“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 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; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 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. 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; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” Rev 8:7-13 (KJV)
There is a wide diversity of opinion among conservative biblical commentators concerning the meaning of the events described in this passage from Revelation 8:7-13. Any specific explanation on my pa\rt would seem presumptuous to say the least when so many accomplished scholars over the past centuries do not agree in each particular of meaning. However, there are some salient points that can be discovered that are not subject to speculation. I will attempt to point these out in this brief study.
For one thing, there is a common feature that describes the first four soundings of the trumpet are related to the physical Creation and life on the planet – “there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up ~ 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; ~ And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed ~ And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; ~ 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. ~ 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; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” All of these are manifestations in the material Universe.
We know from the writings of John in his Epistles that the spirit of antiChrist was active from the very moment of the Gospels beginning in our Lord’s ministry. Certainly the Jewish rulers were complicit with that spirit, followed by the Roman emperors, and, sad to say, many who claimed authority to preach but falsely. Let us examine the following passages:
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1 John 2:18 (KJV) The biblical historicists are right in declaring this to be a relevant aspect of the early Church age because, John himself tells us that “even now” that spirit was active. The age in which John wrote was the “last time”, so the reality of those antiChrists was prevalent in the time of John and it was, indeed, the last time (but before what?) There were great and horrifying events about to occur both in the Church and in the Jewish world. Jerusalem was about to be destroyed with the utmost cruelty being served upon her inhabitants. But those converts to Christ had fled the city prior to its destruction. But the spirit of antichrist did not cease with the onslaught of those terrors of Jerusalem and the martyrdom of Christians in the Roman Empire – it has continued through all centuries down to our own day, In fact, that spirit has accelerated in our day.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23 (KJV) We know that the Pharisees denied Christ to His face. But these are not the only ones. What of the Muslims today who worship another god called allah. He has no son, no Holy Spirit, and no mercy or grace. They not only deny Christ, but the Father as well.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:2-3 Sad to say, there are even so-called Christian clergy of our day who are guilty of this great heresy. They spiritualize Christ out of physical existence. The new Bible versions attempt to demean both our Lord as only Begotten Son of the Father, but the reverence due the Holy Ghost as well.
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 2 John 1:7 (KJV) This verse applies to John’s day, but also to our own.
The spirit of antichrist does not belong, in my view, to a single individual but to many who deny those truths of the Gospel. We have had political leaders of our own day do the same.
Perhaps the this first trumpet signals the early heresies related to antichrist that began to flourish in the early Church of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries, and beyond. One such damnable heresy was the Arian heresy which claimed that our Lord was created by God at a point in time, making Him not much greater than sinful man. But there also arose many others which hit the Church like hail, fire, and brimstone. It also resulted in internecine bloodshed in the early Church. But this heresy still rears its shaggy head from time to time, and even in our own day.
“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.” The mountain referenced here is not a mountain of stone and earth, but a great and ungodly power. Some have averred this to be the apostate Church of Rome. Such a mountain is made reference to in Jeremiah: “25 Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.” Jer 51:25 (KJV) Perhaps this power has proselytes by way of early sea exploration in spreading its deceitful and false doctrine. In many prophetic cases in the Bible, the sea refers to populations or political entities. “And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.”
“10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of 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.” Wormwood is known to be bitter. The falling star, burning as it were a lamp, may mean the false philosophy that elevates a love for the earth above the value of human and animal life. The so-called ‘Green Movement’ does just that. Though I am not an apostle of this false philosophy, I do understand man’s role as caretakers of the earth and protectors of all life forms – including, and especially, that of the animal kingdom. But we do not protect the idea of the sovereignty of the earth above our responsibilities of caretakers.
Our streams, rivers, and seas are polluted today to a greater extent ever before in history. Sealife and fish in our rivers are dying. Drinking water is often poison. But that does not mean that life should be forfeited for the benefit of the sea. It means that we should exercise greater care in minimizing pollution.
“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; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” The darkening of the lights of heaven means a time when grave consequences are met due to those martyrs of God (under the fifth seal) and the coming of the Lord in the sixth.
The interim period is described before the great woes and judgments of Heaven about to occur. “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”