were grievously afflicted by the Arian, Pelagian and other heresies; as also exposed to persecution by the civil powers, whom those heresiarchs moved to oppress the orthodox:  consequently, the righteous judgments of God fall first upon that member of the empire.  The eastern section, however, is destined to become the special object of the judgments indicated by the succeeding trumpets.  However interpreters differ in details when explaining the effects produced by the sounding of the first four trumpets, they very generally harmonize in the application of them to the western section of the Roman empire.  The luminaries of heaven are darkened, or fall, or are extinguished, while the earth, the sea and the rivers are correspondently affected.  Now, these are the well known allegorical representations of divine judicial visitations of guilty communities, as we find in the prophetic writings.  See, for example, the case of Babylon, “the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency” (Isa. xiii. 1, 10;) also Egypt,—­(Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8.)

13.  And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

V. 13.—­Before the fifth angel sounds, a note of warning is given by the ministry, of another angel distinct from the seven with the trumpets.  He pronounces a “woe” thrice repeated, upon the inhabitants of the earth, indicating that heavier judgments and of longer duration are about to be inflicted.  This announcement was intended to excite attention and awful expectation.  This angel’s message of “heavy tidings” may be viewed in quite interesting contract with that of a subsequent angel,—­“flying through the midst of heaven,” (ch. xiv. 6.) How different, yet harmonious, is the ministry of those heavenly messengers!

The first four trumpets, as we have seen, demolished the western division of the Roman empire.  About the middle of the sixth century this work was brought to completion.  Here, for greater clearness, we may be allowed to anticipate by digressing a little.  Assuming now, what shall afterwards appear to be correct, that the Roman empire is Daniel’s fourth universal monarchy, and Paul’s “let,” or hinderance, to the revealing of the “Man of Sin;” since the first four trumpets have dismembered that great power, revealing the “ten toes,—­ten horns,” or kingdoms; we would expect now to hear of the destruction of that “Son of perdition.”  But it is not so.  That is to be effected by the vials, (ch. xvi.) As the general and grand design of the Apocalypse is to illustrate the divine government, exhibiting the moral world as affecting, or affected by the Christian religion, it seemed good to the Divine Author that the destinies of the eastern section of the Roman empire yet standing, where many of his saints reside, shall come under review.  Ecclesiastical