_AT THE SOUNDING OF THE FIFTH ANGEL, A STAR FALLETH FROM HEAVEN, TO WHOM IS GIVEN THE KEY OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT: HE OPENETH THE PIT, AND THERE COME FORTH LOCUSTS LIKE SCORPIONS. THE FIRST WOE PASSED. THE SIXTH TRUMPET SOUNDETH. FOUR ANGELS ARE LET LOOSE THAT WERE BOUND._ _Anno Domini 96._... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAW A STAR FALL FROM HEAVEN— _Stars,_ in the language of prophesy, signify _angels;_ see ch. Revelation 1:20. The angels of the heavenly host, as well as the angels or bishops of the churches, seem to be called stars in scripture; as when at the creation, the _morning stars sang together, and all... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE AROSE A SMOKE OUT OF THE PIT,— As a great smoke hinders the sight, so do errors the understanding. St. John keeps to the allegory, says Grotius: a smoke takes from us the sight of the stars. _Smoke,_ especially when proceeding from a fierce fire, is also a representation of devastation. Thus w... [ Continue Reading ]
LOCUSTS UPON THE EARTH:— See Joshua 6:5. Joel 1:6. Bishop Newton interprets this part of the prophesy as follows: "At the sounding of the _fifth trumpet, a star fallen from heaven,_ meaning the impostor Mohammed, _opened the bottomless pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, and the sun and the... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS COMMANDED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD, &C.— This verse demonstrates, that these were not natural, but symbolical locusts. The like injunctions were given to the Arabian soldiers. When Yezid marched to invade Syria, Abubeker charged him expressly not to destroy the palm-trees, nor to burn any fields... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THAT THEY SHOULD BE TORMENTED FIVE MONTHS, &C.— _But that they should torment,_ &c. one hundred and fifty years, from the year 612 to the year 762. See on Revelation 9:10. As the Saracens were to hurt only the corrupt and idolatrous Christians, so these they were not to _kill,_ but only to _torm... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEIR POWER WAS TO HURT MEN FIVE MONTHS,— See on Revelation 9:5. where it is said, as well as here, that they were to hurt and _torment five months,_ in conformity, no doubt, to the type; for locusts are observed to live _five months,_ that is, from April to September. But of those locusts, it i... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE WOE IS PAST, &C.— This is added, not only to distinguish the woes, and to mark more strongly each period; but also to suggest, that some time would intervene between this first woe of the Arabian locusts, and the next of the Euphratean horsemen. The similitude between the locusts and Arabians, i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIXTH ANGEL SOUNDED,— At the sounding of this _sixth_ trumpet, a voice proceeded from _the four horns of the golden altar_ (for the scene was still in the temple), ordering the angel of the sixth trumpet to _loose the four angels,_ &c. and they were loosed accordingly. Such a voice proceeding _f... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NUMBER OF THE ARMY, &C.— A description is here given of the forces, and of the means and instruments bywhich the Othmans should effect the ruin of the Eastern empire. Their army is described as very numerous,—_myriads of myriads;_ and when Mohammed the second besieged Constantinople, he had 400,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REST OF THE MEN, &C.— That is, the Latin church, which escaped these calamities pretty well. From the whole it is evident, that these calamities were inflicted upon the Christians for their idolatries. As the Eastern churches were first in the crime, so they were first likewise in the punishment... [ Continue Reading ]