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Selected Verse: Revelation 8:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Re 8:8	Strong Concordance	And [2532] the second [1208] angel [32] sounded [4537], and [2532] as it were [5613] a great [3173] mountain [3735] burning [2545] with fire [4442] was cast [906] into [1519] the sea [2281]: and [2532] the third part [5154] of the sea [2281] became [1096] blood [129];
	King James	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;

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
as it were--not literally a mountain: a mountain-like burning mass. There is a plain allusion to Jer 51:25; Amo 7:4. third part of the sea became blood--In the parallel second vial, the whole sea (not merely a third) becomes blood. The overthrow of Jericho, the type of the Antichristian Babylon, after which Israel, under Joshua (the same name as Jesus), victoriously took possession of Canaan, the type of Christ's and His people's kingdom, is perhaps alluded to in the SEVEN trumpets, which end in the overthrow of all Christ's foes, and the setting up of His kingdom. On the seventh day, at the seventh time, when the seven priests blew the seven ram's horn trumpets, the people shouted, and the walls fell flat: and then ensued the blood-shedding of the foe. A mountain-like fiery mass would not naturally change water into blood; nor would the third part of ships be thereby destroyed.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

as it were--not literally a mountain: a mountain-like burning mass. There is a plain allusion to Jer 51:25; Amo 7:4.

third part of the sea became blood--In the parallel second vial, the whole sea (not merely a third) becomes blood. The overthrow of Jericho, the type of the Antichristian Babylon, after which Israel, under Joshua (the same name as Jesus), victoriously took possession of Canaan, the type of Christ's and His people's kingdom, is perhaps alluded to in the SEVEN trumpets, which end in the overthrow of all Christ's foes, and the setting up of His kingdom. On the seventh day, at the seventh time, when the seven priests blew the seven ram's horn trumpets, the people shouted, and the walls fell flat: and then ensued the blood-shedding of the foe. A mountain-like fiery mass would not naturally change water into blood; nor would the third part of ships be thereby destroyed.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And the second angel sounded - Compare the notes on Rev 8:2-7. This, according to the interpretation proposed above, refers to the second of the four great events which contributed to the downfall of the Roman empire. It will be proper in this case, as in the former, to inquire into the literal meaning of the symbol, and then whether there was any event that corresponded with it. And as it were a great mountain - A mountain is a natural symbol of strength, and hence becomes a symbol of a strong and powerful kingdom; for mountains arc not only places of strength in themselves, but they anciently answered the purposes of fortified places, and were the seats of power. Hence, they are properly symbols of strong nations. "The stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth," Dan 2:35. Compare Zac 4:7; Jer 51:25. We naturally, then, apply this part of the symbol to some strong and mighty nation - not a nation, necessarily, that issued from a mountainous region but a nation that in strength resembled a mountain. Burning with fire - A mountain in a blaze; that is, with all its woods on fire, or, more probably, a volcanic mountain. There would perhaps be no more sublime image than such a mountain lifted suddenly from its base and thrown into the sea. One of the sublimest parts of the Paradise Lost is that where the poet represents the angels in the great battle in heaven as lifting the mountains - tearing them from their base - and hurling them on the foe: "From their foundations heaving to and fro, They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops Uplifting, bore them in their hands," etc. Book vi. The poet, however, has not, as John has, represented a volcano borne along and cast into the sea. The symbol employed here would denote some fiery, impetuous, destructive power. If used to denote a nation, it would be a nation that was, as it were, burning with the desire of conquest - impetuous, and fierce, and fiery in its assaults - and consuming all in its way. Cast into the sea - The image is very sublime; the scene, should such an event occur, would be awfully grand. As to the fulfillment of this, or the thing that was intended to be represented by it, there cannot be any material doubt. It is not to be understood literally, of course; and the natural application is to some nation, or army, that has a resemblance in some respects to such a blazing mountain, and the effect of whose march would be like casting such a mountain into the ocean. We naturally look for agitation and commotion, and particularly in reference to the sea, or to some maritime coasts. It is undoubtedly required in the application of this, that we should find its fulfillment in some country lying beyond the sea, or in some seacoast or maritime country, or in reference to commerce. And the third part of the sea became blood - Resembled blood; became as red as blood. The figure here is, that as such a blazing mountain cast into the sea would, by its reflection on the waters, seem to tinge them with red, so there would be something corresponding with this in what was referred to by the symbol. It would be fulfilled if there was a fierce maritime warfare, and if in some desperate naval engagement the sea should be tinged with blood.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
angel (See Scofield) - (Heb 1:4).

