Rev 8:13 | KingComments | STEP | . When the second angel sounds the trumpet, something like “a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea”. After the earth also the sea will be the object of judgment. The sea represents the disordered world ( ), countries where revolution and anarchy are in control, in contrast to the earth of . Great powers go down in it, while other powers come out of it. The great mountain, or anyway something which reminds us of that, is a symbol of a strong worldly power ( ; ; ; cf. ). This is not the restored Roman empire, for that will not go down in the sea of nations, but will arise from it ( ). Some interpreters refer to the United States. This great power is burning with fire. It is an object of God's wrath. . The fall of this burning, great power sows death and destruction in the midst of a third part of the nations. The third part of the inhabitants of these nations will die. The fall of the great power also causes the destruction of “the third of the ships”. That may mean that parts of trade and communication will be paralyzed, preventing, for example, relief supplies from more distant countries. . At the sounding of the third angel “a great star fell from heaven”. As with the first two trumpets, there is fire. Only it is not that much about a consuming fire here, but about something that burns “like a torch”. The effect is also similar to the previous trumpets, for here too many die ( ). However, there is still a difference. The cause of death is not fire, but wormwood caused by this star. The star is a symbol of a ruler that must radiate heavenly light ( ). You may think of a great person with authority or a religious powerful system, probably someone who or something that impresses people, in the expectation that he or it will supply religious leadership to the (western) world. This star is not thrown as it was in the previous verses, but falls from heaven ( ). It will burn like a torch and in that way it is an imitation of the seven Spirits of God ( ). That leads to the thought that with this star it is about a spiritual power. The Spirit of God spreads the truth; this star spreads lies and destruction, doctrines of demons ( ). The star falls on “a third of the rivers and on the springs of water”. “Rivers” represent the normal life of a nation which is characterized by certain principles. “Springs” refer more to the influences that are based on the principles. In the symbolism of this description you may say that this star causes the destruction of spiritual springs instead of giving wholesome heavenly light. After the two domains of life (earth and sea) are struck by the previous trumpets, now the springs of life that determine the quality of life are struck. You recognize this if you for instance look at marriage and family. Marriage and family are given by God as a spring of happiness. When this is separated from God, it becomes a spring of unhappiness. Or: the womb is a spring of life, but separated from God life is being killed there, so that it is now a great place of murder. That's what makes life bitter. . Wormwood represents bitterness ( ). That's what this ruler causes to those who are within his reach. All who think they can lavish themselves on him will find that they have drunk death. The water is not only bitter, but it also appears to be poisonous. Dying is not the bodily death, but the moral death, that is, that there is no connection anymore with what God has given concerning the good things in creation. Therefore there is no possibility to enjoy those things anymore. Life becomes all bitterness and embitterment. As a believer, then, you must be very careful not to become embittered from whatever cause ( ). Embitterment strangles life in yourself and also in others. . The trumpet judgments step by step deprive people of life and deliver them to the powers and forces of death. The fourth angel sounds. Thereby the celestial bodies are affected which are set to give light on the earth ( ). The punishment of this judgment is the removal of light. In that way another spring of life is struck, for without light life cannot grow and flourish. Of sun and moon it is said that they ‘rule’ ( ). Stars serve to give us orientation. These celestial bodies refer to the whole system of government in all its parts, from the highest authority to its lowest forms. These light bearers, authority figures in different layers, will be partly, “a third”, clothed in darkness. That takes any orientation they might provide away from them, both in daytime and during the night. . After the fourth trumpet has sounded John sees and hears “an eagle flying in midheaven”. An eagle is the symbol of the speed with which the judgment is exercised. It sees its prey from a far distance and dives at a high speed to catch it. The eagle flies “in midheaven”, so that it can be seen and heard by everyone on earth. It announces the judgment of the remaining three trumpets. Because of fierceness of these three trumpets the eagle cries out a threefold “woe”. This threefold ‘woe’ corresponds to the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpet. As a result, the last three trumpets also form a whole. The three coming trumpet judgments or woes do not so much affect the circumstances in which people are, as has been often the case up to now, but they now strike the people themselves. They ae no longer indirect judgments. These people are referred to as “those who dwell on the earth”. In the book of Revelation this expression always refers those who feel themselves at home on earth and live only for that. For them, nothing else exists. God has no place in their thinking and life. Therefore they will be judged with the earth, which they love that much and to which they attached their fate. Believers do not ‘dwell’ on the earth, but they are pilgrims there. Their home is heaven ( ). The judgments that follow are terrible, with those of the third woe, which includes the seven bowls, being the very worst. The first ‘woe’ comes on the unsealed Jews, the second ‘woe’ afflicts Christless Christianity. Now read Revelation 8:8-13 again. Reflection: What is all affected by judgments in this section?

