Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 8:7-13

"And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 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; and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, [even] they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; 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. And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner. And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound." — Revelation 8:7-13 (ASV)

The first angel sounded the first trumpet, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood—a storm of heresies, a mixture of dreadful errors falling on the church, or a tempest of destruction.

The second angel sounded, and a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. Some understand this mountain to mean leaders of the persecutions; others interpret it as Rome, sacked by the Goths and Vandals with great slaughter and cruelty.

The third angel sounded, and a star fell from heaven. Some take this to be an eminent governor; others take it to be some person in power who corrupted the churches of Christ. The doctrines of the gospel—the springs of spiritual life, comfort, and vigour to men's souls—are corrupted and made bitter by the mixture of dangerous errors, so that men's souls find ruin where they sought refreshment.

The fourth angel sounded, and darkness fell upon the great lights of heaven that give light to the world: the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Guides and governors are placed higher than the people and are to dispense light and kind influences to them. When the gospel comes to a people and does not have the proper effects on their hearts and lives, it is followed by dreadful judgments. God gives warning by the written word, by ministers, by people's own consciences, and by the signs of the times, so that if people are surprised, it is their own fault.

The anger of God makes all comforts bitter and even life itself burdensome. But God, in this world, sets limits to the most terrible judgments. Corruption of doctrine and worship in the church are great judgments; they are also the usual causes and signs of other judgments coming upon a people. Before the other three trumpets were sounded, a solemn warning was given about how terrible the calamities would be that were to follow.

If lesser judgments do not take effect, the church and the world must expect greater; and when God comes to punish the world, its inhabitants will tremble before Him. Let sinners take warning to flee from the wrath to come; let believers learn to value and be thankful for their privileges; and let them patiently continue in well-doing.