Revelation 8: 8,9
Revelation 8:8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great
mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea
became blood.
Revelation 8:9 And a third of the living
creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
Verse 8
And
the second angel sounded - Compare the notes on Revelation 8:2-7. This, according to the interpretation proposed above,
refers to the second of the four great events which contributed to the downfall
of the Roman empire. It will be proper in this case, as in the former, to
inquire into the literal meaning of the symbol, and then whether there was any
event that corresponded with it.
And
as it were a great mountain - A mountain is a natural symbol of strength, and
hence becomes a symbol of a strong and powerful kingdom; for mountains arc not
only places of strength in themselves, but they anciently answered the purposes
of fortified places, and were the seats of power. Hence, they are properly
symbols of strong nations. “The stone that smote the image became a great
mountain, and filled the whole earth,” Daniel 2:35.
Compare Zechariah 4:7;
Jeremiah 51:25.
We naturally, then, apply this part of the symbol to some strong and mighty
nation - not a nation, necessarily, that issued from a mountainous region but a
nation that in strength resembled a mountain.
Burning
with fire - A mountain in a blaze; that is, with all its woods on fire, or,
more probably, a volcanic mountain. There would perhaps be no more sublime
image than such a mountain lifted suddenly from its base and thrown into the
sea. One of the sublimest parts of the Paradise Lost is that where the poet
represents the angels in the great battle in heaven as lifting the mountains -
tearing them from their base - and hurling them on the foe:
“From
their foundations heaving to and fro,
They
plucked the seated hills, with all their load,
Rocks, waters, woods, and by the
shaggy tops
Uplifting, bore them in their
hands,” etc.
Book
vi.
The
poet, however, has not, as John has, represented a volcano borne along and cast
into the sea. The symbol employed here would denote some fiery, impetuous,
destructive power. If used to denote a nation, it would be a nation that was,
as it were, burning with the desire of conquest - impetuous, and fierce, and
fiery in its assaults - and consuming all in its way.
Cast
into the sea - The image is very sublime; the scene, should such an event occur,
would be awfully grand. As to the fulfillment of this, or the thing that was
intended to be represented by it, there cannot be any material doubt. It is not
to be understood literally, of course; and the natural application is to some
nation, or army, that has a resemblance in some respects to such a blazing
mountain, and the effect of whose march would be like casting such a mountain
into the ocean. We naturally look for agitation and commotion, and particularly
in reference to the sea, or to some maritime coasts. It is undoubtedly required
in the application of this, that we should find its fulfillment in some country
lying beyond the sea, or in some seacoast or maritime country, or in reference
to commerce.
And
the third part of the sea became blood - Resembled blood; became as red as
blood. The figure here is, that as such a blazing mountain cast into the sea
would, by its reflection on the waters, seem to tinge them with red, so there
would be something corresponding with this in what was referred to by the
symbol. It would be fulfilled if there was a fierce maritime warfare, and if in
some desperate naval engagement the sea should be tinged with blood.
And
the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died - The
effect was as if one-third of all the fish in the sea were cut off. Of course
this is not to be taken literally. It is designed to describe an effect,
pertaining to the maritime portion of the world, as if a third portion of all
that was in the sea should perish. The natural interpretation would be to apply
it to some invasion or calamity pertaining to the sea - to the islands, to the
maritime regions, or to commerce. If the whole description pertains to the
Roman empire, then this might be supposed to have particular reference to
something that would have a bearing on the maritime parts of that empire.
And
the third part of the ships were destroyed - This also pertains to the same
general calamity, affecting the commerce of the empire. The destruction of the
“ships” was produced, in some way, by casting the mountain into the sea -
either by their being consumed by the contact with the burning mass, or by
being sunk by the agitation of the waters. The essential idea is, that the
calamity would be of such a nature as would produce the destruction of vessels
at sea - either naval armaments, or ships of commerce. In looking now for the
application or fulfillment of this, it is necessary:
(a)to
find some event or events which would have a particular bearing on the maritime
or commercial part of the world; and,
(b)some such event or events that,
on the supposition that they were the things referred to, would be properly
symbolized by the image here employed:
(1)
If the first trumpet had reference to the invasion of Alaric and the Goths,
then in this we naturally look for the next succeeding act of invasion which
shook the Roman empire, and contributed to its fall.
(2) the next invasion was that under
Genseric, at the head of the Vandals (Gibbon, ii. 306ff). This occurred 428-468
ad.
(3) The symbol of a blazing or
burning mountain, torn from its foundation, and precipitated into the ocean,
would well represent this mighty nation moved from its ancient seat, and borne
along toward the maritime parts of the empire, and its desolations there - as
will be shown in the following remarks.
(4) the acts of the Vandals, under
Genseric, corresponded with the ideas expressed by the symbol. In illustrating
this I shall be indebted, as heretofore, principally to Mr. Gibbon:
(a) His general account of the
Vandals is this: they are supposed (i. 138) to have been originally the same
people with the Goths, the Goths and Vandals constituting one great nation
living on the shores of the Baltic. They passed in connection with them over
the Baltic; emigrated to Prussia and the Ukraine; invaded the Roman provinces;
received tribute from the Romans; subdued the countries about the Bosphorus;
plundered the cities of Bithynia; ravaged Greece and Illyrium, and were at last
settled in Thrace under the emperor Theodosius (Gibbon, i. 136-166; ii.
