VIII. (1) AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL... — Translate, _And when he opened the seventh seal there took place a silence in heaven as it were for half an hour._ It is greatly to be regretted that this verse should have been prefixed to this chapter. The section of the book with which it is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VISIONS INTRODUCED BY THE SOUNDING OF SEVEN TRUMPETS. — The series of visions which is now introduced extend to the close of the eleventh chapter. There are some features which may be noticed here. There is a marked correspondence of arrangement between these and the visions of the seals. As the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME AND STOOD AT (or, _over_) THE ALTAR, HAVING A GOLDEN CENSER. — The appearance of this other angel has given rise to some questioning, and some strained explanations. Some have thought that by this other angel we are to understand Christ Himself. This is very doubtful: the desi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SMOKE OF... — _Better, And there went up the smoke of the incense for (or to, i.e., designed for, and to give fragrance to) the prayers of the saints, out of the hand of the angel, before God._ The emblem of the rising column of smoke, in which incense and prayer now mingled, is the token th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL... — Translate, _And the angel has taken_ (or, _took) the censer, and he filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it (i.e.,_ the fire or hot ashes which filled the censer) _upon the earth._ The prayers have gone up, and the sprinkling of the ashes earthward is the symbol of the a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVEN ANGELS... — Translate, _And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves that they might sound._ The angels raised their trumpets to their mouths, ready to blow. The sounding of the trumpets introduced the series of startling events (or providences, as we sometimes c... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRST ANGEL... — Better, _And the first sounded, and there took place hail, and fire mingled in blood, and it was cast upon the earth; and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up._ The reference to the Egyptian plag... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SECOND ANGEL... — Translate, _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; and the third part of the creatures that were in the sea died, those which have lives; and the third part of the sh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THIRD ANGEL... — Translate, _And the third angel sounded, and there fell out of the heaven a great star burning_ (or, _kindled_ — the light is not inherent, but borrowed) _as a torch_ (or, _lamp_ — same word as in Revelation 4:5), _and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE NAME OF THE STAR... — Translate, _And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many of mankind died from the waters, because they were embittered_. The bitter, nauseous plant known as wormwood (apsinthos) is used to represent troubles and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOURTH ANGEL... — Translate, _And the fourth angel sounded, and there was smitten the third part of the sun, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them might be darkened, and the day might not appear as to its third part, and the night in lik... [ Continue Reading ]
INTRODUCTION TO THE LAST THREE, OR WOE, TRUMPETS. AN EAGLE UTTERS THE THREEFOLD WOE. (13) AND I BEHELD... — Better, _And I saw, and I heard a single eagle_ (not “angel,” as in English version) _flying in mid-heaven, saying with a mighty voice, Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell upon the earth by rea... [ Continue Reading ]