Revelation 8:10, 11
Revelation
8: 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great
star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the
rivers and on the springs of water.
Revelation
8: 11 The name of the
star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from
the water, because it was made bitter.
Verse 10
And
the third angel sounded - Indicating, according to the interpretation above
proposed, some important event in the downfall of the Roman empire.
And
there fell a great star from heaven - A star is a natural emblem of a prince,
of a ruler, of one distinguished by rank or by talent. Compare the notes on Revelation 2:28.
See Numbers 24:17,
and the notes on Isaiah 14:12.
A star falling from heaven would be a natural symbol of one who had left a
higher station, or of one whose character and course would be like a meteor
shooting through the sky.
Burning
as it were a lamp - Or, as a torch. The language here is such as would describe
a meteor blazing through the air; and the reference in the symbol is to
something that would have a resemblance to such a meteor. It is not a lurid
meteor (livid, pale, ghastly) that is here referred to, but a bright, intense,
blazing star - emblem of fiery energy; of rapidity of movement and execution;
of splendor of appearance - such as a chieftain of high endowments, of
impetuousness of character, and of richness of apparel, would be. In all
languages, probably, a star has been an emblem of a prince whose virtues have
shone brightly, and who has exerted a beneficial influence on mankind. In all
languages also, probably, a meteor flaming through the sky has been an emblem
of some splendid genius causing or threatening desolation and ruin; of a
warrior who has moved along in a brilliant but destructive path over the world;
and who has been regarded as sent to execute the vengeance of heaven. This
usage occurs because a meteor is so bright; because it appears so suddenly;
because its course cannot be determined by any known laws; and because, in the
apprehensions of people, it is either sent as a proof of the divine
displeasure, or is adapted to excite consternation and alarm. In the
application of this part of the symbol, therefore, we naturally look for some
prince or warrior of brilliant talents, who appears suddenly and sweeps rapidly
over the world; who excites consternation and alarm; whose path is marked by
desolation, and who is regarded as sent from heaven to execute the divine
purposes - who comes not to bless the world by brilliant talents well directed,
but to execute vengeance on mankind.
And
it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters -
On the phrase, “the third part,” see the notes on Revelation 8:7.
This reference to the “rivers” and to the “fountains of waters” seems, in part,
to be for the purpose of saying that everything would be affected by this
series of judgments. In the previous visions the trees and the green grass, the
sea and the ships, had been referred to. The rivers and the fountains of waters
are not less important than the trees, the grass, and the commerce of the
world, and hence this judgment is mentioned as particularly bearing on them. At
the same time, as in the case of the other trumpets, there is a propriety in
supposing that there would be something in the event referred to by the symbol
which would make it more appropriate to use this symbol in this case than in
the others. It is natural, therefore, to look for some desolations that would
particularly affect the portions of the world where rivers abound, or where
they take their rise; or, if it be understood as having a more metaphorical
sense, to regard it as affecting those things which resemble rivers and
fountains - the sources of influence; the morals, the religion of a people, the
institutions of a country, which are often so appropriately compared with
running fountains or flowing streams.
And
the name of the star is called Wormwood - Is appropriately so called. The
writer does not say that it would be actually so called, but that this name
would be properly descriptive of its qualities. Such expressions are common in
allegorical writings. The Greek word - ἄψινθος apsinthos- denotes “wormwood,”
a well-known bitter herb. That word becomes the proper emblem of bitterness.
Compare Jeremiah 9:15;
Jeremiah 23:15;
Lamentations 3:15, Lamentations 3:19.
And
the third part of the waters became wormwood - Became bitter as wormwood. This
is doubtless an emblem of the calamity which would occur if the waters should
be thus made bitter. Of course they would become useless for the purposes to
which they are mostly applied, and the destruction of life would be inevitable.
To conceive of the extent of such a calamity we have only to imagine a large
portion of the wells, and rivers, and fountains of a country made bitter as
wormwood. Compare Exodus 15:23-24.
And
many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter - This effect would
naturally follow if any considerable portion of the fountains and streams of a
land were changed by an infusion of wormwood. It is not necessary to suppose
that this is intended to be literally true; for as, by the use of a symbol, it
is not to be supposed that literally a part of the waters would be turned into
wormwood by the baleful influence of a falling meteor, so it is not necessary
to suppose that there is intended to be represented a literal destruction of
human life by the use of waters. Great destruction and devastation are
undoubtedly intended to be denoted by this - destruction that would be well
represented in a land by the natural effects if a considerable part of the
waters were, by their bitterness, made unfit to drink.
In the interpretation and
application, therefore, of this passage, we may adopt the following principles
and rules:
(a)It
may be assumed, in this exposition, that the previous symbols, under the first
and second trumpet-blasts, referred respectively to Alaric and his Goths, and
to Genseric and his Vandals.
