Annotations Upon the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 1. THere was silence in heaven about the space of halfe an houre] That is, peaceSilentium est felicitas, seu respiratio ecclesiae à perturbationibus. Alstedius. in the Church by Constantine.
Halfe an houre] i.e. A little time.
Vers. 3. And another Angell came and stood at the alter] That is, Christ the Angell of the Covenant,Vide Bezam. Heb. 13.15. & 7.24.25. Mal. 3.5. so Augustine, Primasius. He offers our prayers. The Altar is himselfe, who sanctifieth our prayers, as the Altar doth the gift.
Having a golden censer] i.e. His holy body.
Sicut thymiama ex veriis aromatum generibus conficiebatur, ita Thymiama hoc quod Deo Christus obtulit, ex variis Sanctorum omnium orationibus velut variis aromatibus constatum erat; quae diversis modis, diversis linguis, diversis votis, à diversis imò omnibus Sanctis Deo fundebantur. Crakanth. Defens. eccles. Anglic. c. 56.And there was given unto him much incense] See 4. verse, that is, Christs intercession perfuming the prayers of the Saints, of which incense of old was a type; is it spoken of Christ after his ascension. See Heb. 9.24. 1 Pet. 2.5.
VponUpon the golden Altar which was before the Throne] Under the law there was a brasen altar for the burnt offering, and a golden altar for incense; the incense came to God out of the Angels hand, our prayers must bee offered up to God by Christ our High Priest. Hereby is signified (saith Gerhard) that Christ as the onelyonly Priest of the New-Testament, doth execute his Priestly Office in heaven. Heb. 7.22.
See Rom. 10.9, 10.2. Tim. 2.19.Vers. 4. Which have not the seale of God in their foreheads] Profession of the Christian faith is the outward marke of a Christian.
Vers. 7. The first Angell sounded] The Gospell was preached by the Apostles.
Dr Tailor on 12. of Rev.And there followed haile, and fire mingled with bloud] That is, persecutions and perills, contradiction, exile and slaughter, by the stubbornesse of the Jews against them.
And they were cast upon the Earth] The lowest part of Christians, being cold in Christianity,Mr Cotton. they were hot in Emulation and contention.
Dr Tailor on 12. of Rev. 4.And the third part of the trees was burnt up] That is, the Apostles and excellent teachers of the Church, compared to fruitfull and flourishing trees, for their greennesse shadow and fruits, a great part of them were afflicted, slaine, put to deadly torments, but not all, the dragon could scorch but a third part.
And as it were a great Mountaine] That is, the Romane Tyrants, so called for their height, Id ib.power, and swelling pride.
Burning with fire] That is, of fury and fiercenesse against Christian Religion.
Was cast into the Sea] That is, many people of the world subject to the Romane power and Empire.
And the third part of the Sea became bloud] That is, many thousand Christians were oppressed and consumed with the fire of the burning mountaine, but onelyonly a third part.
Vers. 9. And the third part of the creatures dyed] That is, faithfull Christians slaughtered and murdered.Id ib.
And the third part of ships were destroyed] That is, the Churches whose Pastors are her Pilots, and these planted by the Apostles themselves, oppressed and subdued.
Vers. 10. There fell a great starre from heaven] That is, the Romane Bishop, for by starres are meant Teachers, fell from purity of doctrine.
Burning like a Lampe] Hee seemeth to describe a blazing Starre or comet, amongst which Lampadias is one. Mr Mede.
Vers. 11. And the name of the starre is called wormewood] All interpreters grant this Starre was some eminent person in authority, called wormewood,The Heresie of Arrius say some. because princeps amaritudinum, a prince of bitternesse.
The third part of the waters became worme wood] Many were infected with the heresie of Arrius, Nestorius and Eutyches.
Vers. 12. The third part of the Sun was smitten, and the third part of the Moone, and the third of the Starres] The Sun the Scriptures, the Moone the doctrine borrowed thence, the Starres the Ministers.
The day] That is, the joy and comfort of the Church in enjoying her happy Sun.
So that the third part of them was darkened: and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise] A grievous night of darknesse, either of Idolatry and superstition, as some, or of persecution, as others, darkned and obscured the chiefe ornaments of the purer Church of Christ.