Greek NT with variants

1καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} πεμπτοςG3991{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ειδονG1492{V-2AAI-1S} αστεραG792{N-ASM} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} πεπτωκοταG4098{V-RAP-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1093{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εδοθηG1325{V-API-3S} αυτωG846{P-DSM} ηG3588{T-NSF} κλειςG2807{N-NSF} τουG3588{T-GSN} φρεατοςG5421{N-GSN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} αβυσσουG12{N-GSF} 2β[καιG2532{CONJ} ατσκαιG2532{CONJ} βηνοιξεG455{V-AAI-3S} ατσηνοιξενG455{V-AAI-3S} τοG3588{T-ASN} φρεαρG5421{N-ASN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} βαβυσσου]G12{N-GSF} ατσαβυσσουG12{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ανεβηG305{V-2AAI-3S} καπνοςG2586{N-NSM} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSN} φρεατοςG5421{N-GSN} ωςG5613{ADV} καπνοςG2586{N-NSM} καμινουG2575{N-GSF} βκαιομενηςG2545{V-PPP-GSF} ατσμεγαληςG3173{A-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} αεσκοτωθηG4656{V-API-3S} τσβεσκοτισθηG4654{V-API-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} ηλιοςG2246{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} αηρG109{N-NSM} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} καπνουG2586{N-GSM} τουG3588{T-GSN} φρεατοςG5421{N-GSN} 3καιG2532{CONJ} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} καπνουG2586{N-GSM} εξηλθονG1831{V-2AAI-3P} ακριδεςG200{N-NPF} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1093{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εδοθηG1325{V-API-3S} αυταιςG846{P-DPF} εξουσιαG1849{N-NSF} ωςG5613{ADV} εχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} εξουσιανG1849{N-ASF} οιG3588{T-NPM} σκορπιοιG4651{N-NPM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} 4καιG2532{CONJ} ερρεθηG4483{V-API-3S} αυταιςG846{P-DPF} ιναG2443{CONJ} μηG3361{PRT-N} ααδικησουσινG91{V-FAI-3P} βαδικησωσιG91{V-AAS-3P} τσαδικησωσινG91{V-AAS-3P} τονG3588{T-ASM} χορτονG5528{N-ASM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} ουδεG3761{ADV} πανG3956{A-ASN} χλωρονG5515{A-ASN} ουδεG3761{ADV} πανG3956{A-ASN} δενδρονG1186{N-ASN} ειG1487{COND} μηG3361{PRT-N} τουςG3588{T-APM} ανθρωπουςG444{N-APM} τσμονουςG3441{A-APM} οιτινεςG3748{R-NPM} ουκG3756{PRT-N} αβεχουσιG2192{V-PAI-3P} τσεχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} τηνG3588{T-ASF} σφραγιδαG4973{N-ASF} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} επιG1909{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} μετωπωνG3359{N-GPN} τσβαυτωνG846{P-GPM} 5καιG2532{CONJ} εδοθηG1325{V-API-3S} ααυτοιςG846{P-DPM} τσβαυταιςG846{P-DPF} ιναG2443{CONJ} μηG3361{PRT-N} αποκτεινωσινG615{V-PAS-3P} αυτουςG846{P-APM} αλλG235{CONJ} ιναG2443{CONJ} αβασανισθησονταιG928{V-FPI-3P} ββασανισθωσιG928{V-APS-3P} τσβασανισθωσινG928{V-APS-3P} μηναςG3376{N-APM} πεντεG4002{A-NUI} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} βασανισμοςG929{N-NSM} αυτωνG846{P-GPF} ωςG5613{ADV} βασανισμοςG929{N-NSM} σκορπιουG4651{N-GSM} οτανG3752{CONJ} παισηG3817{V-AAS-3S} ανθρωπονG444{N-ASM} 6καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} ημεραιςG2250{N-DPF} εκειναιςG1565{D-DPF} ζητησουσινG2212{V-FAI-3P} οιG3588{T-NPM} ανθρωποιG444{N-NPM} τονG3588{T-ASM} θανατονG2288{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} αβουG3756{PRT-N} αβμηG3361{PRT-N} τσουχG3756{PRT-N} ευρησουσινG2147{V-FAI-3P} αυτονG846{P-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} επιθυμησουσινG1937{V-FAI-3P} αποθανεινG599{V-2AAN} καιG2532{CONJ} αφευγειG5343{V-PAI-3S} τσβφευξεταιG5343{V-FDI-3S} ατσοG3588{T-NSM} ατσθανατοςG2288{N-NSM} απG575{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} βοG3588{T-NSM} βθανατοςG2288{N-NSM} 7καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-NPN} ομοιωματαG3667{N-NPN} τωνG3588{T-GPF} ακριδωνG200{N-GPF} ομοιαG3664{A-NPN} ιπποιςG2462{N-DPM} ητοιμασμενοιςG2090{V-RPP-DPM} ειςG1519{PREP} πολεμονG4171{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} επιG1909{PREP} ταςG3588{T-APF} κεφαλαςG2776{N-APF} αυτωνG846{P-GPF} ωςG5613{ADV} στεφανοιG4735{N-NPM} ατσομοιοιG3664{A-NPM} ατσχρυσωG5557{N-DSM} βχρυσοιG5552{A-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-NPN} προσωπαG4383{N-NPN} αυτωνG846{P-GPF} ωςG5613{ADV} προσωπαG4383{N-NPN} ανθρωπωνG444{N-GPM} 8καιG2532{CONJ} ειχονG2192{V-IAI-3P} τριχαςG2359{N-APF} ωςG5613{ADV} τριχαςG2359{N-APF} γυναικωνG1135{N-GPF} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} οδοντεςG3599{N-NPM} αυτωνG846{P-GPF} ωςG5613{ADV} λεοντωνG3023{N-GPM} ησανG2258{V-IXI-3P} 9καιG2532{CONJ} ειχονG2192{V-IAI-3P} θωρακαςG2382{N-APM} ωςG5613{ADV} θωρακαςG2382{N-APM} σιδηρουςG4603{A-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} φωνηG5456{N-NSF} τωνG3588{T-GPF} πτερυγωνG4420{N-GPF} αυτωνG846{P-GPF} ωςG5613{ADV} φωνηG5456{N-NSF} αρματωνG716{N-GPN} ιππωνG2462{N-GPM} πολλωνG4183{A-GPM} τρεχοντωνG5143{V-PAP-GPM} ειςG1519{PREP} πολεμονG4171{N-ASM} 10καιG2532{CONJ} εχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} ουραςG3769{N-APF} ομοιαςG3664{A-APF} σκορπιοιςG4651{N-DPM} καιG2532{CONJ} κεντραG2759{N-APN} αβκαιG2532{CONJ} τσηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} ενG1722{PREP} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} ουραιςG3769{N-DPF} αυτωνG846{P-GPF} βεξουσιανG1849{N-ASF} βεχουσιG2192{V-PAI-3P} βτουG3588{T-GSM} τσκαιG2532{CONJ} ατσηG3588{T-NSF} ατσεξουσιαG1849{N-NSF} ατσαυτωνG846{P-GPF} αδικησαιG91{V-AAN} τουςG3588{T-APM} ανθρωπουςG444{N-APM} μηναςG3376{N-APM} πεντεG4002{A-NUI} 11τσκαιG2532{CONJ} βεχουσαιG2192{V-PAP-NPF} ατσεχουσινG2192{V-PAI-3P} ασεπG1909{PREP} τεφG1909{PREP} ατσαυτωνG848{F-GPF} βασιλεαG935{N-ASM} βεπG1909{PREP} βαυτωνG846{P-GPF} ατστονG3588{T-ASM} αγγελονG32{N-ASM} τηςG3588{T-GSF} αβυσσουG12{N-GSF} ονομαG3686{N-NSN} αυτωG846{P-DSM} εβραιστιG1447{ADV} βαββαδωνG3{N-PRI} ατσαβαδδωνG3{N-PRI} ατσκαιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} βδεG1161{CONJ} τηG3588{T-DSF} ελληνικηG1673{A-DSF} ονομαG3686{N-NSN} εχειG2192{V-PAI-3S} απολλυωνG623{N-NSM} 12ηG3588{T-NSF} ουαιG3759{N-OI} ηG3588{T-NSF} μιαG1520{A-NSF} απηλθενG565{V-2AAI-3S} ιδουG2400{V-2AAM-2S} αβερχεταιG2064{V-PNI-3S} τσερχονταιG2064{V-PNI-3P} ετιG2089{ADV} δυοG1417{A-NUI} ουαιG3759{N-OI} μεταG3326{PREP} ταυταG5023{D-APN} 13καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} εκτοςG1623{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} βεσαλπισεG4537{V-AAI-3S} ατσεσαλπισενG4537{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ηκουσαG191{V-AAI-1S} φωνηνG5456{N-ASF} μιανG1520{A-ASF} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} α[τεσσαρων]G5064{A-GPN} τσβτεσσαρωνG5064{A-GPN} κερατωνG2768{N-GPN} τουG3588{T-GSN} θυσιαστηριουG2379{N-GSN} τουG3588{T-GSN} χρυσουG5552{A-GSN} τουG3588{T-GSN} ενωπιονG1799{ADV} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} 