John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And the second angel sounded , etc.] His trumpet: and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea ; by which is meant not the devil, as some think; called a mountain from his height of pride, a great one from his might and power, and a burning one from his great wrath and malice against Christ, his Gospel, and his people; and who may be said to be cast into the sea of this world, and the men of it, whom he instigates against the saints, and who are like a troubled sea that cannot rest: but rather some heresy, and, as some have thought, the Macedonian heresy, which was levelled against the deity of the Holy Spirit, as was the Arian heresy against the deity of the Son; the abettors of which looked big, and were supported by power, and showed great zeal for religion, and pretended to great light and knowledge; and which heresy much affected the sea of pure doctrine, particularly the third part of doctrine, in which the third Person, the Spirit of God, is more especially concerned; and was of so pernicious a nature, as to kill many that professed the Gospel, and had a name to live, and destroy many particular churches, comparable to ships; but, as before, it is best to understand this of another incursion of the Goths into the Roman empire, and of the effects of it; and it seems to have respect to the taking and sacking of Rome by Alaricus, king of the West Goths, in the year 410, or 412 f252 . Rome is very fitly represented by a great mountain, as kingdoms and cities sometimes are; (see Zechariah 4:7 Isaiah 13:2); seeing it was built on seven mountains; and its being taken and burnt by Alaricus is aptly expressed by a burning mountain, as the destruction of Babylon, which is another name for Rome, is by a burnt mountain in ( Jeremiah 51:25); the sea into which this was cast may signify the great number of people and nations within its jurisdiction which suffered, and were thrown into confusion at this time; so distresses and calamities in nations are expressed by a like figure in ( Psalm 46:2); and the third part of the sea became blood ; that is, a third part of the jurisdiction of Rome, signified by the sea, (see Jeremiah 51:36); was afflicted with wars and bloodshed by this same sort of people; for while these things were done in Italy, a like calamity fell on France and Spain; the Alans, Vandals, and Sueves, having depopulated France, passed over the Pyraenean mountains, and seized on Spain; the Vandals and Sueves on Gallaecia; the Alans on Portugal; and the Silingi, which was another sort of Vandals, invaded Andalusia f253 ; the Goths under Ataulphus entered France, and the Burgundians seized that part of it next the Rhine f254 : (see Exodus 7:20,21).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-13 - The first angel sounded the first trumpet, and there followed hail an fire mingled with blood. A storm of heresies, a mixture of dreadfu errors falling on the church, or a tempest of destruction. The secon angel sounded, and a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast int the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood. By this mountai some understand leaders of the persecutions; others, Rome sacked by the Goths and Vandals, with great slaughter and cruelty. The third ange sounded, and there fell a star from heaven. Some take this to be a eminent governor; others take it to be some person in power wh corrupted the churches of Christ. The doctrines of the gospel, the springs of spiritual life, comfort, and vigour, to the souls of men are corrupted and made bitter by the mixture of dangerous errors, s that the souls of men find ruin where they sought refreshment. The fourth angel sounded, and darkness fell upon the great lights of heaven, that give light to the world, the sun, and the moon, and the stars. The guides and governors are placed higher than the people, an are to dispense light, and kind influences to them. Where the gospe comes to a people, and has not proper effects on their hearts an lives, it is followed with dreadful judgments. God gives alarm by the written word, by ministers, by men's own consciences, and by the sign of the times; so that if people are surprised, it is their own fault The anger of God makes all comforts bitter, and even life itsel burdensome. But God, in this world, sets bounds to the most terribl judgments. Corruption of doctrine and worship in the church are grea judgments, and also are the usual causes and tokens of other judgment coming on a people. Before the other three trumpets were sounded, ther was solemn warning how terrible the calamities would be that shoul follow. If lesser judgments do not take effect the church and the worl must expect greater; and when God comes to punish the world, the inhabitants shall tremble before him. Let sinners take warning to fle from the wrath to come; let believers learn to value and to be thankfu for their privileges; and let them patiently continue in well doing _________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM δευτερος 1208 A-NSM αγγελος 32 N-NSM εσαλπισεν 4537 5656 V-AAI-3S και 2532 CONJ ως 5613 ADV ορος 3735 N-NSN μεγα 3173 A-NSN πυρι 4442 N-DSN καιομενον 2545 5746 V-PPP-NSN εβληθη 906 5681 V-API-3S εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν 2281 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ εγενετο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3S το 3588 T-NSN τριτον 5154 A-NSN της 3588 T-GSF θαλασσης 2281 N-GSF αιμα 129 N-NSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. As it were (wv). Not a mountain, but a fiery mass so large as to resemble one.Blood. Reminding of the first plague in Egypt (Exod. vii. 20, 21).
