(*All Bible verses are from the NIV unless otherwise noted)
Chapter 8
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water—
11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”
Rev 8:10
The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water:
This falling “star” seems to be very similar to other verses many interpret to be referring to the fall of Satan. Even though Isaiah is prophesying specifically against the king of Babylon and Ezekiel against the king of Tyre, New Testament writers use some of the same imagery to declare Satan’s fall from grace:
Isa 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
Ezek 28:11 The word of the LORD came to me: 12“Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:“ ‘You were the seal of perfection,full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13You were in Eden,the garden of God;… 17Your heart became proudon account of your beauty,and you corrupted your wisdombecause of your splendor.So I threw you to the earth;I made a spectacle of you before kings.
Luke 10:17-18The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Rev 9:1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss.
Rev 12:3-9 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth…7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
From these verses comes the Christian tradition that:
- In the beginning, Satan resided with God in heaven;
- In his pride, Satan thought to make himself equal with God;
- There was a great war in heaven.
- Satan, along with a third of the hosts of heaven who aligned themselves with him, were cast out.
Rev 8:11
The name of the star is Wormwood:
Common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is an herb used in the production of some alcoholic beverages such as absinthe and vermouth. The plant has some medicinal benefits as well and has been used for centuries to relieve pain, to reduce swelling, and to treat digestion problems, intestinal worms, and skin infections1. However, the bitter herb contains significant amounts of thujone, a psychoactive chemical that can be toxic even in small amounts. If taken unaltered, it can induce vomiting, hallucinations, and seizures2. The Hebrew word la’anah means “bitter” and is translated in some Bible versions as wormwood.
Revelation is the only place in the New Testament where wormwood is mentioned, but it appears several times in the Old Testament, each time associated with bitterness and poison:
Prov 5:4 …but in the end she is bitter as gall [la’anah],sharp as a double-edged sword.
Lam 3:15 15 He has filled me with bitter [la’anah] herbs and given me gall to drink.
Amos 5:7 There are those who turn justice into bitterness [la’anah ]and cast righteousness to the ground.
Jer 9:15 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “See, I will make this people eat bitter [la’anah] food and drink poisoned water.
(also, Amos 6:12, Deu 29:18, Jer 23:15)
John’s prophecy had immediate implications for the struggling first-century Church. The enemy of all that is right and good sought to poison the “springs of living water” that come from Christ3. Jewish leaders declared Christians to be heretics, Rome accused them of being traitors, Gnostics preached a spectral Jesus who only appeared to be human, and pagans hated them for not sacrificing to the gods of harvest and village protection!
The same “bitterness” seeks to poison the living waters Christ offers today. Several world governments label believers as dangerous fanatics, some theologians call Jesus’ death and resurrection a myth, and many in society see Christians as close-minded and superstitious!
Rev 8:12
The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark:
Review your notes on Rev 6:12-13 and the use of celestial events to symbolize the move of God on rebellious humankind, tyrants, and nations:
- The sun can be seen to symbolize the sustenance and guidance that was supposed to be provided by local governments, nations, and rulers;
- The moon can illustrate the teachings that can illuminate the darkness of superstition and deception;
- The stars can be interpreted as leaders and influencers who guide the people.
Consider the impact on the past and present when these symbolic “lights” function as intended, supporting and guiding people’s lives. Prosperity and peace always follow. In contrast, devastation occurs when these lights are darkened by corruption and greed. John sees that instead of the slavery of Babylon and Egypt, the Church would face oppression from Jewish leaders, misguided Gnostic teachers, Rome, and pagan neighbors.
Rev 8:13
As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe… because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded:
Rather than an eagle crying “woe,” the King James Version uses “angel” here. In most Bible versions (e.g., NIV, NAS, ESV, NASV, HCSB, NET2) the Greek word aetos, eagle, is used. These versions derive their authority from older Greek texts4. These three woes (griefs, afflictions) correspond to the three trumpet blasts that are to follow.
Just as the plagues of Egypt grew in force, the destruction John is witnessing will fall on Rome and Jerusalem, and, by virtue of eternal principles, on all leaders and nations standing in opposition to God.
Bible commentator, F.W. Farrar, made this observation:
…ruler after ruler, chieftain after chieftain of the Roman Empire and the Jewish nation was assassinated and ruined. Gaius, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, all died by murder or suicide. Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, Herod Agrippa, and most of the Herodian Princes, together with not a few of the leading High Priests of Jerusalem, perished in disgrace, or in exile, or by violent hands. All these were quenched suns and darkened stars.5
Footnotes
- Lindsay Curtis: The Health Benefits of Wormwood, Very Well Health, April 19, 2023, https://www.verywellhealth.com/wormwood-5082001, accessed Feb. 3, 2024. ↩︎
- Ibid. ↩︎
- John 4:10-11, 7:38, Rev 7:17. ↩︎
- Jack Kelley, Grace Through Faith, https://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/rev-813-angel-or-eagle/, retrieved February 3, 2022. ↩︎
- F.W. Farrar, The Early Days of Christianity, 1882, p. 519. ↩︎
*All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
