Revelation 8:5

“And the angel took the censer, etc.] The golden one before mentioned, the use of which was to take and carry in it burning coals of fire: and filled it with fire of the altar; of burnt offering, for upon that, and not upon the altar of incense, fire was; the allusion is to the priest “that was worthy to use a censer f245; who took a silver censer, and went to the top of the altar (of burnt offering), and having removed the coals there, and there took them in his censer, and went down and emptied them into a golden one, and there was scattered from it about a kab of coals;” for the golden one held a kab less than the silver one f246; and cast [it] into the earth: the Roman empire: by “fire”…”

“cast it into the earth--that is, unto the earth: the hot coals off the altar cast on the earth, symbolize God's fiery judgments about to descend on the Church's foes in answer to the saints' incense-perfumed prayers which have just ascended before God, and those of the martyrs. How marvellous the power of the saints' prayers! there were--"there took place," or "ensued." voices, and thunderings, and lightnings--B places the "voices" after "thunderings." A places it after "lightnings."”

“And the angel took the censer - Revelation 8:3. This is a new symbol, designed to furnish a new representation of future events. By the former it had been shown that there would be much prayer offered; by this it is designed to show that, notwithstanding the prayer that would be offered, great and fearful calamities would come upon the earth. This is symbolized by casting the censer upon the earth, as if the prayers were not heard any longer, or as if prayer were now in vain. And filled it with fire of the altar - An image similar to this occurs in Ezekiel 10:2, where the man clothed in linen is commanded to go between the wheels under the cherub, and fill his hands with coals of fire from…”

“And there were thunderings, and lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake - These, especially when attended with fire, are emblems of God's dreadful judgments, which are immediately to follow. Revelation 8:6”

“8:5 The action of the angel, as he throws fire . . . down upon the earth, signals the dramatic beginning of God’s judgment (see Gen 19:24; Exod 9:23; Lev 10:2; Deut 9:3; 2 Kgs 1:10). • thunder . . . lightning . . . earthquake: These earthly portents remind us of God’s power, presence, and judgment (also Rev 11:19; 16:18; see Exod 19:18-19; 1 Kgs 19:11-12; Isa 29:6).”

“and filled: Rev. 16:1-21; Isa 66:6, Isa 66:14-16; Jer 51:11; Eze 10:2-7; Luk 12:49 into: or, upon and there: Rev 4:5, Rev 11:19, Rev 16:18; Sa2 22:7-9; Psa 18:13; Isa 30:30; Heb 12:18, Heb 12:19 an: Rev 11:13, Rev 11:19; Kg1 19:11; Isa 29:6; Zac 14:5; Mat 24:7, Mat 27:52-54; Act 4:31; Act 16:26 Revelation 8:6”