14αλεγονταG3004{V-PAP-ASM} τσβλεγουσανG3004{V-PAP-ASF} τωG3588{T-DSM} εκτωG1623{A-DSM} αγγελωG32{N-DSM} αβοG3588{T-NSM} αβεχωνG2192{V-PAP-NSM} τσοςG3739{R-NSM} τσειχεG2192{V-IAI-3S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} σαλπιγγαG4536{N-ASF} λυσονG3089{V-AAM-2S} τουςG3588{T-APM} τεσσαραςG5064{A-APM} αγγελουςG32{N-APM} τουςG3588{T-APM} δεδεμενουςG1210{V-RPP-APM} επιG1909{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} ποταμωG4215{N-DSM} τωG3588{T-DSM} μεγαλωG3173{A-DSM} ευφρατηG2166{N-DSM} 15καιG2532{CONJ} ελυθησανG3089{V-API-3P} οιG3588{T-NPM} τεσσαρεςG5064{A-NPM} αγγελοιG32{N-NPM} οιG3588{T-NPM} ητοιμασμενοιG2090{V-RPP-NPM} ειςG1519{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ωρανG5610{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} β[εις]G1519{PREP} βτηνG3588{T-ASF} ημερανG2250{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} μηναG3376{N-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ενιαυτονG1763{N-ASM} ιναG2443{CONJ} βαποκτεινωσιG615{V-PAS-3P} ατσαποκτεινωσινG615{V-PAS-3P} τοG3588{T-ASN} τριτονG5154{A-ASN} τωνG3588{T-GPM} ανθρωπωνG444{N-GPM} 16καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} αριθμοςG706{N-NSM} αβτωνG3588{T-GPN} στρατευματωνG4753{N-GPN} τουG3588{T-GSN} βιππουG2462{N-GSM} ατσιππικουG2461{A-GSN} τσδυοG1417{A-NUI} τσβμυριαδεςG3461{A-NPM} αδισμυριαδεςG3461{A-NPF} μυριαδωνG3461{A-GPM} τσκαιG2532{CONJ} ηκουσαG191{V-AAI-1S} τονG3588{T-ASM} αριθμονG706{N-ASM} αυτωνG846{P-GPN} 17καιG2532{CONJ} ουτωςG3779{ADV} ειδονG1492{V-2AAI-1S} τουςG3588{T-APM} ιππουςG2462{N-APM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ορασειG3706{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} τουςG3588{T-APM} καθημενουςG2521{V-PNP-APM} επG1909{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} εχονταςG2192{V-PAP-APM} θωρακαςG2382{N-APM} πυρινουςG4447{A-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} υακινθινουςG5191{A-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} θειωδειςG2306{A-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} αιG3588{T-NPF} κεφαλαιG2776{N-NPF} τωνG3588{T-GPM} ιππωνG2462{N-GPM} ωςG5613{ADV} κεφαλαιG2776{N-NPF} λεοντωνG3023{N-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} στοματωνG4750{N-GPN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} εκπορευεταιG1607{V-PNI-3S} πυρG4442{N-NSN} καιG2532{CONJ} καπνοςG2586{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} θειονG2303{N-NSN} 18αβαποG575{PREP} τσυποG5259{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} τριωνG5140{A-GPM} αβπληγωνG4127{N-GPF} τουτωνG5130{D-GPM} απεκτανθησανG615{V-API-3P} τοG3588{T-NSN} τριτονG5154{A-NSN} τωνG3588{T-GPM} ανθρωπωνG444{N-GPM} βαποG575{PREP} ατσεκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSN} πυροςG4442{N-GSN} καιG2532{CONJ} τσεκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} καπνουG2586{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} τσεκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSN} θειουG2303{N-GSN} τουG3588{T-GSN} εκπορευομενουG1607{V-PNP-GSN} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} στοματωνG4750{N-GPN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} 19αβσηG3588{T-NSF} ταιG3588{T-NPF} γαρG1063{CONJ} αβσεξουσιαG1849{N-NSF} τεξουσιαιG1849{N-NPF} αβτωνG3588{T-GPM} τσαυτωνG846{P-GPM} αβιππωνG2462{N-GPM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSN} στοματιG4750{N-DSN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} βεστιG2076{V-PXI-3S} τεισινG1526{V-PXI-3P} ασεστινG2076{V-PXI-3S} αβσκαιG2532{CONJ} αβσενG1722{PREP} αβσταιςG3588{T-DPF} αβσουραιςG3769{N-DPF} αβσαυτωνG846{P-GPM} αιG3588{T-NPF} γαρG1063{CONJ} ουραιG3769{N-NPF} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ομοιαιG3664{A-NPF} βοφεωνG3789{N-GPM} ατσοφεσινG3789{N-DPM} εχουσαιG2192{V-PAP-NPF} κεφαλαςG2776{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} ενG1722{PREP} αυταιςG846{P-DPF} βαδικουσιG91{V-PAI-3P} ατσαδικουσινG91{V-PAI-3P} 20καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} λοιποιG3062{A-NPM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} ανθρωπωνG444{N-GPM} οιG3739{R-NPM} ουκG3756{PRT-N} απεκτανθησανG615{V-API-3P} ενG1722{PREP} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} πληγαιςG4127{N-DPF} ταυταιςG3778{D-DPF} αουδεG3761{ADV} βσουG3756{PRT-N} τουτεG3777{CONJ} μετενοησανG3340{V-AAI-3P} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} εργωνG2041{N-GPN} τωνG3588{T-GPF} χειρωνG5495{N-GPF} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ιναG2443{CONJ} μηG3361{PRT-N} απροσκυνησουσινG4352{V-FAI-3P} βπροσκυνησωσιG4352{V-AAS-3P} τσπροσκυνησωσινG4352{V-AAS-3P} ταG3588{T-APN} δαιμονιαG1140{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} αβταG3588{T-APN} ειδωλαG1497{N-APN} ταG3588{T-APN} χρυσαG5552{A-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} αργυραG693{A-APN} β[καιG2532{CONJ} ατσκαιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} βχαλκα]G5470{A-APN} ατσχαλκαG5470{A-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} λιθιναG3035{A-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} ξυλιναG3585{A-APN} αG3739{R-APN} ουτεG3777{CONJ} βλεπεινG991{V-PAN} αδυνανταιG1410{V-PNI-3P} τσβδυναταιG1410{V-PNI-3S} ουτεG3777{CONJ} ακουεινG191{V-PAN} ουτεG3777{CONJ} περιπατεινG4043{V-PAN} 21καιG2532{CONJ} ουG3756{PRT-N} μετενοησανG3340{V-AAI-3P} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPM} φονωνG5408{N-GPM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ουτεG3777{CONJ} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPF} αφαρμακωνG5331{N-GPN} τσβφαρμακειωνG5331{N-GPF} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ουτεG3777{CONJ} εκG1537{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} πορνειαςG4202{N-GSF} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ουτεG3777{CONJ} εκG1537{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPN} κλεμματωνG2809{N-GPN} αυτωνG846{P-GPM}


Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   Upon the sounding of this trumpet, the things to be observed are, 1. A star falling from heaven to the earth. Some think this star represents some eminent bishop in the Christian church, some angel of the church; for, in the same way of speaking by which pastors are called stars, the church is called heaven; but who this is expositors do not agree. Some understand it of Boniface the third bishop of Rome, who assumed the title of universal bishop, by the favour of the emperor Phocas, who, being a usurper and tyrant in the state, allowed Boniface to be so in the church, as the reward of his flattery. 2. To this fallen star was given the key of the bottomless pit. Having now ceased to be a minister of Christ, he becomes the antichrist, the minister of the devil; and by the permission of Christ, who had taken from him the keys of the church, he becomes the devil's turnkey, to let loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. 3. Upon the opening of the bottomless pit there arose a great smoke, which darkened the sun and the air. The devils are the powers of darkness; hell is the place of darkness. