &c.] Hereby signifying the rapidity of their conquests. Pyle. Natural locusts fly with so great a noise of their wings, that they may be taken for birds. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:10

10. And they had tails like unto scorpions.] They are thrice compared to “scorpions,” ver. 3, 5, 10; and had “stings in their tails,” &c.; that is, wherever they carried their arms, there they distilled the venom of a false religion. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:11

11. And they had a king over them.] Although the natural locusts have no king, (see the observation of

The sixth angel soundeth, and four angels are loosed. Anno DOMINI 96. ¶ That is to say, A destroyer. tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name || Apollyon.

Revelation 9:12

12. One woe is past;] This is added, not only to distinguish the woes, and to mark more strongly each period, but also to suggest that some time will intervene between this first woe of the Arabian locusts, and that which ensues. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:13

13. — I heard a voice from the four horns &c.] Thus it appears that the scene of this vision was still in the temple. The circumstance of the voice proceeding from “the four horns of the golden altar,” is a strong indication of the Divine displeasure; and plainly intimates that the sins of men must have been very great, when the altar, which was their sanctuary and protection, called aloud for vengeance. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:14

14. — Loose the four angels &c.] These “four angels” are the four sultans, or four-leaders of the Turks or Othmans. For these were four principal sultanites or kingdoms of these bordering on the river Euphrates, one at Bagdad, another at Damascus, a third at Aleppo, and a fourth at Iconium in Asia Minor. These subsisted several years afterwards, and the sultans were “bound” and restrained from extending their conquests further than the countries adjoining the Euphrates, primarily by the good providence of God, and secondarily by the crusades, or expeditions of European Christians into the Holy Land, about the end of the 11th, and in the 12th and 13th centuries. But when an end was put to these crusades, and the Christians abandoned their conquests in Syria and Palestine towards the close of the 13th century, then “the four angels—were loosed:” the Turks gained several victories over the Tartars on one side, and the Christians on the other; and Othman, from whom the people were afterwards called Othmans, being proclaimed sultan, founded a new empire. Jos. Mede, Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:15

15. — which were prepared for—a day, &c.] The meaning of this may be, that they were prepared and ready to execute the Divine commission at any time, or for any time, that God should appoint, or that they were ready all of them together at one appointed time. Daubus, Lowman. Otherwise, if the expression be taken mystically, and the hour, and day, and month, and year, be a prophetic hour, and day, and month, and year, then a year (according to St. John’s computa-

Revelation 9:16

16. — were two hundred thousand thousand;] The number in the original is myriads of myriads, which is to be understood of many myriads, as when we say “thousands of thousands,” to express many thousands. It is here affirmed, that the armies of these destroyers should be chiefly horsemen, and that the numbers should be so great that the report of them should be scarcely credible. Lowman.

It is well known from history what mighty armies the Othman emperours brought into the field. Thus, when Mahomet the Second besieged Constantinople, he had about 400,000 men in his army, besides a powerful fleet; it is well known also that their armies consisted chiefly of horsemen, as is here described. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:17

17. — having breastplates of fire, &c.] The colour of fire is red, of hyacinth blue, and of brimstone yellow;

Anno DOMINI 96. ¶ Or, at. Great plagues brought on the earth. REVELATION. A mighty angel sweareth Anno DOMINI 96.

of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

Revelation 9:19

19.—their tails were like unto serpents.] By this figure it is meant, that the Turks draw after them the same poisonous train as did the Saracens; they profess and propagate the same imposture; they inflict injury not only by their conquests, but also by spreading false doctrines; and, wherever they establish their dominion, there too they establish their religion. Bp. Newton.

Revelation 9:20

20, 21. And the rest of the men &c.] And, though the gracious end of Providence, in this and the foregoing judgments on the corrupted Christian empire, was, to cause men to consider and reform the several abuses of the Gospel light they had so long enjoyed, yet were these intentions of Heaven frustrated by an incorrigible temper universally prevailing. For even the western Christians, under the influence of Rome, and the Roman Catholick governments, who had seen the eastern and Greek churches thus punished, and quite destroyed, for their superstitious and vicious practices, yet even they still persevered in the practice of idolatry, saint worship, and image worship; nay, would not so much as reform that cruel spirit of persecution, nor of putting cheats, delusions, and impositions, on the understandings and properties of mankind. Pyle.

Revelation 9:21

21. Neither repented they of their murders, &c.] That is, of their persecutions and inquisitions; nor of “their sorceries,” their pretended miracles and revelations; nor of “their fornication,” their publick stews and un-

of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Anno DOMINI 96. ### CHAP. X.