Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 8:7

7 And the first angel sounded , and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they wer[illegible: 1 letter] cast upon the earth , and the third part of trees were burnt up , and all green grass was burnt up.

The first of the seven Angels to whom the seven Trumpets were given, ch. 8. v. 7. began to execute his Commission.

The consequent of which were Hail and Fire mingled with Blood cast upon the Earth: By which some understand the primitive Churches Persecutions by the Jews, and the Heathen Emperors (but these were over.) Some understand God's Revenge upon the Jews, but this also was taken some hundreds of years since. Some understand unseasonable Weather in many parts of the World (but we read nothing like this in History.) Some understand Contests happening in the Church; others understand Heresies: But I cannot but rather agree with the reverend Mr. Mede, who expounds it of great Troubles, and Blood, and Slaughter which should happen; and think that this Prophecy began to be fulfilled about the Death of Theodosius, 395. For in this very year (saith he) Alaricus the King of the Goths brake into Macedonia, with a great Army went into Thessalia, and so into Ac[illegible: 1 letter]aia, Pelopon[illegible: 1 letter]sus, Corinth, Argos, Sparta, burning, wasting, and ruining all places; and so went on till the year 400, then fell upon the Eastern Empire, and committed the same Outrages in Dalmatia and Hungary; then went into Stiria and Bavaria, thence into Italy, and to Venice. After this, in the year 404 these barbarous Nations invaded Italy, and took divers Places. In the year 406 the Vandals and Alans, with many others invaded France, Spai[illegible: 1 letter], and Africa; all which he proveth from the Testimony of Hierom Ep. 3.11. This he judgeth the Effect of the first Angel's sounding, and to have been signified by the Hail and Fire mingled with Blood, consonant to other Scriptures, Isa. ch. 28.2. compareth Salmanassar to a Storm of Hail: And Isa. 30.30. he so likeneth the Ruine to come u[illegible: 1 letter]on the Assy[illegible: 1 letter]ians.

By the Trees burnt up, are (saith he) the great and rich Men to be understood ordinarily in Scripture compared to Trees, Isa. 2.13. & 14.8. Zech. 11.2. And by the green Herbs, the ordinary common People. Thus he judgeth the Effects of this first Trumpet's sounding, to have been determined in 15 years, viz. from 395 to 410.