110-150). They were then driven forward by the Huns, and having passed through
France and Spain into Africa, conquered the Carthaginian territory, established
an independent government, and thence through a long period harassed the
neighboring islands, and the coasts of the Mediterranean by their predatory
incursions, destroying the ships and the commerce of the Romans, and were
distinguished in the downfall of the empire by their ravages on the islands and
the sea. Thus, they were moved along from place to place until the scene of
their desolations became more distinctly the maritime parts of the empire; and
the effect of their devastations might be well compared with a burning mountain
moved from its ancient base, and then thrown into the sea.
(b) This will be apparent from the
statements of Mr. Gibbon in regard to their ravages under their leader
Genseric. “Seville and Carthagena became the reward, or rather the prey of the
ferocious conquerors” (after they had defeated the Roman Castinus), “and the
vessels which they found in the harbor of Carthagena might easily transport
them to the isles of Majorca and Minorca, where the Spanish fugitives, as in a
secure recess, had vainly concealed their families and fortunes. The experience
of navigation, and perhaps the prospect of Africa, encouraged the Vandals to
accept the invitation which they received from Count Boniface” (to aid him in
his apprehended difficulties with Rome, and to enter into an alliance with him
by settling permanently in Africa (Gibbon, ii. 305,306)): “and the death of
Goaderic” (the Vandal king) “served only to forward and animate the bold
enterprise. In the room of a prince, not conspicuous for any superior powers of
the mind or body, they acquired his bastard brother, the terrible Genseric - a
name which, in the destruction of the Roman empire, has deserved an equal rank
with the names of Alaric and Attila.” “The ambition of Genseric was almost
without bounds, and without scruples; and the warrior could dexterously employ
the dark engines of policy to solicit the allies who might be useful to his
success, or to scatter among his enemies the seeds of enmity and contention.
Almost in the moment of his departure he was informed that Hermanric, king of
the Suevi, had presumed to ravage the Spanish territories, which he was
resolved to abandon. Impatient of the insult, Genseric pursued the hasty
retreat of the Suevi as far as Merida; precipitated the king and his army into
the river Anas, and calmly returned to the seashore to embark his troops. The
vessels which transported the Vandals over the modern Straits of Gibraltar, a
channel only twelve miles in breadth, were furnished by the Spaniards, who
anxiously wished for their departure; and by the African general who had
implored their formidable assistance” (Gibbon, ii. 306. Genseric, in the
accomplishment of his purposes, soon took possession of the northern coast of
Africa, defeating the armies of Boniface, and “Carthage, Cirta, and Hippo
Regius were the only cities that appeared to rise above the general inundation”
(Gibbon, ii. 308). “On a sudden,” says Mr. Gibbon (ii. 309), “the seven
fruitful provinces, from Tangier to Tripoli, were overwhelmed by the invasion
of the Vandals; whose destructive rage has perhaps been exaggerated by popular
animosity, religious zeal, and extravagant declamation. War in its fairest form
implies a perpetual violation of humanity and justice; and the hostilities of
barbarians are inflamed by the fierce and lawless spirit which perpetually
disturbs their peaceful and domestic society. The Vandals, where they found
resistance, seldom gave quarter; and the deaths of their valiant countrymen
were expiated by the ruin of the cities under whose walls they had fallen,”
etc.
The result of the invasion was the
conquest of all northern Africa; the reduction of Hippo and Carthage, and the
establishment of a government under Genseric in Africa that waged a long war
with Rome (Gibbon, ii. 310,311). The symbol before us has particular reference
to maritime or naval operations and desolations, and the following extracts
from Mr. Gibbon will show with what propriety, if this symbol was designed to
refer to him, these images were employed. “The discovery and conquest of the
black nations (in Africa) that might dwell beneath the torrid zone could not
tempt the rational ambition of Genseric; but he east his eyes toward the sea;
he resolved to create a naval power, and his bold resolution was executed with
steady and active perseverance. The woods of Mount Atlas afforded an
inexhaustible supply of timber; his new subjects were skilled in the arts of
navigation and ship-building; he animated his daring Vandals to embrace a mode
of warfare which would render every maritime country accessible to their arms;
the Moors and Africans were allured by the hope of plunder; and after an
interval of six centuries the fleets that issued from the port of Carthage again
claimed the empire of the Mediterranean. The success of the Vandals, the
conquest of Sicily, the sack of Palermo, and the frequent descents on the
coasts of Lucania, awakened and alarmed the mother of Valentinian and the
sister of Theodosius. Alliances were formed; and armaments, expensive and
ineffectual, were prepared for the destruction of the common enemy, who
reserved his courage to encounter those dangers which his policy could not
prevent or elude.
