1καιG2532{CONJ} τσβοτεG3753{ADV} αοτανG3752{CONJ} βηνοιξεG455{V-AAI-3S} ατσηνοιξενG455{V-AAI-3S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} σφραγιδαG4973{N-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} εβδομηνG1442{A-ASF} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} σιγηG4602{N-NSF} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} ουρανωG3772{N-DSM} ωςG5613{ADV} ημιωριονG2256{N-ASN} 2καιG2532{CONJ} ειδονG1492{V-2AAI-1S} τουςG3588{T-APM} επταG2033{A-NUI} αγγελουςG32{N-APM} οιG3739{R-NPM} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} βεστηκασιG2476{V-RAI-3P} ατσεστηκασινG2476{V-RAI-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} εδοθησανG1325{V-API-3P} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} επταG2033{A-NUI} σαλπιγγεςG4536{N-NPF} 3καιG2532{CONJ} αλλοςG243{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βηλθεG2064{V-2AAI-3S} ατσηλθενG2064{V-2AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} εσταθηG2476{V-API-3S} επιG1909{PREP} αβτουG3588{T-GSN} τστοG3588{T-ASN} αβθυσιαστηριουG2379{N-GSN} τσθυσιαστηριονG2379{N-ASN} εχωνG2192{V-PAP-NSM} λιβανωτονG3031{A-ASM} χρυσουνG5552{A-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} εδοθηG1325{V-API-3S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} θυμιαματαG2368{N-NPN} πολλαG4183{A-NPN} ιναG2443{CONJ} αδωσειG1325{V-FAI-3S} τσβδωσηG1325{V-AAS-3S} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} προσευχαιςG4335{N-DPF} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αγιωνG40{A-GPM} παντωνG3956{A-GPM} επιG1909{PREP} τοG3588{T-ASN} θυσιαστηριονG2379{N-ASN} τοG3588{T-ASN} χρυσουνG5552{A-ASN} τοG3588{T-ASN} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} τουG3588{T-GSM} θρονουG2362{N-GSM} 4καιG2532{CONJ} ανεβηG305{V-2AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} καπνοςG2586{N-NSM} τωνG3588{T-GPN} θυμιαματωνG2368{N-GPN} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} προσευχαιςG4335{N-DPF} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αγιωνG40{A-GPM} εκG1537{PREP} χειροςG5495{N-GSF} τουG3588{T-GSM} αγγελουG32{N-GSM} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} 5καιG2532{CONJ} ειληφενG2983{V-RAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} αβτονG3588{T-ASM} τστοG3588{T-ASN} λιβανωτονG3031{A-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} εγεμισενG1072{V-AAI-3S} αβαυτονG846{P-ASM} τσαυτοG846{P-ASN} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSN} πυροςG4442{N-GSN} τουG3588{T-GSN} θυσιαστηριουG2379{N-GSN} καιG2532{CONJ} εβαλενG906{V-2AAI-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1093{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενοντοG1096{V-2ADI-3P} τσφωναιG5456{N-NPF} τσκαιG2532{CONJ} βρονταιG1027{N-NPF} αβκαιG2532{CONJ} αβφωναιG5456{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} αστραπαιG796{N-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} σεισμοςG4578{N-NSM} 6καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} επταG2033{A-NUI} αγγελοιG32{N-NPM} αβσοιG3588{T-NPM} εχοντεςG2192{V-PAP-NPM} ταςG3588{T-APF} επταG2033{A-NUI} σαλπιγγαςG4536{N-APF} ητοιμασανG2090{V-AAI-3P} ααυτουςG846{P-APM} τσβεαυτουςG1438{F-3APM} ιναG2443{CONJ} βσαλπισωσιG4537{V-AAS-3P} ατσσαλπισωσινG4537{V-AAS-3P} 7καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} πρωτοςG4413{A-NSM} τσαγγελοςG32{N-NSM} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} χαλαζαG5464{N-NSF} καιG2532{CONJ} πυρG4442{N-NSN} μεμιγμεναG3396{V-RPP-NPN} αβενG1722{PREP} αιματιG129{N-DSN} καιG2532{CONJ} εβληθηG906{V-API-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1093{N-ASF} αβκαιG2532{CONJ} αβτοG3588{T-NSN} αβτριτονG5154{A-NSN} αβτηςG3588{T-GSF} αβγηςG1093{N-GSF} αβκατεκαηG2618{V-2API-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τωνG3588{T-GPN} δενδρωνG1186{N-GPN} κατεκαηG2618{V-2API-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} παςG3956{A-NSM} χορτοςG5528{N-NSM} χλωροςG5515{A-NSM} κατεκαηG2618{V-2API-3S} 8καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} δευτεροςG1208{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ωςG5613{ADV} οροςG3735{N-NSN} μεγαG3173{A-NSN} ατσπυριG4442{N-DSN} καιομενονG2545{V-PPP-NSN} εβληθηG906{V-API-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} θαλασσανG2281{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} θαλασσηςG2281{N-GSF} αιμαG129{N-NSN} 9καιG2532{CONJ} βαπεθανεG599{V-2AAI-3S} ατσαπεθανενG599{V-2AAI-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τωνG3588{T-GPN} κτισματωνG2938{N-GPN} ατστωνG3588{T-GPN} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} θαλασσηG2281{N-DSF} ταG3588{T-NPN} εχονταG2192{V-PAP-NPN} ψυχαςG5590{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τωνG3588{T-GPN} πλοιωνG4143{N-GPN} αδιεφθαρησανG1311{V-2API-3P} τσβδιεφθαρηG1311{V-2API-3S} 10καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} τριτοςG5154{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} επεσενG4098{V-2AAI-3S} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} αστηρG792{N-NSM} μεγαςG3173{A-NSM} καιομενοςG2545{V-PPP-NSM} ωςG5613{ADV} λαμπαςG2985{N-NSF} καιG2532{CONJ} επεσενG4098{V-2AAI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τοG3588{T-ASN} τριτονG5154{A-ASN} τωνG3588{T-GPM} ποταμωνG4215{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} επιG1909{PREP} ταςG3588{T-APF} πηγαςG4077{N-APF} αβτωνG3588{T-GPN} υδατωνG5204{N-GPN} 11καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-NSN} ονομαG3686{N-NSN} τουG3588{T-GSM} αστεροςG792{N-GSM} λεγεταιG3004{V-PPI-3S} αβοG3588{T-NSM} αψινθοςG894{N-NSF} καιG2532{CONJ} αβεγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} τσγινεταιG1096{V-PNI-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} αβστωνG3588{T-GPN} αβσυδατωνG5204{N-GPN} ειςG1519{PREP} αψινθονG894{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} πολλοιG4183{A-NPM} αβτωνG3588{T-GPM} ανθρωπωνG444{N-GPM} απεθανονG599{V-2AAI-3P} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} υδατωνG5204{N-GPN} οτιG3754{CONJ} επικρανθησανG4087{V-API-3P} 12καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} τεταρτοςG5067{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} επληγηG4141{V-2API-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τουG3588{T-GSM} ηλιουG2246{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} σεληνηςG4582{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αστερωνG792{N-GPM} ιναG2443{CONJ} σκοτισθηG4654{V-APS-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} ημεραG2250{N-NSF} μηG3361{PRT-N} αφανηG5316{V-2APS-3S} τσβφαινηG5316{V-PAS-3S} τοG3588{T-ASN} τριτονG5154{A-ASN} αυτηςG846{P-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} νυξG3571{N-NSF} ομοιωςG3668{ADV} 13καιG2532{CONJ} ειδονG1492{V-2AAI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} ηκουσαG191{V-AAI-1S} ενοςG1520{A-GSM} αβαετουG105{N-GSM} τσαγγελουG32{N-GSM} αβπετομενουG4072{V-PNP-GSM} τσπετωμενουG4072{V-PNP-GSM} ενG1722{PREP} μεσουρανηματιG3321{N-DSN} λεγοντοςG3004{V-PAP-GSM} φωνηG5456{N-DSF} μεγαληG3173{A-DSF} ουαιG3759{INJ} ουαιG3759{INJ} ουαιG3759{INJ} ατουςG3588{T-APM} τσβτοιςG3588{T-DPM} ακατοικουνταςG2730{V-PAP-APM} τσβκατοικουσινG2730{V-PAP-DPM} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} λοιπωνG3062{A-GPM} φωνωνG5456{N-GPM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} σαλπιγγοςG4536{N-GSF} τωνG3588{T-GPM} τριωνG5140{A-GPM} αγγελωνG32{N-GPM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} μελλοντωνG3195{V-PAP-GPM} σαλπιζεινG4537{V-PAN}
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 In these verses we have the prelude to the sounding of the trumpets in several parts.
