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Revelation Chapter Eight

Some things are extremely difficult, and so is this chapter.  (Large edit: 2011-01-10)

1-6
These verses are introductory in scope and give us the sense that with the seventh seal having been broken, God's judgment's execution comes about.  The trumpets emphasize the importance of each judgmental announcement.

7 - 1st Trumpet

ASV: 7 And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

This verse is still not clear.  The earth refers to the governments and society of stable mankind.  Fire and ice fell on Egypt as one of the plagues and killed.  Here too we see a great number of people, 1/3, being killed. The trees and grass elude extrapolation; their interpretation is not yet understood.

Habakkuk prophesied
that when the end came produce and food would become extremely scarce. (Hab 3:16-18) For this reason, even the animal flocks we keep for food would be severely affected. Perhaps this is what is talked about.

8 - 2nd Trumpet

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

In not only chapter 17:9 do we find that the symbolism of mountain is that of rulership, government.  The sea is at times defined as the wicked.  This is found in Isaiah 57:8.  This interpretation may be understood to be valid also when Revelation states that the sea is no more.  (21:1)

From this auto-interpretation, we may then understand the scripture as follows:
The phrase "as it were" becomes paramount in this interpretation as does the sea.  Since this is stated as a  "great mountain" one would assume a great government among men but, watch out!   "As it were" means that it isn't truly a country, but that it has the shape, form, and function in many respects of a government.

What among us in our times functions as but is not a government that at the same time is death dealing and causes great spilling of blood?

Terrorism!  The various factions of terrorism have in a sense heads of state and  function internally as governments do with leaders and the natural entourage of downwards graduating peripheral leaders that organizations have.  We see how some of these have spokesmen have political power, even the power to deny a truce or ceasefire between real governments and themselves.

Do we see and can we expect to see much more blood spilled among and by these wicked governments?  Most certainly so.
 

Verse 9

9 and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, even they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.
 
Hosea and Jeremiah contains these two prophecies about the end:
Hos 4:
2 There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Zeph 1:3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah. (See also Jer 12:4; 4:25;  Ez 14:13)
 

While some are sure to object to these scriptures, the one in Hosea has a clear parallel in today's world conditions, and we must remember that Jesus told his elect who had the hope of becoming king-priests in heaven with him that they shall judge all Israel sitting on thrones.  Thus all Israel is the whole world, and all humans are in that sense Israelites who shall be judged at the end times.

We must realize that all the Bible is written for our instruction and many of the things God brought upon  Israel of old will come against this world likewise.  Naturally, you have the right to reject this interpretation and use of scripture.

Thus the application here becomes somewhat literal.  How the ships are destroyed is perhaps by terrorism, perhaps by natural disasters, perhaps by lack of business?  It is unknown, but surely speaks to humanity's business activities being seriously affected.

It could certainly be about both ships for war and for commerce.  If for commerce, the indication is that terrorism would seriously hurt any business trying to function in those parts of the world where they operate.  On a tangent, it is interesting to note that piracy has increased world wide off east and west Africa, not to mention other places of the world where attacks have occurred.

10 - 3rd trumpet

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; 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.

This remains elusive.  The stars could refer to angels. But, does it ?!

Someone else pointed this out to me; however, I am talking care to base everything here on simple scripture. We must concentrate on the word star to try to figure this one out ! Scriptures having been considered here are:  Dan 8: 10-14; 12:3, Rev 1:16, 20, etc.

Daniel 12:3: And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Here is a tentative interpretation. We see that Star symbolizes the elect, the wise ones of Christ. Thus the fallen Star Wormwood is one such elect, or rather, group of elects. The Elect have been given the Paraclete, Christ's teacher who taught them all things. 

Waters of truth–(Jer 2:13; Rev 22:17)
22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.

Thus the waters that are made bitter are the waters of truth, the truths of Holy Scripture. Since this is apart from Babylon the Great and is said to be fallen elect, it refers to a group or groups of religions that claim to have the truth apart from general Christianity.  They obviously claim to be Stars ! Claim to have the truth of salvation, life's water, but this they do not have.  That they have a great deal of truth is shown by them making the waters of truth bitter; still, they have adulterated the word of God and made it deathdealing, wormwood, for the sake of their own gratification and exaltation.

In Deuteronomy 29:14-18, this word is applied to any person who apostates from Jehovah and may have a poisonous effect within the church, the congregation, causing others to withdraw also.  Then in Proverbs 5:3,4 the strange woman who entices those lacking discipline is compared to wormwood when she kills her prey through disease akin to HIV.  What this gives us is both religious and moral immorality and unfaithfulness to God and Christ.

Besides these fallen saints, we have experienced  another form of spiritual apostasy in our times.  Atheism and evolution surely has muddied much pure water.  Many wise surely are making many loose their chances of salvation by these bitter waters of 'truth.'

Is this interpretation true? That cannot be claimed, but it sounds as if it's somewhat on track.

12 - 4th trumpet

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; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.

For sure, the fallen star, the deviated saints, have clouded the true light from shining from God.  In Revelation we are shown that the sun and moon symbolize God, the Almighty, and his Son, Jesus Christ. Their light has been greatly obscured by this Wormwood star.

 
 
 
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