The Seven Trumpets

The Second Trumpet

Revelation 8:8-9 – And the second messenger did sound, and as it were a great mountain with fire burning was cast into the sea, and the third of the sea became blood, and die did the third of the creatures that [are] in the sea, those having life, and the third of the ships were destroyed. (YLT)

The second trumpet is symbolic of the destruction of Rome’s secret fleet in the port of Spain on 460 A.D. by the Vandels from North Africa. In 455, the Vandels had made a successful attack on Rome, so Rome built this fleet; planning to retaliate. However, the Vandels found out about it as Gibbon describes:

“The king of the Vandals distrusted the valour of his native subjects, who were enervated by the luxury of the South; he suspected the fidelity of the vanquished people, who abhorred him as an Arian tyrant, and the desperete measure which he exected of reducing Mauritania into a desert could not defect the operations of the Roman emperor, who was at liberty to land his troops on any part of the African coast. But Genseric was saved from impending and inevitable ruin by the treachery of some powerful subjects, envious or apprehensive of their master’s success. Guided by their secret intelligence, he surprised the unguarded fleet in the bay of Carthagena: many of the ships were sunk, or taken, or burnt; and the preparateions of three years were destroyed in a single day.” – Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 36

Why does Revelation say a third was destroyed? That is becacuse at this time, the Roman Empire was divided into three parts: East, Spain, and North Africa (modern Algeria, Libya). The fleet in Spain was destroyed, thus a third of the empire was destoyed.

What about the great mountain that Revelation mentions? Look at Isaiah for a clue:

Isaiah 2:2 – And it hath come to pass, In the latter end of the days, Established is the mount of Jehovah’s house, Above the top of the mounts, And it hath been lifted up above the heights, And flowed unto it have all the nations. (YLT)

According to Isaiah this great “mountain” is not a literal mountain, but is God’s kingdom. Throughout history, God’s kingdom can manifest in different people and nations in the world. During the goldern era of Rome as I mentioned in the first seal, Rome was God’s kingdom. However, Rome rebelled against God, so God punished them for it.

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