Revelation 6:13

13 And the stars of heaven felled down on the earth [And stars of heaven fell down upon the earth], as a fig tree sendeth his unripe figs, when it is moved of a great wind.

Revelation 6:13 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 6:13

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth
All the other inferior deities lost their esteem, worship, and honour; for the idol temples being now opened, the idols and statues were exposed to the common people, and were found to be stuffed with hay and straw, which brought them into great contempt F12. Moreover, as stars sometimes signify the ministers of the Gospel in the Christian church, ( Revelation 1:20 ) , and sometimes the priests in the Jewish church, ( Daniel 8:10 ) ; so they may here likewise include the idolatrous priests among the Heathens, who were discharged and removed by Constantine, and had their posts and profits taken away from them; yea, Maximinus, an Heathen emperor, or tyrant, being beaten by Licinius, who was then Constantine's colleague, killed many of the priests and prophets of his gods, which were formerly had in great admiration by him, as deceivers and betrayers of him, by whose oracles he was animated to the war F13. And in like manner Licinius put to death the priests and prophets of the new idol at Antioch F14.

Even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of
a mighty wind;
which figs being young and green, and not fixed, fall off easily, and in great numbers, when a blustering wind beats upon them; and so the rabble of Pagan deities, and idolatrous priests, were easily, and in great numbers, removed through the power of Constantine, which carried all before it.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Sozomen, l. 2. c. 5.
F13 Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 9. c. 10.
F14 Ib. c. 11.

Revelation 6:13 In-Context

11 And white stoles, for each soul a stole [And white stoles, to each soul a stole], were given to them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet a little time, till the number of their fellows [till the even-servants of them] and of their brethren be fulfilled, that be to be slain, as also they [were].
12 And I saw, when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo! a great earth-moving was made; and the sun was made black, as a sackcloth of hair, and all the moon was made as blood.
13 And the stars of heaven felled down on the earth [And stars of heaven fell down upon the earth], as a fig tree sendeth his unripe figs, when it is moved of a great wind.
14 And heaven went away, as a book wrapped in; and all the mountains and isles were moved from their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and princes, and tribunes, and rich, and strong, and each bondman, and free man, hid them(selves) in dens and stones of hills.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.