I. The opening of the last seal. This was to introduce a new set of prophetical iconisms and events; there is a continued chain of providence, one part linked to another (where one ends another begins), and, though they may differ in nature and in time, they all make up one wise, well-connected, uniform design in the hand of God.
II. A profound
silence in heaven for the space of half an hour, which may be understood either, 1. Of the silence of peace, that for this time no complaints were sent up to the ear of the Lord God of sabaoth; all was quiet and well in the church, and therefore all silent in heaven, for whenever the church on earth cries, through oppression, that cry comes up to heaven and resounds there; or, 2. A silence of expectation; great things were upon the wheel of providence, and the church of God, both in heaven and earth, stood silent, as became them, to see what God was doing, according to that of
Zech 2:13,
Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, for he has risen up out of his holy habitation. And elsewhere,
Be still, and know that I am God. III. The trumpets were delivered to the angels who were to sound them. Still the angels are employed as the wise and willing instruments of divine Providence, and they are furnished with all their materials and instructions from God our Saviour. As the angels of the churches are to sound the trumpet of the gospel, the angels of heaven are to sound the trumpet of Providence, and every one has his part given him.
IV. To prepare for this, another angel must first offer incense,
Revel 8:3. It is very probable that this other angel is the Lord Jesus, the high priest of the church, who is here described in his sacerdotal office, having a golden censer and much incense, a fulness of merit in his own glorious person, and this incense he was to offer up,
with the prayers of all the saints, upon the golden altar of his divine nature. Observe, 1. All the saints are a praying people; none of the children of God are born dumb, a Spirit of grace is always a Spirit of adoption and supplication, teaching us to cry,
Abba, Father. Pss 32:6,
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee. 2. Times of danger should be praying times, and so should times of great expectation; both our fears and our hopes should put us upon prayer, and, where the interest of the church of God is deeply concerned, the hearts of the people of God in prayer should be greatly enlarged. 3. The prayers of the saints themselves stand in need of the incense and intercession of Christ to make them acceptable and effectual, and there is provision made by Christ for that purpose; he has his incense, his censer, and his altar; he is all himself to his people. 4. The prayers of the saints come up before God in a cloud of incense; no prayer, thus recommended, was ever denied audience or acceptance. 5. These prayers that were thus accepted in heaven produced great changes upon earth in return to them; the same angel that in his censer offered up the prayers of the saints in the same censer
took of the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth, and this presently caused strange commotions,
voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake; these were the answers God gave to the prayers of the saints, and tokens of his anger against the world and that he would do great things to avenge himself and his people of their enemies; and now, all things being thus prepared, the angels discharge their duty.