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by extinguishing light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. He first deceives men, and then destroys them; wretched souls follow him in the dark, or they durst not follow him. 4. Out of this dark smoke there came a swarm of locusts, one of the plagues of Egypt, the devil's emissaries headed by the antichrist, all the rout and rabble of antichristian orders, to promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty; and these had, by the just permission of God, power to hurt those who had not the mark of God in their foreheads. 5. The hurt they were to do them was not a bodily, but a spiritual hurt. They should not in a military way destroy all by fire and sword; the trees and the grass should be untouched, and those they hurt should not be slain; it should not be a persecution, but a secret poison and infection in their souls, which should rob them of their purity, and afterwards of their peace. Heresy is a poison in the soul, working slowly and secretly, but will be bitterness in the end. 6. They had no power so much as to hurt those who had the seal of God in their foreheads. God's electing, effectual, distinguishing grace will preserve his people from total and final apostasy. 7. The power given to these factors for hell is limited in point of time: five months, a certain season, and but a short season, though how short we cannot tell. Gospel-seasons have their limits, and times of seduction are limited too. 8. Though it would be short, it would be very sharp, insomuch that those who were made to feel the malignity of this poison in their consciences would be weary of their lives, Revel 9:6. A wounded spirit who can bear? 9. These locusts were of a monstrous size and shape, Revel 9:7, Revel 9:8, etc. They were equipped for their work like horses prepared to battle. (1.) They pretended to great authority, and seemed to be assured of victory: They had crowns like gold on their heads; it was not a true, but a counterfeit authority. (2.) They had the show of wisdom and sagacity, the faces of men, though the spirit of devils. (3.) They had all the allurements of seeming beauty, to ensnare and defile the minds of men - hair like women; their way of worship was very gaudy and ornamental. (4.) Though they appeared with the tenderness of women, they had the teeth of lions, were really cruel creatures. (5.) They had the defence and protection of earthly powers - breastplates of iron. (6.) They made a mighty noise in the world; they flew about from one country to another, and the noise of their motion was like that of an army with chariots and horses. (7.) Though at first they soothed and flattered men with a fair appearance, there was a sting in their tails; the cup of their abominations contained that which, though luscious at first, would at length bite like a serpent and sting like an adder. (8.) The king and commander of this hellish squadron is here described, [1.] As an angel; so he was by nature, an angel, once one of the angels of heaven. [2.] The angel of the bottomless pit; an angel still, but a fallen angel, fallen into the bottomless pit, vastly large, and out of which there is no recovery. [3.] In these infernal regions he is a sort of prince and governor, and has the powers of darkness under his rule and command. [4.] His true name is Abaddon, Apollyon - a destroyer, for that is his business, his design, and employment, to which he diligently attends, in which he is very successful, and takes a horrid hellish pleasure; it is about this destroying work that he sends out his emissaries and armies to destroy the souls of men. And now here we have the end of one woe; and where one ends another begins.

