Revelation 8:12

“And the fourth angel sounded, etc.] His trumpet. Some think this refers to the Eutychian heresy, which confounded the two natures of Christ, and of two made one mixed nature, neither human nor divine; and brought great darkness upon the doctrine of Christ's person, the sun of righteousness and into the church, signified by the moon, and among the ministers of the word, the stars. Others are of opinion that that darkness which preceded the rise of the Papacy, and introduced it, is here intended: and the third part of the sun was smitten and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and…”

“third part--not a total obscuration as in the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-13). This partial obscuration, therefore, comes between the prayers of the martyrs under the fifth seal, and the last overwhelming judgments on the ungodly under the sixth seal, at the eve of Christ's coming. the night likewise--withdrew a third part of the light which the bright Eastern moon and stars ordinarily afford.”

“And the fourth angel sounded - See the notes at Revelation 8:6-7. And the third part of the sea was smitten - On the phrase the third part, see the notes on Revelation 8:7. The darkening of the heavenly luminaries is everywhere an emblem of any great calamity - as if the light of the sun, moon, and stars should be put out. See the notes on Revelation 6:12-13. There is no certain evidence that this refers to rulers, as many have supposed, or to anything that would particularly affect the government as such. The meaning is, that calamity would come as if darkness should spread over the sun, the moon, and the stars, leaving the world in gloom. What is the precise nature of the calamity is not…”

“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten - Or struck. After the emperor Theodosius died, and the empire was divided into the eastern and the western, the barbarous nations poured in as a flood. The Goths and Hunns in the years 403 and 405 fell upon Italy itself with an impetuous force; and the former, in the year 410, took Rome by storm, and plundered it without mercy. In the year 452 Attila treated the upper part of Italy in the same manner. In 455 Valentinian the Third was killed, and Genseric invited from Afric. He plundered Rome for fourteen days together. Recimer plundered it again in 472. During all these commotions, one province was lost after another,…”

“8:12 the fourth angel: On the fourth day of creation, God made the sun . . . the moon, and . . . the stars (Gen 1:14-19). • the day was dark: This judgment replicates the ninth plague in Egypt (Exod 10:21-23).”

“and the third part of the sun: Rev 16:8, Rev 16:9; Isa 13:10, Isa 24:23; Jer 4:23; Eze 32:7, Eze 32:8; Joe 2:10, Joe 2:31; Amo 8:9; Mat 24:29, Mat 27:45; Mar 13:24, Mar 15:33; Luk 21:25, Luk 23:44, Luk 23:45; Act 2:20 and the day: Exo 10:21-23; Co2 4:4; Th2 2:9-12 Revelation 8:13”