ACC ~ Revelation 8 v10

SOME WHO LIVE THE SPIRITUAL LIFE FALL. TYCONIUS: The “great star” is the devil, of whom the Lord spoke in the Gospel, “I saw Satan fall from heaven as fire or lightning.” It is possible that this passage also refers to ecclesiastical people, who living the spiritual life in the church, have become forgetful of themselves and like animals bend down to the things of the earth and fall from their positions of authority. We read what has been written of such persons: “Although he is in honor, he does not understand; he is compared to the senseless cattle and has become like them.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.10.

SOME OF GOOD REPUTE FALL LIKE STARS. PRIMASIUS: It speaks of men who have fallen from heaven as though from the church, that is, of those who have the public reputation of shining brightly with good merits. For that reason they are compared to stars and torches, as did the apostle Jude, who called them “stars of seduction,” since they lead astray by a superficial splendor. And the Lord also compared such people with walls and “whitewashed tombs.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.2.10-11.

THE DEVIL GIVES A BITTER DESTRUCTION TO DRINK. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Some say that the bitterness revealed through the wormwood is symbolic of the torment that comes to those sinners being punished in Gehenna, who, on account of their number, are reasonably called “waters.” But we think that these depictions signify the sufferings at the time, which has been shown. The star indicates either that these things come upon people from heaven, or it refers to the devil, of whom Isaiah says, “How has the Day Star, which rose in the morning, fallen from heaven.” For, through pleasure he gives people a foul and bitter destruction to drink and through this allows punishing torments to come upon them, although not to everyone, but by the longsuffering of God to a third part. … It is necessary, therefore, that we examine ourselves lest we be judged. As the holy apostle says, “For if we judged ourselves, we should not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened,” and we receive the sufferings that come upon us with thanksgiving. For those who are concerned about sicknesses in the body bear patiently the cuts and cauteries of the physician, for they desire to be healed. Therefore, [we should examine ourselves] so that being spiritually healthy and bringing no wood to fuel the fire of Gehenna, we might not be condemned with the world but eternally rule with Christ, to whom be glory, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.10-11.

HERETICS POLLUTE THE WATERS OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. BEDE:

The third trumpet shows the heretics apostatizing from the church and corrupting the rivers of the holy Scriptures. … The heretics, whom the apostle Jude calls “stars of seduction,” fall from the height of the church and by the flame of their own iniquity endeavor to pollute the fountains of the divine Scriptures, fearing neither to falsify their meaning and often even their words. And so they are worthy of the name Wormwood. For even a small admixture of this is able to make bitter a great sweetness. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 8.2, 10-11.

Rev