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10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell 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 became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. ~ Revelation 8:10-11
We return to our study of the seven trumpet judgments in the book of the Revelation. And, today we are looking at the third trumpet in particular. This judgment from God addresses man's worship of the earth, as did the first two trumpet judgments. Much like God's judgment of the Egyptians through the ten plagues, God desires to turn man away from a lesser god and that man should discover the one true God.
In Romans 1:18-21 we read, “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
And, all of this led and will lead to "22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things."
Man worships Mother Nature, the earth. Man has failed to honor the God of the Bible, failed to recognize God. Man rejects God's manifest glory in the creation and worships the creature and the creation, rather than the Creator. And, Man does this to his demise.
This is where environmental atheism leads. You see, we were created to be defined by God and when we are not, we do not work according to His specifications. And so God has to destroy this false god. Men have made a god out of the earth and animals and even themselves.
In v.10 of today's text we read, "Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."
With the sounding of the Trumpets, heaven will collapse in on the earth. This great star burns like a torch, and apparently as it comes through the atmosphere it disintegrates and spreads all over the globe and falls on the rivers and the springs of waters everywhere. It could be a comet, we really do not know. At this point this is happening because men has rejected the gospel being preached. It’s being preached during this time as it is today, and they’re rejecting it. Some are believing and will survive and go on into God's kingdom. But the rest of the world rejects the free gift and the longer they wait, the harder their hearts will become.
In v.11 we read, "The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter."
With this third Trumpet, a third of the world is judged, a third of the rivers, a third of the springs, and many people are going to die. Man can live without sea water and we can live for a while without the crops, but we can’t live without drinking water.
The name of the star is Wormwood. The Greek word apsinthos is used which is the deadly liquor substance. The term “wormwood” is also used several times in the Old Testament. It’s translated in one text as hemlock which is a poison. The result of all of this is that many will die from the poisoned waters. The rivers will still run but they run with a deadly poison in them. The wells will be full but they will be full of death. The lakes will be rippling with lethal water.
In John 4 the Lord Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you give me a drink, you would have asked and He would have given you living water.” It is far better to drink the living water than the lethal water. And, for those who have trusted Christ as our Savior, there will be in eternity what Revelation 21:6 calls the spring of the water of life. It will be ours for eternity.
