Impact On Scripture And Revelation
The Hebrew word la’anah translates to our word Wormwood in the Bible. The most notable and famous passage many often refer to is found within Revelation 8:10-11. The New Testament was written in Greek and the word there used is apsinthion. Note that wormwood is spoken of in both Old and New Testaments although within different contexts and meaning which are at times unrelated.
The use of the word can be considered to be more of an adjective rather than a proper name. It describes the effects or results of what is used or is taking place. The one exception to this is Revelation 8 where it states the star itself is named Wormwood. Nevertheless the name itself lends to the description of what the star will do to the Earth.
Symbolic Or Literal?
Other passages within the Bible such as Jeremiah 9:15 and Lamentations 3:15,19 are clearly metaphorical. They speak to calamity and sorrow. Due to references such as these many have attributed the writing found within Revelation 8 as also being a metaphor to something no one will fully define.
The issue with this is that the context does not allow for this within Revelation. Just because a word is used metaphorically within its context in another place does not always make the use of the word as a metaphor. No English teacher within any school would ever allow such an idea to persist and a students grade would reflect this point.
The English word red could be used to describe someone who is angry or its context could also be used as an actual color. If we use the word red as a descriptor for an emotional state does this always mean that the word must describe emotion? Absolutely not. Yet for the Bible this kind of irrational thinking is often used to break down what cannot be accepted into something that is more palatable irregardless of the context of the text.
The context within other Scripture which is a metaphor is clear and this kind of metaphor is common for the time. Writings across Asia would use plants and flowers to describe the state of something or the atmosphere created as the result of some event. Within Asian cultures flowers and plants would often be gifted to people as an expression with meaning without the need of cards or words. What the plant stood for symbolically in meaning was the expression.
This reasoning is further grounds for those who wish to turn Revelation 8 into a symbolic reference to some event or calamity. There is no doubt that Wormwood is real within a literal sense as described. We need to explore why and how it impacts mankind within the Earth. Aside from the name being a proper noun giving away its real context and being defined specifically as a star which falls to Earth, this is not enough for the nay sayers.
Revelation Trumpet Judgments
The star called Wormwood appears within the Seven Trumpet Judgments of Revelation. These judgments are broken down into two parts. The first four are different from the last three. What makes them different are a few key factors.
The first four impact the Earth and the ecosystem while the last three impact mankind directly and personally. Additionally the cause of the calamity is different. Within the first four the cause is natural events which God sets into motion. Within two of the last three demonic forces are unleashed upon the earth that are directed to torment mankind.
While I have broken down these Trumpet Judgments into two sets this is done most often for the last three judgments we often call the three woes. This is due to an angels proclamation found in Revelation 8. Despite this the last judgment, the 7th Trumpet, is unique and different from all others before it irregardless of accepted classification.
The Trumpet Judgment within which we find Wormwood is the third. It is within the set that affects the Earths ecosystem by means of natural calamity which is sent by God. Each of these four impact a different part of Earths ecosystem.
The first burns 1/3 of the trees and grass within the Earth. The second 1/3 part of the sea thus salt water is impacted and the life there in that part dies. Within the second it also states that a third of the ships within the oceans are destroyed. The third impacts the rivers and fountains of waters thus Wormwood impacts fresh water supply. The fourth impacts our atmosphere as 1/3 of the sun is turned dark and will not shine as well as a third part of the stars.
Each Trumpet impacts a different portion of the ecosystem bringing death. Land plants, grass and trees, salt water, fresh water, and then the sky with our atmosphere. Each is triggered by and event which the Trumpet brings.
The first is hail and raining fire. The second is a great mountain burning with fire. Some have surmised that this could be a comet yet I believe they possibly confuse this with Wormwood. It would seem to indicate volcanic activity globally with associated impact that it can bring. The third is a star which falls to Earth.
The cause of the fourth is not clearly defined but many have assumed that due to the level of impact within the first three our sky will be naturally darkened from the many calamities on the Earth. This is logical yet I cannot help but wonder if there is something astronomically which takes place to further impact this.
Specific Events With Literal Implications
The nature of each of these Trumpets speak to actual events within a cause and effect way. Allow me to further explain with a metaphor that I have heard often in life. Some have often pointed to something around them whether an aspect of their job or life and defined it as a train wreck. Clearly it is not a literal train wreck.
The context of Revelation 8 is not a metaphor in this sense. It is not a comparison of an event which likens it to a symbolic reference within some abstract form. In reading the Scripture it is very cause and effect. An event happens and this is the result of it. The Scripture gives us the events including the third Trumpet with a proper noun naming the star which falls to Earth being called Wormwood.
