First Trumpet.

7 ¶ “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” (Rev 8)

First Trumpet From AD 395.

Rev 8 Symbolic language of hail and fire used in Old Testament - describe coming judgments.

Judgments are cast upon the earth which symbolizes those ruled over.

Trees signify leaders of the people - grass represents people at large - the common multitude.

“...surely the people is grass.” (Isa 40:6)

Early Middle Ages Peoples of the Steppes

Alaric of the Visigoths. Conclude from history - Alaric chief of

Visigoths fulfils judgments of First Trumpet.

Rome initially makes peace with Alaric. Rome strongly defended by Vandal-

born Stilicho, Consul of Rome and Master of Soldiers.

AD 406 Germanic tribes attacked from North.

Sack of Rome. Stilicho great defender of Rome died

in AD 408. Alaric attacked Rome - starved her

into submission through seiges. In AD 410 gained entry - Rome

plundered by barbarian warriors for three days.

Alaric’s historic “sack of Rome” caused untold damage to Empire.

Culmination of First Trumpet.

To Romans everywhere : the “Eternal City”, inviolate for eight centuries - overcome by uncivilized conqueror.

No other event could so dramatize terrible imminence of demise of once-mighty Empire.

Result of First Trumpet blast evident for all to see.

Second Trumpet. 8 “And the second angel sounded,

and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” Rev 8

Second Trumpet From AD 429.

Mountain burning with fire is a destroying power as in Jer.51:25.

Waters symbolise peoples. Destroying power to descend literally

upon the maritime region washed by waters of Mediterranean and symbolically upon peoples inhabiting coasts - third part - Catholic West.

What power does history identify?

Genseric and The Vandals. The Vandals - Barbarian tribe from

German forests AD 429 cunning and cruel - Genseric became king.

For fifty years entangled plans of Roman diplomats and Germanic kings.

Arian Christians, carried out merciless campaign against Catholic population.

Brought measure of deliverance to Donatists suffering persecution by Catholics.

Vandals Pillage Rome. Fish used as symbols for men. Introduction of ships in prophecy,

indicates judgments under impact on naval and commercial interests of western third’s dominion.

By AD 335 Genseric and Vandals obtained control of most of African provinces.

AD 439 Genseric captured Carthage in AD 455, pillaged Rome’s treasure stores.

Third Trumpet. 10 And the third angel sounded, and

there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. (Rev 8)

Third Trumpet AD 433 – 453.

Attila, king of the Huns, ravaged Western third of Empire with band of nomads.

Sight of approaching Huns on horseback struck terror in stoutest heart.

Attila’s followers included Vandals, Ostrogoths, Gepidae and Franks.

Theodosius, Eastern Catholic Emperor forced to relinquish part of territory south of Danube and pay tribute to Attila.

“Star” Symbolises Ruler.

17 “ I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” (Num 24)

Attacks of the Huns. Rivers are nations - water represents

peoples. Literal area in western Rome referred to

- river courses of Danube, Rhine and Alpine lake and river country.

In AD 451, fierce Hunnish horsemen marched westward into Gaul opposed by forces of western third - weakened Empire by series of attacks.

Eclipse of Western Empire. Events of first three trumpets

successively reduced power of Rome to nothing more than semblance of Empire.

Further barbarian attacks caused final downfall in AD 476 - puppet Emperor in Rome deposed.

Romulus Augustus - last Emperor - Western Roman Empire now eclipsed.

Eclipse of Rome Though Rome ‘eclipsed’ according to

prophecy - and sustained ‘deadly wound’ -later studies show its subsequent re-emergence.

In local region Odoacer succeeded by Theodoric - sole ruler of Italy.

Judgments on Western third of Empire - signalled by first three trumpets - concluded.