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
As it were (ὡς) Not a mountain, but a fiery mass so large as to resemble one. Blood Reminding of the first plague in Egypt (Exo 7:20, Exo 7:21).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea - By the sea, particularly as it is here opposed to the earth, we may understand the west, or Europe; and chiefly the middle parts of it, the vast Roman empire. A mountain here seems to signify a great force and multitude of people. Jer 51:25; so this may point at the irruption of the barbarous nations into the Roman empire. The warlike Goths broke in upon it about the year 250: and from that time the irruption of one nation after another never ceased till the very form of the Roman empire, and all but the name, was lost. The fire may mean the fire of war, and the rage of those savage nations. And the third part of the sea became blood - This need not imply, that just a third part of the Romans was slain; but it is certain an inconceivable deal of blood was shed in all these invasions.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A great mountain burning with fire - Supposed to signify the powerful nations which invaded the Roman empire. Mountain, in prophetic language, signifies a kingdom; Jer 51:25, Jer 51:27, Jer 51:30, Jer 51:58. Great disorders, especially when kingdoms are moved by hostile invasions, are represented by mountains being cast into the midst of the sea, Psa 46:2. Seas and collections of waters mean peoples, as is shown in this book, Rev 17:15. Therefore, great commotions in kingdoms and among their inhabitants may be here intended, but to whom, where, and when these happened, or are to happen, we know not. The third part of the sea became blood - Another allusion to the Egyptian plagues, Exo 7:20, Exo 7:21. Third part is a rabbinism, expressing a considerable number. "When Rabbi Akiba prayed, wept, rent his garments, put of his shoes, and sat in the dust, the world was struck with a curse; and then the third part of the olives, the third part of the wheat, and the third part of the barley, was smitten "Rab. Mardochaeus, in Notitia Karaeorum, p. 102.

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⁴ Thus hath the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] shewed [07200] unto me: and, behold, the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] called [07121] to contend [07378] by fire [0784], and it devoured [0398] the great [07227] deep [08415], and did eat up [0398] a part [02506].

²⁵ Behold, I am against thee, O destroying [04889] mountain [02022], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], which destroyest [07843] all the earth [0776]: and I will stretch out [05186] mine hand [03027] upon thee, and roll thee down [01556] from the rocks [05553], and will make [05414] thee a burnt [08316] mountain [02022].

⁷ Who art thou, O great [01419] mountain [02022]? before [06440] Zerubbabel [02216] thou shalt become a plain [04334]: and he shall bring forth [03318] the headstone [068] [07222] thereof with shoutings [08663], crying, Grace [02580], grace [02580] unto it.

³⁵ Then [0116] was the iron [06523], the clay [02635], the brass [05174], the silver [03702], and the gold [01722], broken to pieces [01855] [01751] together [02298], and became [01934] like the chaff [05784] of [04481] the summer [07007] threshingfloors [0147]; and the wind [07308] carried [05376] them [01994] away [05376], that [03606] no [03809] place [0870] was found [07912] for them: and the stone [069] that smote [04223] the image [06755] became [01934] a great [07229] mountain [02906], and filled [04391] the whole [03606] earth [0772].

