The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”
Comment: If I’m being honest as I read this, it is fascinating but the meaning doesn’t jump out. Is it talking about physical things or spiritual things? From a physical point of view there have been a lot of major landslides. Does it mean a mountain slides into the sea? Wormwood is bitter! Does it speak of pollution and non-usability of both the seas and rivers etc? It would be a catastrophe of epic proportions if the sun lost a major part of its light-giving gifts to life on earth?
Does it have a purely spiritual meaning? Is heresy ( the mountain) in the church destructive to the point that life is made intolerable for those who are really seeking the truth? Does the sun represent some great leader teaching heresy and the moon and stars represent other officials who because of heretical teaching cause much destruction? Although we often poo-hoo the idea, doctrine is that by which we live and if our doctrines are heretical life is messed up! eg ‘marriage’ misunderstood can make a mess affecting many lives and relationships. Understanding head-wise must be associated with living-wise also!
The only bit which is even relatively clear to me is the eagle proclaiming its message of woe. What is coming needs to concern us greatly and I will read on with interest to see what the remaining three trumpets will herald!
Prayer: You do know the future Lord. Help me to understand what You want me to know. Please help me as I read on!
As I read it! 