A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
1. ANd when he had opened the ſeventh ſeal, there was ſilence in heaven about the ſpace of half an hour.
1. There was a little ſpace, after the opening of the ſeventh Seal, before I ſaw or heard the Revelation of it.
2. And I ſaw the ſeven angels which ſtood before God, and to them were given ſeven trumpets.
2. Seven Angels were appointed to publiſh, as by Trumpet, the Judgments following. Some think that the Temple-Worſhip is here deſcribed, where the people without prayed in ſilence, while the Prieſt within officiated, and the Trumpets ſounded: Which the following words favour.
3. And another angel came and ſtood at the altar, having a golden cenſer, and there was given unto him much incenſe, that he ſhould offer it with the prayers of all ſaints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne.
3. Another Angel repreſented the High Prieſt, whoſe Office was, to offer Incenſe at the Altar, and to offer up Prayers for the People: To which uſe, he had a Golden Cenſer, and a Golden Altar, to ſhew the honour of the Chriſtian Miniſtry and Worſhip; which is all accepted, through Chriſt's Interceſſion.
4. And the ſmoke of the incenſe which came with the prayers of the ſaints, aſcended up before God, out of the angel's hand.
4. And God received, as grateful, the Prayers of his People, as offered by the Miniſters, and by Chriſt.
5. And the angel took the cenſer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and caſt it into the earth: and there were voices, and thundrings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
5. And upon the Acceptance of the Saints Prayers, followed the kindling of God's avenging Judgments on the Earth.
6. And the ſeven angels, which had the ſeven trumpets, prepared themſelves to ſound.
6. Then did the Meſſengers of God's Judgments prepare to publiſh, or ſound, them forth.
7. The firſt angel ſounded, and there followed hail, and fire mingled with blood, and they were caſt upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green graſs was burnt up.
7. And the Judgment publiſhed by the firſt Angel, began with Deſtruction on the Countries, ſuch as uſually accompany Wars, which lay waſt Land and Houſes.
8. 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: 9. And the third part of the creatures which were in the ſea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ſhips were deſtroyed.
8, 9. That no place ſhould eſcape, the next degree of Judgment was repreſented by a Mountain of Fire, caſt into the Sea, which turned the third part of the Sea into Blood, &c. ſignifying increaſed Wars and Bloodſhed; by Sea and Land.
The particular Signification Expoſitors are utterly diſagreed in Dr. H. taketh it for the Bloodſhed by Inſurrections in Galilee: Others, for the Barbarians ruining the Roman Empire: Others, for Hereſies in the Church: Others, for the Biſhops Strife for Superiority.
10. And the third angel ſounded, and there fell a great ſtar from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters: 11. And the name of the ſtar is called wormwood; and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, becauſe they were made bitter.
10, 11. And next, the Jugdment was, the infecting of the Rivers, and Waters, with mortal Bitterneſs, by a Star from Heaven, that was mortally bitter, falling into them. This ſignifieth the further extenſive progreſs of the Puniſhment.
Some take this for the Fall of a great Captain of the Jews: And ſome, for one of their falſe, ſeducing Prophets: And ſome, for the Fall of the Weſtern Empire: And ſome, for Arrius: Some, for Pelagius: Some, for Mahomet: and ſome, for Hereticks in general.
12. And the fourth angel ſounded, and the third part of the ſun was ſmitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the ſtars; ſo as the third part of them was darkned, and the day ſhone not for a third part of it, and the night likewiſe.
12. On the Sounding of the fourth Angel, the progreſs of the Judgment was repreſented to me, as the darkning of the third part of th Sun, Moon and Stars; ſignifying the fall of ſome great Powers, Eccleſiaſtical or Civil.
Some expound it of Veſpaſians's deſtroying a third part of the Cities of Judea: Some of the beginning of the Siege of Jeruſalem: Some of Totila's ſacking of Rome: Some, of the Corruption of Prelacy, before Popery: Some, of Arrianiſm: Some, of the general Corruption of the Church by Popery.
Lira takes the four Angels to be the four Hereticks (as he doth the four Beaſts to be the four Patriarchs.)
13. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying thorow the midſt of heaven, ſaying with a loud voice, Wo, wo, wo to the inhabiters of the earth, by reaſon of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are yet to ſound.
13. This puniſhment extended but to a third part. But I heard an Angel flying in the midſt of Heaven, lowdly crying, wo, wo, wo for the greater plagues that were yet to ſome.
Some expound this out of Joſephus of one Jeſus Son of Ananias that, for many years before the ſiege, went about pronouncing this wo: Others divers other waies.