And the four angels were loosed which were prepared for an hour and a day and a month and a year And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Were - `which had been prepared.'
For an hour ... - rather, as Greek 'for (i:e., against) THE hour, and day, and month, and year,' namely, appointed by God. The article х teen (G3588)], once only before all the periods, implies that the hour in the day, and the day in the month, and the month in the year, and the year itself, had been definitely fixed by God. The article would have been omitted had a sum total of periods been specified-namely, 391 years and one month (from A.D. 1281 AD, when the Turks first conquered the Christians, to 1672, their last conquest, since which their empire has declined).
Slay - not merely "hurt" (Revelation 9:10), as in the fifth trumpet.
Third part - (note, Revelation 8:7-12.)
Of men - of earthly men (Revelation 8:13), as distinguished from God's sealed people (of which the sealed of Israel, Revelation 7:1-17, form the nucleus).