Verses 1–12
Upon sounding the fifth trumpet, a star fell from heaven to the earth. Having ceased to be a
minister of Christ, he who is represented by this star becomes the minister of the devil; and lets
loose the powers of hell against the churches of Christ. On the opening of the bottomless pit, there
arose a great smoke. The devil carries on his designs by blinding the eyes of men, by putting out
light and knowledge, and promoting ignorance and error. Out of this smoke there came a swarm
of locusts, emblems of the devil's agents, who promote superstition, idolatry, error, and cruelty.
The trees and the grass, the true believers, whether young or more advanced, should be untouched.
But a secret poison and infection in the soul, should rob many others of purity, and afterwards of
peace. The locusts had no power to hurt those who had the seal of God. God's all-powerful,
distinguishing grace will keep his people from total and final apostacy. The power is limited to a
short season; but it would be very sharp. In such events the faithful share the common calamity,
but from the pestilence of error they might and would be safe. We collect from Scripture, that such
errors were to try and prove the Christians, 1Co 11:19. And early writers plainly refer this to the
first great host of corrupters who overspread the Christian church.
Verses 13–21
The sixth angel sounded, and here the power of the Turks seems the subject. Their time is
limited. They not only slew in war, but brought a poisonous and ruinous religion. The antichristian
generation repented not under these dreadful judgments. From this sixth trumpet learn that God
can make one enemy of the church a scourge and a plague to another. The idolatry in the remains
of the eastern church and elsewhere, and the sins of professed Christians, render this prophecy and
its fulfilment more wonderful. And the attentive reader of Scripture and history, may find his faith
and hope strengthened by events, which in other respects fill his heart with anguish and his eyes
with tears, while he sees that men who escape these plagues, repent not of their evil works, but go
on with idolatries, wickedness, and cruelty, till wrath comes upon them to the utmost.
Chapter 10
Chapter Outline
The Angel of the covenant presents a little (1–4)
open book, which is followed with seven
thunders.
At the end of the following prophecies, time (5–7)
should be no more.
A voice directs the apostle to eat the book; (8–10)
and tells him he must prophesy further. (11)