² And [2532] I saw [1492] the seven [2033] angels [32] which [3739] stood [2476] before [1799] God [2316]; and [2532] to them [846] were given [1325] seven [2033] trumpets [4536].
³ And [2532] another [243] angel [32] came [2064] and [2532] stood [2476] at [1909] the altar [2379], having [2192] a golden [5552] censer [3031]; and [2532] there was given [1325] unto him [846] much [4183] incense [2368], that [2443] he should offer [1325] it with the prayers [4335] of all [3956] saints [40] upon [1909] the golden [5552] altar [2379] which [3588] was before [1799] the throne [2362].
⁴ And [2532] the smoke [2586] of the incense [2368], which came with the prayers [4335] of the saints [40], ascended up [305] before [1799] God [2316] out of [1537] the angel's [32] hand [5495].
⁵ And [2532] the angel [32] took [2983] the censer [3031], and [2532] filled [1072] it [846] with [1537] fire [4442] of the altar [2379], and [2532] cast [906] it into [1519] the earth [1093]: and [2532] there were [1096] voices [5456], and [2532] thunderings [1027], and [2532] lightnings [796], and [2532] an earthquake [4578].
⁶ And [2532] the seven [2033] angels [32] which [3588] had [2192] the seven [2033] trumpets [4536] prepared [2090] themselves [1438] to [2443] sound [4537].
⁷ [2532] The first [4413] angel [32] sounded [4537], and [2532] there followed [1096] hail [5464] and [2532] fire [4442] mingled [3396] with blood [129], and [2532] they were cast [906] upon [1519] the earth [1093]: and [2532] the third part [5154] of trees [1186] was burnt up [2618], and [2532] all [3956] green [5515] grass [5528] was burnt up [2618].

⁴ Being made [1096] so much [5118] better than [2909] the angels [32], as [3745] he hath by inheritance obtained [2816] a more excellent [1313] name [3686] than [3844] they [846].

²¹ And the fish [01710] that was in the river [02975] died [04191]; and the river [02975] stank [0887], and the Egyptians [04714] could [03201] not drink [08354] of the water [04325] of the river [02975]; and there was blood [01818] throughout all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].

²⁰ And Moses [04872] and Aaron [0175] did [06213] so, as the LORD [03068] commanded [06680]; and he lifted up [07311] the rod [04294], and smote [05221] the waters [04325] that were in the river [02975], in the sight [05869] of Pharaoh [06547], and in the sight [05869] of his servants [05650]; and all the waters [04325] that were in the river [02975] were turned [02015] to blood [01818].

¹⁵ And [2532] he saith [3004] unto me [3427], The waters [5204] which [3739] thou sawest [1492], where [3757] the whore [4204] sitteth [2521], are [1526] peoples [2992], and [2532] multitudes [3793], and [2532] nations [1484], and [2532] tongues [1100].

² Therefore will not we fear [03372], though the earth [0776] be removed [04171], and though the mountains [02022] be carried [04131] into the midst [03820] of the sea [03220];

⁵⁸ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; The broad [07342] walls [02346] of Babylon [0894] shall be utterly [06209] broken [06209], and her high [01364] gates [08179] shall be burned [03341] with fire [0784]; and the people [05971] shall labour [03021] in vain [07385], and the folk [03816] in [01767] the fire [0784], and they shall be weary [03286].

³⁰ The mighty men [01368] of Babylon [0894] have forborn [02308] to fight [03898], they have remained [03427] in their holds [04679]: their might [01369] hath failed [05405]; they became as women [0802]: they have burned [03341] her dwellingplaces [04908]; her bars [01280] are broken [07665].

²⁷ Set ye up [05375] a standard [05251] in the land [0776], blow [08628] the trumpet [07782] among the nations [01471], prepare [06942] the nations [01471] against her, call together [08085] against her the kingdoms [04467] of Ararat [0780], Minni [04508], and Ashchenaz [0813]; appoint [06485] a captain [02951] against her; cause the horses [05483] to come up [05927] as the rough [05569] caterpillers [03218].