The revolutions of the palace, which
left the Western empire without a defender and without a lawful prince,
dispelled the apprehension and stimulated the avarice of Genseric. He
immediately equipped a numerous fleet of Vandals and Moors, and cast anchor at
the mouth of the Tiber,” etc. (Gibbon, ii. 352). “On the third day after the
tumult (455 a.d., on the death of Maximus) Genseric boldly advanced from the
port of Ostia to the gates of the defenseless city. Instead of a sally of the
Roman youth, there issued from the gates an unarmed and venerable procession of
the bishop at the head of the clergy. But Rome and its inhabitants were
delivered to the licentiousness of the Vandals and the Moors, whose blind
passions revenged the injuries of Carthage. The pillage lasted fourteen days
and nights; and all that yet remained of public or private wealth, of sacred or
profane treasure, was diligently transported to the vessels of Genseric,” etc.
See the account of this pillage in
Gibbon, ii. 355-366. The emperor Majorian (457 a.d.) endeavored to “restore the
happiness of the Romans,” but he encountered the arms of Genseric, from his
character and situation their most formidable enemy. A fleet of Vandals and
Moors landed at the mouth of the Liris, or Garigliano; but the imperial troops
surprised and attacked the disorderly barbarians, who were encumbered with the
spoils of Campania; they were chased with slaughter to their ships; and their
leader, the king‘s brother-in-law, was found in the number of the slain. Such
vigilance might announce the character of the new reign; but the strictest
vigilance, and the most numerous forces, were insufficient to protect the
long-extended coast of Italy from the depredations of a naval war” (Gibbon, ii.
363). “The emperor had foreseen that it was impossible, without a maritime power,
to achieve the conquest of Africa. In the first Punic war the republic had
exerted such incredible diligence, that within sixty days after the first
stroke of the axe had been given in the forest a fleet of one hundred and sixty
galleys proudly rode at anchor in the sea. Under circumstances much less
favorable Majorian equalled the spirit and perseverance of the ancient Romans.
The woods of the Apennines were felled, the arsenals and manufactures of
Ravenna and Misenium were restored, Italy and Gaul vied with each other in
liberal contributions to the public service; and the imperial navy of 300 large
galleys, with an adequate proportion of transports and smaller vessels, was
collected in the secure and capacious harbor of Carthagena in Spain” (Gibbon, ii.
363,364).
The fate of this large navy is thus
described by Mr. Gibbon: “Genseric was saved from impending and inevitable ruin
by the treachery of some powerful subjects; envious or apprehensive of their
master‘s success. Guided by their secret intelligence, he surprised the
unguarded fleet in the bay of Carthagena; many of the ships were sunk, or
taken, or burnt; and the preparations of three years were destroyed in a single
day,” ii. 364. The further naval operations and maritime depredations of the Vandals
under Genseric are thus stated by Mr. Gibbon: “The kingdom of Italy, a name to
which the Western empire was gradually reduced, was afflicted, under the reign
of Ricimer, by the incessant depredations of Vandal pirates. In the spring of
each year they equipped a formidable navy in the port of Carthage; and Genseric
himself, though in very advanced age, still commanded in person the most
important expeditions. His designs were concealed with impenetrable secrecy
until the moment that he hoisted sail. When he was asked by the pilot what
course he should steer - ‹Leave the determination to the winds,‘ replied the
barbarian, with pious arrogance; ‹they will transport us to the guilty coast
whose inhabitants have provoked the divine justice;‘ but if Genseric himself
deigned to issue more precise orders, he judged the most wealthy to be the most
criminal.
The Vandals repeatedly visited the
coasts of Spain, Liguria, Tuscany, Campania, Lucania, Bruttium, Apulia,
Calabria, Venetia, Dalmatia, Epirus, Greece, and Sicily; they were tempted to
subdue the island of Sardinia, so advantageously placed in the center of the
Mediterranean; and their arms spread desolation, or terror, from the Columns of
Hercules to the mouth of the Nile. As they were more ambitious of spoil than of
glory, they seldom attacked any fortified cities, or engaged any regular troops
in the open field. But the celerity of their motions enabled them, almost at
the same time, to threaten and to attack the most distant objects which
attracted their desires; and as they always embarked a sufficient number of
horses, they had no sooner landed than they swept the dismayed country with a
body of light cavalry,” ii. 366. How far this description agrees with the
symbol in the passage before us - “a great mountain burning with fire cast into
the sea”; “the third part of the ships were destroyed” - must be left to the
reader to judge.
It may be asked, however, with at
least some show of reason, whether, if it be admitted that it was the design of
the author of the Book of Revelation to refer to the movements of the Vandals
under Genseric as one of the important and immediate causes of the ruin of the
Roman empire, he could have found a more expressive symbol than this? Indeed,
is there now any symbol that would be more striking and appropriate? If one
should now undertake to represent this as one of the causes of the (downfall of
the empire by a symbol, could he easily find one that would be more expressive?
It is a matter that is in itself perhaps of no importance, but it may serve to
show that the interpretation respecting the second trumpet was not forced, to
remark that I had gone through with the interpretation of the language of the
symbol before I looked into Mr. Gibbon with any reference to the application.