An Exposition of Revelation .pdf

schemes which have been set up in its place. One able writer contends for the Greek or Eastern
Empire, because the Macedonian was the third of the four great empires of Dan. 2, and Dan. 7. But
"the third part" is quite another thought and phrase. It is enough now to state what one believes to be
the fact.
Accordingly at least the earlier Trumpets (though not these only) are a specific visitation of
judgment on the properly western empire. Not only was this visited, but "the third of the trees was
burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." This is notable. The dignitaries within that sphere were
consumed, but there was also a universal interference with the prosperity of men. Any "pause of
judgment" at this point is pure fancy: the word of God utterly ignores it. Of such an episode the
prophet neither says nor implies the least trace. The only revealed "pause" is in verse 13, portending
the still more tremendous Trumpets of woe.
"And the second angel sounded trumpet, and as a great mountain burning with fire was cast into
the sea: and the third of the sea became blood; and the third of the creatures which were in the sea,
which had life, died; and the third of the ships was destroyed" It was in this case a great earthly power,
which in divine judgment deals with the masses in a revolutionary state to their destruction. Thus not
merely the world under stable government, but that which is or when it is in a state of agitation and
disorder; and we find the same deadly effects here also putting an end, it would seem, to their trade
and commerce.
"The third angel sounded trumpet, and there fell out of the heaven a great star, burning as it were
a torch, and it fell upon the third of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; and the name of
the star is called Wormwood; and the third of the waters became wormwood; and many of the men
died of the waters, because they were made bitter." Here the fall of a great dignitary or ruler, whose
influence was judicially turned to poison all the springs and channels of popular influence, comes
before us. The sources and means of refreshing intercourse among men are visited by God's
embittering judgment.
"The fourth angel sounded trumpet, and the third of the sun was smitten, and the third of the
moon and the third of the stars; so that the third of them should be darkened, and that the day should
not appear for the third of it, and the night likewise." The fourth sounds its warning to all the
governing powers — supreme, derivative, and subordinate — which must come under God's
judgment, and all within the western empire. Learned men have sought to explain this judgment by an
eclipse; and scientific men have argued for some such notion as agreeing with the phrase here
employed. But this style of accommodation is quite untenable. The effect described by the prophet is
far beyond any eclipse. It is symbolic presentation, and wholly beyond nature, to denote the extinction
of all government within the western empire.
Even so worse is at hand, as next the eagle cries. "And I saw, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven,
saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell on the earth, because of the
remaining voices of the trumpet of the three angels that are about to sound." It is a vivid image of
rapidly approaching judgments, "angel" having slipped in inadvertently for the better reading "eagle,"
through scribes who did not appreciate the symbolic style. The Woes are to fall expressly on those
settled down on the earth. It is not now on the circumstances and surroundings of men, but directly on
themselves. Here again notice how systematic is this book. The last three are distinguished thus from
the first four.
42