_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 ]