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;
Ver. 10. There fell a great star] Falling stars were never but meteors. That grand apostate of Rome may well he meant by this blazing, burning comet. He was in falling by degrees from the time of Constantine till Phocas, who sat upon the chair of pestilence.
Burning as it were a lamp] He seems to allude to that kind of comet that is called Lampadias. (Mede.)
The third part of the rivers] i.e. Corrupted true doctrine, and perverted the Scriptures with his false glosses.