7 Observe, I.
The first angel sounded the first trumpet, and the events which followed were very dismal:
There followed hail and fire mingled with blood, etc.,
Revel 8:7. There was a terrible storm; but whether it is to be understood of a storm of heresies, a mixture of monstrous errors falling on the church (for in that age Arianism prevailed), or a storm or tempest of war falling on the civil state, expositors are not agreed. Mr. Mede takes it to be meant of the Gothic inundation that broke in upon the empire in the year 395, the same year that Theodosius died, when the northern nations, under Alaricus, king of the Goths, broke in upon the western parts of the empire. However, here we observe, 1. It was a very terrible storm-fire, and hail, and blood: a strange mixture! 2. The limitation of it: it fell on
the third part of the trees, and on the third part of
the grass, and blasted and burnt it up; that is, say some, upon
the third part of the clergy and
the third part of the laity; or, as others who take it to fall upon the civil state, upon
the third part of the great men, and upon
the third part of the common people, either upon the Roman empire itself, which was a third part of the then known world, or upon a third part of that empire. The most severe calamities have their bounds and limits set them by the great God.
II.
The second angel sounded, and the alarm was followed, as in the first, with terrible events:
A great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood, Revel 8:8. By this mountain some understand the leader or leaders of the heretics; others, as Mr. Mede, the city of Rome, which was five times sacked by the Goths and Vandals, within the compass of 137 years; first by Alaricus, in the year 410, with great slaughter and cruelty. In these calamities, a third part of the people (called here the sea or collection of waters) were destroyed: here was still a limitation to the third part, for
in the midst of judgment God remembers mercy. This storm fell heavy upon the maritime and merchandizing cities and countries of the Roman empire.
III.
The third angel sounded, and the alarm had the like effects as before:
There fell a great star from heaven, etc.,
Revel 8:10. Some take this to be a political star, some eminent governor, and they apply it to Augustulus, who was forced to resign the empire to Odoacer, in the year 480. Others take it to be an ecclesiastical star, some eminent person in the church, compared to a
burning lamp, and they fix it upon Pelagius, who proved about this time a falling star, and greatly corrupted the churches of Christ. Observe, 1. Where this star fell:
Upon a third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters. 2. What effect it had upon them; it turned those springs and streams into wormwood, made them very bitter, that men were poisoned by them; either the laws, which are springs of civil liberty, and property, and safety, were poisoned by arbitrary power, or the doctrines of the gospel, the springs of spiritual life, refreshment, and vigour to the souls of men, were so corrupted and embittered by a mixture of dangerous errors that the souls of men found their ruin where they sought for their refreshment.
IV.
The fourth angel sounded, and the alarm was followed with further calamities. Observe, 1. The nature of this calamity; it was darkness; it fell therefore upon the great luminaries of the heaven, that give light to the world -
the sun, and the moon, and the stars, either the guides and governors of the church, or of the state, who are placed in higher orbs than the people, and are to dispense light and benign influences to them. 2. The limitation: it was confined to a third part of these luminaries; there was some light both of the sun by day, and of the moon and stars by night, but it was only a third part of what they had before. Without determining what is matter of controversy in these points among learned men, we rather choose to make these plain and practical remarks: - (1.) Where the gospel comes to a people, and is but coldly received, and has not its proper effects upon their hearts and lives, it is usually followed with dreadful judgments. (2.) God gives warning to men of his judgments before he sends them; he sounds an alarm by the written word, by ministers, by men's own consciences, and by the signs of the times; so that, if a people be surprised, it is their own fault. (3.) The anger of God against a people makes dreadful work among them; it embitters all their comforts, and makes even life itself bitter and burdensome. (4.) God does not in this world stir up all his wrath, but sets bounds to the most terrible judgments. (5.) Corruptions of doctrine and worship in the church are themselves great judgments, and the usual causes and tokens of other judgments coming on a people.
V. Before the other three trumpets are sounded here is solemn warning given to the world how terrible the calamities would be that should follow them, and how miserable those times and places would be on which they fell,
Revel 8:13. 1. The messenger was
an angel flying in the midst of heaven, as in haste, and coming on an awful errand. 2. The message was a denunciation of further and greater woe and misery than the world had hitherto endured. Here are three woes, to show how much the calamities coming should exceed those that had been already, or to hint how every one of the three succeeding trumpets should introduce its particular and distinct calamity. If less judgments do not take effect, but the church and the world grow worse under them, they must expect greater.
God will be known by the judgments that he executes; and he expects, when he comes to punish the world, the inhabitants thereof should tremble before him.