 13   Here let us consider the preface to this vision, and then the vision itself.
I. The preface to this vision: A voice was heard from the horns of the golden altar, Revel 9:13, Revel 9:14. Here observe, 1. The power of the church's enemies is restrained till God gives the word to have them turned loose. 2. When nations are ripe for punishment, those instruments of God's anger that were before restrained are let loose upon them, Revel 9:14. 3. The instruments that God makes use of to punish a people may sometimes lie at a great distance from them, so that no danger may be apprehended from them. These four messengers of divine judgment lay bound in the river Euphrates, a great way from the European nations. Here the Turkish power had its rise, which seems to be the story of this vision.
II. The vision itself: And the four angels that had been bound in the great river Euphrates were now loosed, Revel 9:15, Revel 9:16. And here observe, 1. The time of their military operations and executions is limited to an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year. Prophetic characters of time are hardly to be understood by us; but in general the time is fixed to an hour, when it shall begin and when it shall end; and how far the execution shall prevail, even to a third part of the inhabitants of the earth. God will make the wrath of man praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain. 2. The army that was to execute this great commission is mustered, and the number found to be of horsemen two hundred thousand thousand; but we are left to guess what the infantry must be. In general, it tells us, the armies of the Mahomedan empire should be vastly great; and so it is certain they were. 3. Their formidable equipage and appearance, Revel 9:17. As the horses were fierce, like lions, and eager to rush into the battle, so those who sat upon them were clad in bright and costly armour, with all the ensigns of martial courage, zeal, and resolution. 4. The vast havoc and desolation that they made in the Roman empire, which had now become antichristian: A third part of them were killed; they went as far as their commission suffered them, and they could go no further. 5. Their artillery, by which they made such slaughter, described by fire, smoke, and brimstone, issuing out of the mouths of their horses, and the stings that were in their tails. It is Mr. Mede's opinion that this is a prediction of great guns, those instruments of cruelty which make such destruction: he observes, These were first used by the Turks at the siege of Constantinople, and, being new and strange, were very terrible, and did great execution. However, here seems to be an allusion to what is mentioned in the former vision, that, as antichrist had his forces of a spiritual nature, like scorpions poisoning the minds of men with error and idolatry, so the Turks, who were raised up to punish the antichristian apostasy, had their scorpions and their stings too, to hurt and kill the bodies of those who had been the murderers of so many souls. 6. Observe the impenitency of the antichristian generation under these dreadful judgments (Revel 9:20); the rest of the men who were not killed repented not, they still persisted in those sins for which God was so severely punishing them, which were, (1.) Their idolatry; they would not cast away their images, though they could do them no good, could not see, nor hear, nor walk. (2.) Their murders (Revel 9:21), which they had committed upon the saints and servants of Christ. Popery is a bloody religion, and seems resolved to continue such. (3.) Their sorceries; they have their charms, and magic arts, and rites in exorcism and other things. (4.) Their fornication; they allow both spiritual and carnal impurity, and promote it in themselves and others. (5.) Their thefts; they have by unjust means heaped together a vast deal of wealth, to the injury and impoverishing of families, cities, princes, and nations. These are the flagrant crimes of antichrist and his agents; and, though God has revealed his wrath from heaven against them, they are obstinate, hardened, and impenitent, and judicially so, for they must be destroyed.
III. From this sixth trumpet we learn, 1. God can make one enemy of the church to be a scourge and plague to another. 2. He who is the Lord of hosts has vast armies at his command, to serve his own purposes. 3. The most formidable powers have limits set them, which they cannot transgress. 4. When God's judgments are in the earth, he expects the inhabitants thereof should repent of sin, and learn righteousness. 5. Impenitency under divine judgments is an iniquity that will be the ruin of sinners; for where God judges he will overcome.