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.
Revelation 8:10-11
After the star is named it then uses a separate phrase to define what the waters become like. The first phrase uses a proper noun and the second phrase a lower case w within the text speaks to the waters being turned bitter or poisoned to where it is undrinkable and not habitable for life. Here a star is given a name after the impact it has upon the water thus it is a literal body of some kind like a meteor.
Timeline Of The Seven Trumpets
There are different theories behind the time line of events surrounding the trumpet judgments. What we do know factually is that we are not presently as of the time of this writing living within this period. Some will try to argue this point yet it is futile and will fail in claiming this.
It is clear that these events take place within the Tribulation period which is still yet a future set of events to unfold. It is commonly accepted that these judgments will begin to unfold after the Seal Judgments. It appears that the last the Trumpet Judgments take place after the 7th Seal which most have attributed to the mid point of the Tribulation.
While this is how I was traditionally taught and it is often generally accepted within those who hold to the literal translation I question its accuracy. There are issues which arise concerning time when this format is followed that I cannot detail here in this post. To give a general idea of this issue though it relates to the timing of the 6th Seal and its impact in conjunction to other events within Revelation.
As I have continued to study these events I never placed much focus on trying to understand time. I believe that trying to teach Revelation building it around a time model is a flawed teaching. Revelation is a description of what will be and for who it is for with a focus on moving into God’s Kingdom. Yet through my time of studying I have come to see something interesting.
In my mind the time line appears differently than I was traditionally taught. If you could think of it like a shoe which is laced. The shoe lace is one long cord. Yet the lace will weave from left to right bringing both sides together as it passes through the eyelets. I have come to see the Seal Judgments and the Trumpet Judgments as two sides with the lace as it weaves through.
In other words as the Seals begin to unfold it may be that events from some Trumpet Judgments begin sooner than the mid point of the Tribulation. They may happen more side by side than our traditional linear thinking of A first then B which would then take us to C.
What began my thought process down this path is that the Sixth Seal is clearly the Tribulation Saints which are depicted in white robes as the Church is always depicted in fine linen. An example of the Church can be found in Revelation 19 as we return with Christ. They are two different peoples. Also note that In Revelation 8:1 as it transitions to verse 2 John uses the word And at the start of verse 2. He could have used the word Then.
Perhaps John is describing things by category of events rather than a linear time line of events when it pertains to these different judgments. The issue in defining a perfect time line is that the details we have were not necessarily intended to be God’s day planner. We are given a definitive start and end based upon events rather than dates. Between those two events we know is 7 years due to multiple Scriptures and descriptions.
Nevertheless the space of time within those 7 years can at times be a bit cloudy when one attempts to place specific things such as when a Trumpet Judgment takes place. Other events such as the First Seal Judgment has other collaborative Scripture to further define it such as Daniel 9:27 and the accompanying passage built around that prophecy. Due to this we know more specifically the who, what, and when of this event. Not all judgments have such detail given to them.
Importance Of The Events
I believe it is more important to focus on what the events portend. The judgments which fall upon the Earth is an move by God to grab the worlds attention. His desire is that the world sees Him and recognizes Him as their Creator and God.
Time matters less for these judgments rather than seeing what takes place. As people continue to refuse Christ each judgment continues to unfold. Scripture states that every person within the Earth will know who God is yet there will be those who defy and still deny Him as they shake their fist at Him blaming Him for what they suffer through.
Some may believe that this kind of thinking is unimaginable. Yet today within our world we see it now. Truth is replaced with our own truths and claimed to be fact. It does not matter that the basis of truths having no foundation in science or reality. We simply want things to be the way we want them for we wish to live the way we want to live. Therefore people claim their made up reality as truth when it is not.
No part of our world works this way. I can believe that I can fly all I want. Yet this belief would literally be dashed and broken by my body smashing into the ground if I jumped off a cliff. I cannot fly. We were not made to fly. I cannot turn off gravity. Yet this does not stop people from believing things which are just as insane and blatant. Believing in such ways the Bible describes as blindness and even as a reprobate mind.
Within these last passages to the end of our present world we see this mentality at war against the real Truth of God. Mankind simply rejects the real Truth. They do not understand that Jesus is Life. Not being with Christ there is only death. He is asking them to join life. The results of their chosen fate is not the choice God wants for them but rather it is a choice they make for themselves.