Revelation 8:8 Revelation 8:8-9 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; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. By this second angel, we may likewise understand both ministerial and political angels, who gave the second alarm to the church of God, and to the Roman papal empire; especially the faithful ministers of the fourth century in the western church. And as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea This great mountain was the patriarch of Rome, burning with pride and ambition, loving to have the preeminence and the supremacy over God’ s clergy. Was cast into the sea. By sea, we may understand their ecclesiastical jurisdiction, over all peoples, tongues, nations and languages, which are the sea of many waters. upon whom the Roman whore sitteth. \ And especially their corrupted worship. \ (Alsted in Chronicis Ordinum inter Monachos; and Socrates, Lib. 5. Of his Ecclesiastical History, Anno 395, 396.) And the third part of the sea became blood; (like one of the plagues of Egypt). \ That is, a great part of the worship and ordinances of God were so corrupted and polluted by the inventions of men of corrupt minds, and by the superstitious and idolatrous traditions of the Roman papal clergy, that many who drank of those mystical waters died, etc. One part were sealed and secured; another part were preserved by the incense of Christ’ s mediation and intercession; and a third part, whose names were not in the Lamb’ s Book of Life, were false worshippers, and they died, etc. \ and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died. By those creatures, we may understand the Roman clergy, who had life; that is, who formerly seemed to be lively and zealous defenders of the faith, died; that is, some recanted, others where corrupted, and others were destroyed, etc. and the third part of the ships were destroyed, By ships, here we are to understand the churches of mystical Babylon, and the ship-makers and sailors, and as many as trade by sea. \ and all the company in ships, etc.