(b)That the next great and decisive
event in the downfall of the empire is the one that is here referred to.
(c)That there would be some
chieftain or warrior who might be compared with a blazing meteor; whose course
would be singularly brilliant; who would appear suddenly like a blazing star,
and then disappear like a star whose light was quenched in the waters.
(d)That the desolating course of
that meteor would be mainly on those portions of the world that abounded with
springs of water and running streams.
(e)That an effect would be produced
as if those streams and fountains were made bitter; that is, that many persons
would perish, and that wide desolations would be caused in the vicinity of
those rivers and streams, as if a bitter and baleful star should fall into the
waters, and death should spread over the lands adjacent to them, and watered by
them.
Whether
any events occurred of which this would be the proper emblem is now the
question. Among expositors there has been a considerable degree of unanimity in
supposing that Attila, the king of the Huns, is referred to; and if the
preceding expositions are correct, there can be no doubt on the subject. After
Alaric and Genseric, Attila occupies the next place as an important agent in
the overthrow of the Roman empire, and the only question is, whether he would
be properly symbolized by this baleful star. The following remarks may be made
to show the propriety of the symbol:
(1) As already remarked, the place
which he occupies in history, as immediately succeeding Alaric and Genseric in
the downfall of the empire. This will appear in any chronological table, or in
the table of contents of any of the histories of those times. A full detail of
the career of Attila may be found in Gibbon, vol. ii. pp. 314-351. His career
extended from 433 a.d. to 453 a.d. It is true that he was contemporary with
Genseric, king of the Vandals, and that a portion of the operations of Genseric
in Africa were subsequent to the death of Attila (455 a.d. to 467 a.d.); but it
is also true that Genseric preceded Attila in the career of conquest, and was
properly the first in order, being pressed forward in the Roman warfare by the
Huns, 428 a.d. See Gibbon, ii. 306ff.
(2) In the manner of his appearance
he strongly resembled a brilliant meteor flashing in the sky. He came from the
east, gathering his Huns, and poured them down, as we shall see, with the
rapidity of a flashing meteor, suddenly on the empire. He regarded himself also
as devoted to Mars, the god of war, and was accustomed to array himself in a
especially brilliant manner, so that his appearance, in the language of his
flatterers, was such as to dazzle the eyes of beholders. One of his followers
perceived that a heifer that was grazing had wounded her foot, and curiously
followed the track of blood, until he found in the long grass the point of an ancient
sword, which he dug out of the ground and presented to Attila. “That
magnanimous, or rather that artful prince,” says Mr. Gibbon, “accepted with
pious gratitude this celestial favor; and, as the rightful possessor of the
sword of Mars, asserted his divine and indefeasible claim to the dominion of
the earth. The favorite of Mars soon acquired a sacred character, which
rendered his conquests more easy and more permanent; and the barbarian princes
confessed, in the language of devotion or flattery, that they could not presume
to gaze, with a steady eye, on the divine majesty of the king of the Huns,” ii.
317. How appropriate would it be to represent such a prince by the symbol of a
bright and blazing star - or a meteor flashing through the sky!
(3) there may be propriety, as
applicable to him, in the expression - “a great star from heaven failing upon
the earth.” Attila was regarded as an instrument in the divine hand in
inflicting punishment. The common appellation by which he has been known is
“the scourge of God.” This title is supposed by the modern Hungarians to have
been first given to Attila by a hermit of Gaul, but it was “inserted by Attila
among the titles of his royal dignity” (Gibbon, ii. 321, foot-note). To no one
could the title be more applicable than to him.
(4) his career as a conqueror, and
the effect of his conquests on the downfall of the empire, were such as to be
properly symbolized in this manner:
(a) The general effect of the
invasion was worthy of an important place in describing the series of events
which resulted in the overthrow of the empire. This is thus stated by Mr.
Gibbon: “The western world was oppressed by the Goths and Vandals, who fled
before the Huns; but the achievements of the Huns themselves were not adequate
to their power and prosperity. Their victorious hordes had spread from the
Volga to the Danube, but the public force was exhausted by the discord of
independent chieftains; their valor was idly consumed in obscure and predatory
excursions; and they often degraded their national dignity by condescending,
for the hopes of spoil, to enlist under the banners of their fugitive enemies.
In the reign of Attila the Huns again became the terror of the world; and I
shall now describe the character and actions of that formidable barbarian who
alternately invaded and insulted the East and the West, and urged the rapid
downfall of the Roman empire, ‹vol. ii. pp. 314,315.
