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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 8:10 - 8:11
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_8:10-11
10The 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 waters. 11The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
Rev_8:10 "a great star fell from heaven" This may be an allusion to Isa_14:12. Many have tried to relate this to Rev_6:13 or Rev_9:1, but this may be trying to lock down John's imagery too tightly. Be careful of attempting to interpret each and every detail. This is dramatic imagery. Usually in Jewish apocalyptic literature a star falling refers to an angel (i.e. Rev_9:1).
Rev_8:11 "The name of the star is called Wormwood" In the OT wormwood is linked to idolatry (cf. Deu_29:17-18). It is also seen as mixed with poison and is, therefore, deadly (cf. Jer_9:15; Jer_23:15; Amo_6:12). Wormwood, by itself (cf. TEV), was bitter but not lethal. Here it is a metaphor for Divine judgment.
A good example of the inappropriateness of moderns trying to force the details of Revelation into their day is the assertion that the Russian Chernobyl nuclear facility which experienced a meltdown was fulfilled prophecy because the name meant wormwood in Russian. This practice of interpreting the Bible based on the morning newspaper has been common throughout the last two thousand years and should warn us to beware of the same procedure!