John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea , etc.] The fishes; by whom men are meant, the inhabitants of the Roman empire; (see Ezekiel 29:4,5), where by fish the Targum understands mighty princes and governors: and had life, died ; were put to death by these savage and barbarous people, who killed all they met with, men, women, and children, young and old, rich and poor, high and low: and the third part of the ships were destroyed ; by which may be designed either the cities and towns within such a part of the Roman jurisdiction, which were burnt or plundered by them; or their goods and effects, which they pillaged, and carried off the wealth and riches of the people, even all their substance, as Austin and Jerom f256 , who lived in those times, affirm.
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 απεθανεν 599 5627 V-2AAI-3S το 3588 T-NSN τριτον 5154 A-NSN των 3588 T-GPN κτισματων 2938 N-GPN των 3588 T-GPN εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF θαλασση 2281 N-DSF τα 3588 T-NPN εχοντα 2192 5723 V-PAP-NPN ψυχας 5590 N-APF και 2532 CONJ το 3588 T-NSN τριτον 5154 A-NSN των 3588 T-GPN πλοιων 4143 N-GPN διεφθαρη 1311 5648 V-2API-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Life (yucav). See on 3 John 2.Ships (ploiwn). See on Luke v. 2.
