Revelation 9:18

18 It was these three plagues that killed a third of mankind - the fire, smoke and sulfur issuing from the horses' mouths.

Revelation 9:18 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 9:18

And by these three was the third part of men killed
The Alexandrian copy, and some others, the Complutensian edition, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read, "by these three plagues": as the western Roman empire is in the preceding chapter frequently expressed by the third part of several things, see ( Revelation 8:7-12 ) ; so here the eastern Roman empire by the third part of men; vast numbers of the inhabitants of which were destroyed by the Turks, through the use of guns, out of which issued fire, smoke, and brimstone; and Constantinople, the metropolis of it, was taken in this way, as before observed, with the taking of which the empire ceased.

By the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued
out of their mouths;
that is, by the firing of guns.

Revelation 9:18 In-Context

16 and the number of cavalry soldiers was two hundred million! - I heard the number.
17 Here is how the horses looked in the vision: the riders had breastplates that were fire-red, iris-blue and sulfur-yellow; the horses' heads were like lions' heads; and from their mouths issued fire, smoke and sulfur.
18 It was these three plagues that killed a third of mankind - the fire, smoke and sulfur issuing from the horses' mouths.
19 For the power of the horses was in their mouths - and also in their tails, for their tails were like snakes with heads, and with them they could cause injury.
20 The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, even then did not turn from what they had made with their own hands - they did not stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.