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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Revelation 8:10 - 8:13
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The sounding of the third and fourth trumpets:
v. 10. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon a third art of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters;
v. 11. and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third art of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter.
v. 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 art of the stars, so as the third art of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
v. 13. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhibiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are yet to sound!
The third plague struck the waters of the earth: And the third angel sounded his trumpet; and there fell from heaven a huge star like a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the springs of water; and the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters turned to wormwood, and many among men died of the waters, because they had been made bitter. Here is the picture of an immense meteor shooting down out of the sky, filled with a bitter drug said to be a mortal poison which it was able to impart to all waters and springs with which it came in contact. Thus it has happened more than once that men who considered themselves shining lights and bright stars in the firmament of the Church have been found filled with the poison of false doctrine, which they all too often imparted to the sermons and books that were spread broadcast by them. By such men the Water of Life, the pure Gospel of the Savior is made bitter and poisonous, and all men that drink of this poisoned water fall victims to spiritual death. The description fits especially well in the case of the great rationalistic teachers, who poisoned the fountains of the pure inspired Word.
The fourth plague struck the firmament of the sky: And the fourth angel sounded his trumpet; and the third part of the sun was smitten and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars, the result being that the third part of them was darkened, and that the day had no light for its third part and the night likewise. Here is a picture of an unusual disturbance in the sky, by which all the bodies of light in the firmament mere affected in such a manner as to take away a third part of their power both by day and by night. This is what happens in the Church when men that call themselves ministers of the Gospel darken the light of Scriptures with their own opinions, substituting arbitrariness and uncertainty for the infallible basis of the truth of God. Just as soon as speculations concerning the divine Word are introduced into the pulpit, just so soon the light of God is dimmed. It is a pity that, as the text notes throughout, the third art of the creatures were destroyed by these plagues, that a large part of the Church has always been struck by the various heresies. But there is still this comfort, that the third part is not the whole. The entire Church will: not give way to error; God will keep His chosen ones in His Word and faith. The portals of hell shall not prevail against His Church.
The narrative now again shows an interval in the action: And I saw, and I heard an eagle (or: angel) flying in mid-heaven with a loud cry, Woe, woe, woe, to those that dwell upon the earth, for the rest of the trumpet-voices of the three angels that are about to sound their trumpets! In the midst of the sky, in the zenith, directly over the heads of men, the eagle was flying, and his screaming cry was a warning against security, a call to repentance, before the remaining trumpets should sound and bring still greater woes and distresses to the inhabitants of the earth. It is absolutely necessary that all Christians heed the warning words of their pastors in these last days of the world, lest they be overwhelmed by the woes which are coming upon the Church.
Summary
The prophet, at the beginning of the third vision, sees the opening of the seventh seal and witnesses the blowing of the trumpets by four angels, the consequence being that plagues visited the earth, the sea, the waters, and the sky.