ACC ~ Revelation 8 v9

MANY DIE A SPIRITUAL DEATH. TYCONIUS: Another edition has the reading “[a third of] those who have souls” and shows thereby that they have died a spiritual death, similar to that which the apostle said about the widow, “She who is self-indulgent is dead.”And so the passage suggests that one third has killed another third by a poisonous tradition and by imitation of a useless teaching. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.8-9.

THE DEVIL DECEIVES BY TRICKERY. TYCONIUS: When he speaks customarily of the part that has a soul, he refers to persons who are spiritually dead and separated from the kingdom of God. “And a third of the birds fell to the ground.” Therefore, that third that died in the sea destroyed by its own death another third. He is describing the devil and those who are of one mind with the devil, who after the manner of birds fly around and deceive or wish to deceive all by their trickery. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.9.

THE DISTRACTIONS OF LIFE. OECUMENIUS: According to analogy and rhetorical custom, the “sea” may be regarded as the present life because of its turbulence and its many distractions. And one might interpret the “fish” and the “boats” to be those persons who are made filthy by salty and bitter sins and who are dissipated by anxiety over useless regrets for what they did in life. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 8.8-9.

THE THIRD TRUMPET REVELATION 8:10-11

OVERVIEW: At the blowing of the third trumpet, the devil was seen to fall (TYCONIUS, ANDREW OF CAESAREA). Through pleasures, the devil brings upon people a bitter destruction, and therefore we ought to examine ourselves so that we might remain spiritually healthy and not be condemned with the world (ANDREW OF CAESAREA). However, persons of good reputation and persons who live the spiritual life within the church sometimes fall like stars from their positions and like animals bend down toward earthly things (TYCONIUS, PRIMASIUS). Similarly, heretics leave the church and pollute the rivers of the holy Scriptures and so make many bitter and corrupt by an evil imitation of their teaching (TYCONIUS, PRIMASIUS, BEDE). As evil teaching makes bitter those who hear it, so too those waters that are used in rebaptisms make dead those who fall into them (CAESARIUS OF ARLES). Finally, as Naomi was called “Bitter” because of her many troubles, so also sinners will become bitter in their sufferings when they see the saints in glory (OECUMENIUS).

Rev