Revelation 8

Revelation 8:1-6

We have already seen what occurred upon opening sin of the feats, we come now to the opening of the seventh, which introduced the founding of the seven trumpets, and a dire of some new opera: most exporters agree, the seven feats represent the intervals between the apostles time and the reign of Confanities, but the seven trumpets are designed to represent the rise of antichrist, some time after the empire became Christian. In this chapter we have the preface, or prelude, to the founding of the trumpets, vers. 1—7. 2. The founding of four of the trumpets, vers. 7, 12.

1. AND when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden center; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all faints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4. And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the faints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5. And the angel took the center, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth, and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 6. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to sound.

The former feats related to the events which should happen to the Roman empire whilst pagan; the last feat includes the dreadful judgments of God upon the degenerate Christian empire, after the short state of prosperity enjoyed under Confanities, represented here by the silence observed in heaven for half an hour, when a new scene opens to view.

1. Seven angels present themselves before God, the instruments of his providence, and seven trumpets are given them to proclaim the judgments in so many successive periods about to be executed on the earth.

2. Another angel, the Lord of the angelic hoft, and the uncreated angel of the covenant appears, and as the great high-priest of his people, offers upon the golden altar much incense, making the prayers of his faints acceptable before the throne of God, through his own sacrifice and intercession. Note, (1.) God’s faints are known by their continual life of prayer; they who never pray have no part or lot in Christ’s salvation. (2.) Not for their own fakes do our prayers come up with acceptance before the throne, but for his, who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

3. Having secured a gracious answer to his people’s prayers, this great angel gives the signal for his judgments to break forth upon his enemies; filling his center with fire from the altar, he cast it into the earth, the Roman empire, and terrible thunderings, lightnings, and voices followed, and a great earthquake, emblems of the dreadful vengeance ready to be executed, and immediately the angels prepared to sound their trumpets.

4. The first angel founded, and there followed half and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8. And the second

angel founded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. 9. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10. And the third angel founded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters. 11. And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 12. And the fourth angel founded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the faces; 13. As the third part of them was darkened: and the day thone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. 14. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Wo, wo, wo to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels which are yet to sound.

Revelation 8:7-13

1. The first trumpet founds, and hail, fire, and blood mingled therewith, like one of the plagues of Egypt, followed, by which a third part of the trees, and every green thing was consumed, denoting the civil wars between the sons of Constantine, which ended, after prodigious slaughter, with the destruction of his family, between the years 337—379; and the Goths also then began to break in and ravage the empire.

2. The second trumpet founds the alarm, and a burning mountain, hurled into the sea, converts the third part of it into blood, and stays the third part of all the creatures that lived therein, or failed upon it. And this is supposed to refer to the invictions of the Goths and Vandals into the empire, when under Alarie they penetrated into Italy, and sacked Rome itself, between the years 379 and 412.

3. The third trumpet is blown, and a falling star, called Wormwood, embittered the third part of the waters, and a great mountain exiled; and this denotes the fearful defoliation wrought by the Goths and Vandals between the years 412 and 493; under Odoacer, they ravaged Italy, plundered Rome about the year 455, and afterwards, under Odoacer, they took Rome, dethroned Agultulus, and their general affirmed the title of king.

4. The fourth trumpet founds, and a total eclipse of all the luminaries of heaven over the third part of the earth followed; signifying the dreadful darkness and ignorance that, under the barbarous nations, which ravaged the empire, generally prevailed. The feat of empire was also under Odoacer translated from Rome to Ravenna, and though no alteration was then made in the government, yet when Judicious afterwards recovered Italy from the Goths, and erected the exarchate of Ravenna, Rome was only a petty dukedom, her senate and council were abolished, and it became subject to the search of Ravenna. Whilst, with attentive expectation, John waited for the founding of the other trumpets, a mighty angel, flying through the midst of heaven, cried aloud, Wo, wo, wo to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels which are yet to sound. Note, (1.) God warns before he strikes. (2.) Ladies judgments, when flighted, will assuredly be followed with others more tremendous.