The Eighth Chapter
THE FIRST SIX TRUMPETS,
Out of the seven given to “the seven angels which stood before God” (v. 2,) contain the several steps and degrees of ruining the imperial government of the Roman empire, when turned Christian, by several wars and incursions of barbarous nations, whereof trumpets are suitably made the denouncers; the Christian blood spilt by the empire, when Pagan, being thus avenged; as the Babylonish captivity did break the Jewish state for the blood shed by Manasseh in its idolatry; though he and all Judah did turn to the true worship of God again. Now according to the division of the empire, east and west; the Goths and Vandals utterly shattered the government of the occidental emperors, breaking it into ten kingdoms; over which the Pope succeeded: and next the oriental parts were overturned, first by the Saracens, (Mahomet their head wresting out of the emperor’s hands one great part of the eastern empire, in Arabia, Egypt, and Assyria, and subjecting it to Mahometanism;) then by the Turks, propagating Mahometanism also, who subdued not only what the Saracens before them had done, but also that other part of the eastern empire, (remaining still Christian,,) in Natolia, and in Greece; over which the Greek emperors, successors of the Roman,) continued; till now wholly subjected, (together with Constantinople the seat of their empire,) unto the Turks, the sole possessors of the eastern empire: These trumpets are thus, answerably, divided by the Holy Ghost: the first four, (containing lesser evils and miseries,) are the wars of the Goths and Vandals
REV. VIII. 7 — 11.] THE FIRST THREE TRUMPETS. 593
in four several incursions, in this chapter: but the fifth and sixth are among the three last woe-trumpets, (v. 13; c. ix. 12; xi. 14;) and contain all those infinite calamities and embondagements, brought on the east by the Saracen wars and conquest under the fifth trumpet, and by the Turks under the sixth; both longer and greater than the four first. The promise therefore to the martyrs under the fifth seal, (c. vi. 1 1,) is fulfilled in answer to their prayers here (v. 3 — 5,) offered up by Christ; the trumpet sounding for the time of avenging their blood.
THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS, are chiefly on the western empire, extended all over Europe; which was performed by four steps or degrees, falling severally on the earth, the sea, the rivers; the sun, moon, and stars, v. 7, 8, 10, 12: 1st, The earth, with the grass and trees therein, signifying the people in common, both richer and poorer, as in Zech. xi. 2. 2dly, The sea, is the extent of the jurisdiction of such an imperial world, (as in Jer. iv. 23,) over several dominions; whence Rome is said to “sit on many waters;” and “to arise out of the sea,” or collection of many waters or nations: so speak Jer. li. 36, 44, and Exek. xxxi. 4, concerning the Babylonish and Assyrian monarchies. 3dly, The rivers, are the several cities and provinces, with the lesser juris dictions of their magistrates. 4thly, The sun, moon, and stars, shew the glory of supreme magistrates, as in Isa. xiii. 10, Jer. xv. 9. Now of these four trumpets, bringing their four degrees of calamities on Rome and its empire, by the incursions from the north, from A.D. 400, to A.D. 540,
THE FIRST TRUMPET, harrowed the earth; wars first lighting most heavily on the people; but it proceeded to no further havoc than “the burning of the trees and grass” v. 7; “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with Hood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees were burnt up.”
THE SECOND TRUMPET, fell on the sea; the Goths by breaking the imperial yoke from off the nations subject to it, affording them opportunity to set up the European ten kingdoms, which remain to this day; beginning in France, A.D. 413; and by A.D. 450, they were all up. This rending of the kingdoms from the empire, with the sacking of Rome itself by Allaricus, king of the Goths, A.D. 410, is called, (v. 8,) “The burning of a great mountain,” (as Babylon is called “a destroying and burning mountain,” as overshadowing all cities, till sacked itself by Cyrus, Jer. li. 25;) “And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire, was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood”
THE THIRD TRUMPET, produces the fall of a bright blazing comet, or “great burning star;” or the extinction of emperors, A.D. 476, in Augustulus, (like that of the king of Babel, in Isa. xiv. 12, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”)
2 R who, as a prince of bitterness and sorrows, is truly named “Wormwood;” together with whom many provincial, cities and magistrates, (called rivers anA fountains,) had their dignity removed: “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a 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: 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? v. 10, 1].
THE FOURTH TRUMPET, totally deprives Rome, (now in the hands of the Goths, and the seat of those kings, who though they won it, still preserved the splendor of its senators, consuls, and supreme magistrates;) of all its ancient form of government, with the glory and majesty of which it had shined for many centuries ere the imperial power was placed over it; which ancient monarchy, (here called The sun, &c.) still continuing under the emperors, was quite subverted in the last war, A.D. 542. Thus the glory of the western empire and Rome had been utterly and for ever extinguished, but for the Pope, (c. xni. under the book-prophecy concerning the church,) who obtains a power, on a different title, over the ten kingdoms; and by building up a new Rome, possesses the seat of the former beast, which is the empire.
All the above four trumpets falling on, and making such alterations in the west, are but lesser evils compared with those other two here which are. to fall on the eastern parts, yet standing whole and entire under a profession of the Christian faith; and as standing longest, God reserved the same unto the severest punishments, which are therefore thus prefaced, v. 13,” Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitcrs of the earth, by reason of the voices of the other trumpets which have yet to sound”