necessity of praying for the emperors, and for the continued state of the empire; because we know that dreadful power which hangs over the world, and the conclusion of the age, which threatens the most horrible evils, is restrained by the continuance of the time appointed for the Roman empire.  This is what we would not experience; and while we pray that it may be deferred, we hereby show our good-will to the perpetuity of the Roman state.”  In a subsequent chapter it will be seen that Pagan Rome, broken up into minor divisions and no longer able to maintain her position in the political world, resigns her power and authority into the hands of the rising Papacy.  Therefore it is not surprising that the means by which this great change is effected should be made the subject of prophetic revelation.  Besides, we have other things to guide us in the interpretation.  We can readily identify the symbols under the fifth trumpet with the curse of Mohammedanism in the Eastern empire, and we would naturally suppose that the first four precede those.  Again, the symbols are all drawn from the natural world, which leads us assuredly into the political affairs of the empire for their fulfilment.  They are also of the most destructive nature, therefore we look for objects of a corresponding desolating character.  Finally, the vision of the preceding chapter represents fierce, destructive winds as about to descend upon the earth, being temporarily held in check to give opportunity for the primitive establishment of Christianity, implying that they would afterwards be let loose to burst like a tornado upon the empire.  It is said positively that power was given “to hurt the earth and the sea” (chap. 7:2), and in the vision before us the effects produced upon the earth and the trees are particularly detailed.

“The earth” signifies the Roman empire, or that portion of the earth made the subject of apocalyptic vision.  That this application of the word earth is correct, is shown by various Scriptures.  “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.”  Luke 2:1.  “The queen of the South ... came from the uttermost parts of the earth [southern Arabia] to hear the wisdom of Solomon.”  Mat. 12:42.  “Ye shall be witnesses ... unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8.  The apostles carried the gospel personally, only throughout the territory of the then-known civilized world—­the Roman empire.  Upon this earth there descended in the vision before us a fierce storm of hail and fire, mingled with blood.  Its being mingled with blood would indicate its destructive effects.  One characteristic of this symbol particularly is worthy of notice.  Hail and fire cast upon the earth would become absorbed speedily or pass into new combinations with the surrounding elements, thus not remaining in any permanent form except in its effects.  In this particular it is wholly unlike the symbol of the next trumpet, which is that of a burning mountain cast into the sea, for such a body would naturally remain permanently where it fell; whereas a storm of hail and fire would soon disappear.  Also, the statement that this storm was cast upon the earth would indicate that it was a calamity descending from without upon the empire.