“And the fourth angel sounded, 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 the night likewise.”
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a day shone for a third as much time, and so likewise the night — the fourth judgment dims the luminaries (sun, moon, stars) by a third, reducing day and night equally. Cosmic darkening (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10) signals the breaking down of creation's order and the proximity of the end. The reduced light creates existential anxiety.
Church Fathers on Revelation 8:12
“And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Whereby is signified the beginning of everlasting rest; but it is described as partial, because the silence being interrupted, he repeats it in order. For if the silence had continued, here would be an end of his narrative.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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