There fell a great star from heaven, &c.— Stars, in prophetic style, are figurative representations of many things. Among others, they signify kings and kingdoms,—eminent persons of great authority and power. See Numbers 24:17. Daniel 8:10. Isaiah 14:12. Rivers, and fountains of waters to supply them, may be considered as necessaries to the support of life. The drying up of rivers and fountains of waters, expresses a scarcity of things necessary. See Hosea 13:15. Isaiah 19:5. There seems also an allusion to Exodus 7:20-21. Here then we have a prophesy, which aptly expresses a judgment to come on the seat of the Roman empire, which should destroy the power of it in its spring and fountain, and cut off all its necessary supports; as when rivers and fountains, so necessary to life, are infected, and become rather deadly, than fit for use. At the sounding of the third trumpet, says Bishop Newton, a great prince appears like a star shooting from heaven to earth; a similitude not unusual in poetry.His coming is therefore sudden and unexpected, and his stay but short. The name of the star is called Wormwood, and he infects a third part of the rivers, &c. Revelation 8:11. that is, he is a bitter enemy, and proves the author of grievous calamities to the Roman empire. The rivers and fountains have a near connection with the sea, and it was within two years after Attila's retreat from Italy, that Valentinian was murdered; and Maximus, who had caused him to be murdered, reigning in his stead, Genseric, the king of the Vandals, having settled in Africa, was solicited by Eudoxia, the widow of the deceased emperor, to revenge his death. Genseric accordingly embarked with three hundred thousand Vandals and Moors, and arrived upon the Roman coasts in June, 455, the emperor and people not expecting him. He landed his men, and marched directly to Rome, which being deserted by its inhabitants, fell an easy prey into his hands. The city was abandoned to the cruelty and avarice of his soldiers, who plundered it fourteen days together. He then set sail for Africa, carrying with him immense wealth, and an innumerable multitude of captives, together with the empress Eudoxia and her two daughters, and left the state so weakened, that, in a little time, it was utterly subverted. Some critics understand rivers and fountains, Revelation 8:10. with relation to doctrines; and in this sense the application is still very proper to Genseric, who was a most bigoted Arian, and during his reign most cruelly persecuted the orthodox Christians.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 8:10
Revelation 8:10-11
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.