4. OF THE SECOND TRUMPET Revelation 8:8-9 8 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; --The sounding of the second trumpet was the signal for the second vision to appear, indicating a second power that would contribute to the down-fall of pagan Rome. The words "as it were" show that it was not a real mountain, but appeared as one to John. It was burning with fire--probably volcanic--and when cast into the sea gave it the appearance of blood. Here it may be observed, as under the first trumpet, the "third part" of the sea may mean a large part, not exactly one-third. Since the picture could not represent the casting of a real mountain into the sea, the word must be used symbolically. In that sense it means "kingdom." (Isaiah 22, 3; Jeremiah 51:24-25 ; Daniel 2:35.) If "sea" and "water" mean the same thing, then in a figurative sense sea means "peoples." (Revelation 17:15; Jer. 47 1, 2.) 9 and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, even they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.--If a literal burning mountain were cast into the sea, the natural result would be that fish and other sea animals would be killed and ships would be destroyed. While John saw all this in a vision, it must signify something else. The things represented, however, must be suggested by the things seen in the picture. The whole scene is one of carnage, bloodshed, and destruction. The burning of ships would indicate the destruction of maritime commerce and national protection. With the destruction of ships would go the lives of those who manned them. Placing this destruction on the sea instead of land, as in the first trumpet, shows that the attack on Rome would come from the sea; that is, the struggle would be in the waters near that part of the empire. The "third part" means not all would be destroyed, but a large part would. In harmony with the line of interpretation of the expositors already mentioned, it is very probable that the vision of the second trumpet was fulfilled in the invasion of the Vandals under Genseric. If the explanation of the first trumpet is correct, this scourge of the empire came at the proper time. Something must be its fulfillment and nothing else seems more appropriate. Concerning Genseric, Gibbon says that in "the destruction of the Roman Empire" his name "has deserved an equal rank with the names of Alaric and Attila." (Decline and Fall, Vol. III, p. 370.) In A.D. 429 he began his conquest in Africa, which ended in A.D. 439 when Carthage was taken. This whole province was lost to the empire. Speaking of Genseric's ambition Gibbon says "he cast his eyes towards the sea; he resolved to create a naval power," which resolve he carried into effect, and the "fleets that issued from the ports of Carthage claimed the empire of the Mediterranean." In due time he cast anchor at the mouth of the Tiber, advanced from the port of Ostia to the gates of the city of Rome. The results, in part, are thus described by Gibbon: "But Rome and its inhabitants were delivered to the licentiousness of the Vandals and Moors, whose blind passions revenged the injuries of Carthage. The pillage lasted fourteen days and nights; and all that yet remained of public or private wealth, or sacred or profane treasure, was diligently transported to the vessels of Genseric." This occurred in A.D. 455, and three years later the Roman emperor had prepared a navy of "three hundred large galleys, with an adequate proportion of transports and smaller vessels." By a surprise attack by the Vandals the Romans were defeated, "many of their ships were sunk, or taken, or burnt; and the preparations of three years were destroyed in a single day." (Decline and Fall, Vol. III, p. 482.) The significant thing here is that the attack upon the western part of the empire was from the sea. A fact that does suitably correspond with the vision John saw.