REVELATION
SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 8.10
Gleanings
from the Book of Revelation:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
The
REVELATION
TO JOHN
(The
Apocalypse)
Chapter
Eight
Judgment Resumed:
The Seven Trumpets
Review
The first six abysmal seals have shaken
the world. Silence permeates Heaven for a half-hour after Christ opens the
seventh seal. Then, seven devastating trumpet judgments are unleashed. The
first two, discussed in the previous study, were as follows:
1. Trumpet
Number 1 – Destruction
of the Earth's ecological system
- Trumpet Number 2 – Destruction upon the oceans and salt
waterways
The third trumpet judgment continues in
the following verse:
(Verse 10)
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from
heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the
rivers, and upon the fountains of waters.
3.
Trumpet Number 3 – The world's freshwater systems are
destroyed
As the third trumpet heralds, a molten
fallen star is hurled from heaven. The star's identity need not be compared to
anything in our present realm of experience, but its counterpart is that of the
preceding one aimed at the sea, a supernatural phenomenon. Whatever it may be,
the destruction is once again unprecedented.
The phrase as it was a lamp (flambeau or torch) suggests a divinely launched
heavenly mass entering the earth. When the mass enters the atmosphere, it
disintegrates and produces a torch-like effect, thus polluting the earth's
freshwater systems. Inclusive are as follows:
1. Lakes
2. Reservoirs
3. Ponds
4. Rivers
5. Streams
6. Fountains
7. Wells (subterranean)
Earth's
drinking water is intentionally in view.
(Verse 11)
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part
of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they
were made bitter.
Interestingly, a star in Greek is aster from which our English word asteroid is derived. It is,
however, some form of a celestial body.
Wormwood
The falling star is intentionally given
a name – Wormwood. There are only
seven times in the Old Testament this word is used and it refers to something
accursed or poisonous. Its usage only occurs once in the New Testament book of
Revelation, and this calamity is associated with bitterness, sorrow, or a sour
experience.
The Greek word used is absinthos.
Absinthos is extracted from the root
of a pungent sage-like poisonous herb generally
found in the arid regions of Palestine. When ingested it produces convulsions,
paralysis, and sometimes death.
Comparative Scriptures
1. The wilderness experience
Exodus
15:23 - And when they came to Marah, they could
not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were
bitter: therefore the name of
it was called Marah (a place in the desert related to
bitterness).
2. The association
with idolatry
Deuteronomy 29:18 - Lest there should be among you man, or
woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart
turneth away this day from the LORD our God,
to go and serve the [false]
gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall (a venom) and wormwood.
3. The pleading on Israel's
behalf
Jeremiah 9:15 – Therefore thus
saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel;
Behold, I will feed them, even
this people, with wormwood, and give them water
of gall to drink.
As
a result of the fallen star wormwood poisoning
the fresh waters, death encompasses one-third of the earth's population.
(Verse 12)
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.
4.
Trumpet Number 4 – Heavenly luminaries trigger destructive
havoc upon the planet.
Hebrews 12:26 – Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
When the fourth trumpet sounds, it appears
as if there is an eclipse occurring, however, the word used for smitten is translated as smite, pound,
or the flattening out of something. So in this judgment, God is supernaturally
causing a cosmic phenomenon. Imagine the sun, moon, and stars being reduced by
a third.
A proportional amount of light will
curtail and not be able to reach the earth. Climate change, temperatures, and
weather patterns, botanical and biological cycles are all affected as well as
the tides, thus causing drought-like conditions in some areas and unpredictable
storms in others. Nothing will be able to grow and men will die of starvation.
The twenty-four-hour cycle shall be
shortened to sixteen hours as predicted:
Amos 8:9 - And it
shall come to pass in that day, saith the
Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go
down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.
Whereas
the sun is darkened by a third, later in Revelation Chapter 16 and Verse 8, the
sun's bright scorching power is intensified by the fourth vial.
Old
Testament counterparts and complimentary predictions of God controlling the
luminaries are found coming to pass in some of the following passages [The following passages may be
referenced during a group Bible study]:
1. Job
3:5; 9:7; 30:28
2. Isaiah
13:10
3. Jeremiah
13:6
4. Ezekiel
32:7
5. Joel
3:15
6. Zephaniah
1:15
7. Amos
5:20
Jesus
Himself proclaimed:
Luke
21:25 - And there shall be signs in
the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are
coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven
shall be shaken.
The
sun, moon, and stars are also symbolic of human government. Hence, the breakup
of all authority ensues and anarchy becomes its substitute.
Question: Can anything worse happen?
(Verse 13)
And I beheld (see), and heard an angel flying through the midst of Heaven,
saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by
reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to
sound!
Lo and behold, John sees and hears an
angel flying through the middle of this commotion in Heaven and signals a loud
proclamation. Again, the word for angel is aggelos and may be translated as a
messenger or courier that delivers or announces something, i.e., a bearer of
bad or glad tidings. Discoveries of older manuscripts use the word eagle (aetos, flying like an eagle) in place of an angel.
The announcement is a threefold
exclamation of grief regarding the remaining angels who are about to sound
their trumpets. The call expressed:
1. Woe
2. Woe
3. Woe
Repeating
a word two or three times in biblical passages places emphasis on the
importance of what is being said. It is equivalent to saying something with big
bold letters. In other words, the three judgments to come are going to be
horrendous: WOE, WOE, WOE.
Revelation 6:17 - For the great day of His
wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand (withstand,
endure)?
The worst is yet to come. To the inhabitants of the earth, is an idiomatic
expression --- in the literal sense --- meaning those who have settled down
(settlers) and have citizenship on earth (earth-dwellers). Biblically, they are
those who love the world and the things that are in the world (cf. 1 John
2:15). These citizens are opposed to wandering sojourners or pilgrims, those
who have not followed the beast. They
have repented and await their citizenship in Heaven.
Looking ahead, the three woes are as
follows:
1. Trumpet Number Five – The torment of
locusts (9:1-11)
2. Trumpet Number Six – The Army of
Horsemen (9:13 – 21)
3. Trumpet Number Seven –The handing over
of the earth to beast worship (13) during the seven bowl judgments - The worst
of all.
Commentary
These terrible things are transpiring
because some men continue to reject the Gospel. During the first four trumpet judgments,
God, in His graciousness, forestalls total judgment by two-thirds that men
still turn to Him. These are considered warning signs since only one-third of
the earth is affected. However, God always provides man warnings before a
complete disaster so that everyone has an opportunity to be convicted, to repent,
be reconciled, and accept salvation. Some men who accept Christ will survive
and enter into the Kingdom Age.
Presently, the Holy Spirit is our
Helper:
John
6:8 - And when He (The Advocate, the Holy Spirit) comes, He will
convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.
Today
is a day of reckoning. Now is the time to place trust in Jesus Christ and be
delivered from the wrath to come. The time is neigh. Consider and accept Jesus
Christ as Lord and personal Saviour.
During
the next study, John will hear the sound of the fifth trumpet.
QUESTIONS:
1. What happens when the third trumpet sounds?
2. What is the aftermath of the third judgment?
3. What is the significance of its name?
4. What does the fourth judgment resemble?
5. What is affected at the sound of the fourth
judgment?
6. What is the meaning of the warning signal?
7. How can God's wrath upon an individual be
thwarted?
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