The sounding of the first four trumpets “comes in as a complement to the prophecy of Dan. 2 and 7.” It describes the fall of the Roman Empire, and the manner of breaking it up into ten parts as represented by the ten toes of the image, or the ten horns of the beast. We see in Num. 10:9, and Zeph. 1:16, that the trumpet is a symbol of war. Hence, we say in the words of another: “The trumpets denote great political commotions to take place among the nations in this age.” The events as set forth in our subject must belong to the Christian dispensation from authority of the angel’s words: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.” As we follow down the stream of time from the head of the symbolic image to its feet, the history of its interpretation is calculated to inspire one with confidence in the word of God. It is that “sure word of prophecy” unto which, Peter says, “ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place.” To the Bible student, then, the trumpets, being a continuation of that subject, which has pointed the Christian traveler to the landmarks of his way so plainly, are also well-calculated to give an increase of faith in the promises of God. In A. D. 337, we find the Roman Empire divided into three parts by Constantine the Great, and a part given to each of his three sons. It is on the ground of this division that we understand, in Rev. 8, where it speaks of the “third part of men,” it alludes to the part of the empire under the scourge. So say Dr. Barnes and others. According to chronology, we find the last of the three sons above noticed died in A. D. 354, and in A. D. 356, the Huns, a tribe of barbarians, had increased to such a power that the Roman armies dare not assail them. We find them on both sides of the Ural chain of mountains, “inhabiting from the regions of perpetual snow to the Caspian Sea, and ravaging at will Europe on the one side and Asia on the other.” See Sheppard’s Fall of Rome. An idea of the territory which they occupied may be had from the treaty which was made between them and the Romans. The parties met on the banks of the Danube at a place called Margus. Said the king of the Huns to the Roman envoys: “Break off all connection with the Ultra-Danubian tribes. . . . Increase your tribute from 300 to 700 pounds of gold. Do this or war.”—Sheppard’s Fall of Rome. The Roman ambassadors accepted the terms. We have, then, one of the toes of the metallic image, or one of the horns of the terrible beast, represented by the Huns. The Goths were a tribe who at this time occupied Central Europe, but in A. D. 377, 378, divided themselves into two nationalities, and are known in history as Ostrogoths, who occupied the East (Mysia), and the Visigoths, who occupied the West (Pannonia). After their establishment as kingdoms, we may find them assisting, but not subservient to, the Roman power. We now have the Roman Empire, which had ruled over the most of the habitable part of the world from the days of Augustus Cæsar, dismembered. Three large parcels of its territory are occupied by barbarians who neither pay tribute, nor yield allegiance to its authority. We can readily see, then, that there are brought to view three of the toes of the image, or three of the horns of the terrible beast. The Huns, whose territory lay east of the Ostrogoths, occupied mostly the country now known as Russia. In A. D. 395, they made war upon the Ostrogoths, and forced them into the territory of the Visigoths. The Ostrogoths submitted to the Huns for a while, but we afterward find them independent. The Visigoths, under Alaric, turned their forces to the Eastern tripartite division of the Roman Empire and overran Greece. It was in such a dry season of the year that the army could easily ford the streams. Vegetation was so dried up that the forest trees burned when ignited. They devastated the plains of northern Greece and slaughtered the inhabitants. Their work is remarkably described by the first trumpet: The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth; and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. A short comment on a part of this verse, found in “Thoughts on the Revelation,” is so appropriate that we quote: “ ‘Hail and fire mingled with blood were cast upon the earth.’ The terrible effects of this Gothic invasion are represented as ‘hail’ from the fact of the northern origin of the invaders; ‘fire,’ from the destruction by flame of both city and country; and ‘blood,’ from the terrible slaughter of the citizens of the empire by the bold and intrepid warriors.” “Cast upon the earth.” This seems to refer to a general devastation, fulfilled, not simply by the Visigoths under Alaric, and his brother up to A. D. 414, when their kingdom became transferred and established in the western tripartite division of the empire; but, also, by other northern barbarians who were overrunning the middle and western divisions during the same period. See Sheppard’s Fall of Rome, p. 190. Battle Creek, Sept., 1874.