(b) The parts of the earth affected
by the invasion of the Huns were those which would be properly symbolized by
the things specified at the blowing of this trumpet. It is said particularly
that the effect would be on “the rivers,” and on “the fountains of waters.” If
this has a literal application, or if, as was supposed in the case of the
second trumpet, the language used was such as had reference to the portion of
the empire that would be particularly affected by the hostile invasion, then we
may suppose that this refers to those portions of the empire that abounded in
rivers and streams, and more particularly those in which the rivers and streams
had their origin - for the effect was permanently in the “fountains of waters.”
As a matter of fact, the principal operations of Attila were in the regions of
the Alps, and on the portions of the empire whence the rivers flow down into
Italy. The invasion of Attila is described by Mr. Gibbon in this general
language: “The whole breadth of Europe, as it extends above five hundred miles
from the Euxine to the Adriatic, was at once invaded, and occupied, and
desolated, by the myriads of barbarians whom Attila led into the field,” ii.
319,320.
After describing the progress and
the effects of this invasion (pp. 320-331) he proceeds more particularly to
detail the events in the invasion of Gaul and Italy, pp. 331-347. After the
terrible battle of Chalons, in which, according to one account, one hundred and
sixty-two thousand, and, according to other accounts, three hundred thousand
persons were slain, and in which Attila was defeated, he recovered his vigor,
collected his forces, and made a descent on Italy. Under pretence of claiming
Honoria, the daughter of the Empress of Rome, as his bride, “the indignant
lover took the field, passed the Alps, invaded Italy, and besieged Aquileia
with an innumerable host of barbarians.” After endeavoring in vain for three
months to subdue the city, and when about to abandon the siege, Attila took
advantage of the appearance of a stork as a favorable omen to arouse his men to
a renewed effort, “a large breach was made in the part of the wall where the
stork had taken her flight; the Huns mounted to the assault with irresistible
fury; and the succeeding generation could scarcely discover the ruins of
Aquileia. After this dreadful chastisement Attila pursued his march; and as he
passed, the cities of Altinum, Concordia, and Padua were reduced into heaps of
stones and ashes. The inland towns, Vicenza, Verona, and Bergamo, were exposed
to the rapacious cruelty of the Huns; Milan and Pavia submitted without
resistance to the loss of their wealth, and applauded the unusual clemency
which preserved from the flames the public as well as the private buildings,
and spared the lives of the captive multitude. The popular traditions of Comum,
Turin, or Modena, may be justly suspected, yet they concur with more authentic
evidence to prove that Attila spread his ravages over the rich plains of modern
Lombardy, which are divided by the Po, and bounded by the Alps and the Apennines,”
ii. pp. 343,344. “It is a saying worthy of the ferocious pride of Attila, that
the grass never grew on the spot where his horse had trod” (ibid. p. 345).
Anyone has only to look on a map, and to trace the progress of those
desolations and the chief seats of his military operations to see with what
propriety this symbol would be employed. In these regions the great rivers that
water Europe have their origin, and are swelled by numberless streams that flow
down from the Alps; and about the fountains whence these streams flow were the
principal military operations of the invader.
(c) With equal propriety is he
represented in the symbol as affecting “a third” part of these rivers and
fountains. At least a third part of the empire was invaded and desolated by him
in his savage march, and the effects of his invasion were as disastrous on the
empire as if a bitter star had fallen into a third part of those rivers and
fountains, and had converted them into wormwood.
(d) There is one other point which
shows the propriety of this symbol. It is, that the meteor, or star, seemed to
be absorbed in the waters. It fell into the waters; embittered them; and was
seen no more. Such would be the case with a meteor that should thus fall upon
the earth - flashing along the sky, and then disappearing forever. Now, it was
remarkable in regard to the Huns, that their power was concentrated under
Attila; that he alone appeared as the leader of this formidable host; and that
when he died all the concentrated power of the Huns was dissipated, or became
absorbed and lost. “The revolution,” says Mr. Gibbon (ii. 348), “which
subverted the empire of the Huns, established the fame of Attila, whose genius
alone had sustained the huge and disjointed fabric. After his death the boldest
chieftains aspired to the rank of kings; the most powerful kings refused to
acknowledge a superior; and the numerous sons, whom so many various mothers
bore to the deceased monarch, divided and disputed, like a private inheritance,
the sovereign command of the nations of Germany and Scythia.” Soon, however, in
the conflicts which succeeded, the empire passed away, and the empire of the
Huns ceased. The people that composed it were absorbed in the surrounding
nations, and Mr. Gibbon makes this remark, after giving a summary account of
these conflicts, which continued but for a few years: “The Igours of the north,
issuing from the cold Siberian regions, which produced the most valuable furs,
spread themselves over the desert, as far as the Borysthenes and the Caspian
gates, and finally extinguished the empire of the Huns.” These facts may,
perhaps, show with what propriety Attila would be compared with a bright but
beautiful meteor; and that, if the design was to symbolize him as acting an
important part in the downfall of the Roman empire, there is a fitness in the
symbol here employed.
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