‏ Revelation of John 8:13

The Second, Third and Fourth Trumpet

Rev 8:8. When the second angel sounds the trumpet, something like “a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea”. After the earth also the sea will be the object of judgment. The sea represents the disordered world (Isa 17:12 ; Isa 57:20), countries where revolution and anarchy are in control, in contrast to the earth of Rev 8:7. Great powers go down in it, while other powers come out of it.

The great mountain, or anyway something which reminds us of that, is a symbol of a strong worldly power (Jer 51:25; Isa 2:2; Dan 2:35; cf. Psa 46:2). This is not the restored Roman empire, for that will not go down in the sea of nations, but will arise from it (Rev 13:1). Some interpreters refer to the United States. This great power is burning with fire. It is an object of God's wrath.

Rev 8:9. The fall of this burning, great power sows death and destruction in the midst of a third part of the nations. The third part of the inhabitants of these nations will die. The fall of the great power also causes the destruction of “the third of the ships”. That may mean that parts of trade and communication will be paralyzed, preventing, for example, relief supplies from more distant countries.

Rev 8:10. At the sounding of the third angel “a great star fell from heaven”. As with the first two trumpets, there is fire. Only it is not that much about a consuming fire here, but about something that burns “like a torch”. The effect is also similar to the previous trumpets, for here too many die (Rev 8:11). However, there is still a difference. The cause of death is not fire, but wormwood caused by this star.

The star is a symbol of a ruler that must radiate heavenly light (Rev 1:20). You may think of a great person with authority or a religious powerful system, probably someone who or something that impresses people, in the expectation that he or it will supply religious leadership to the (western) world. This star is not thrown as it was in the previous verses, but falls from heaven (Isa 14:12). It will burn like a torch and in that way it is an imitation of the seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5). That leads to the thought that with this star it is about a spiritual power. The Spirit of God spreads the truth; this star spreads lies and destruction, doctrines of demons (1Tim 4:1).

The star falls on “a third of the rivers and on the springs of water”. “Rivers” represent the normal life of a nation which is characterized by certain principles. “Springs” refer more to the influences that are based on the principles. In the symbolism of this description you may say that this star causes the destruction of spiritual springs instead of giving wholesome heavenly light.

After the two domains of life (earth and sea) are struck by the previous trumpets, now the springs of life that determine the quality of life are struck. You recognize this if you for instance look at marriage and family. Marriage and family are given by God as a spring of happiness. When this is separated from God, it becomes a spring of unhappiness. Or: the womb is a spring of life, but separated from God life is being killed there, so that it is now a great place of murder. That's what makes life bitter.

Rev 8:11. Wormwood represents bitterness (Pro 5:4). That's what this ruler causes to those who are within his reach. All who think they can lavish themselves on him will find that they have drunk death. The water is not only bitter, but it also appears to be poisonous. Dying is not the bodily death, but the moral death, that is, that there is no connection anymore with what God has given concerning the good things in creation. Therefore there is no possibility to enjoy those things anymore. Life becomes all bitterness and embitterment. As a believer, then, you must be very careful not to become embittered from whatever cause (Heb 12:15). Embitterment strangles life in yourself and also in others.

Rev 8:12. The trumpet judgments step by step deprive people of life and deliver them to the powers and forces of death. The fourth angel sounds. Thereby the celestial bodies are affected which are set to give light on the earth (Gen 1:14-19). The punishment of this judgment is the removal of light. In that way another spring of life is struck, for without light life cannot grow and flourish.

Of sun and moon it is said that they ‘rule’ (Gen 1:16). Stars serve to give us orientation. These celestial bodies refer to the whole system of government in all its parts, from the highest authority to its lowest forms. These light bearers, authority figures in different layers, will be partly, “a third”, clothed in darkness. That takes any orientation they might provide away from them, both in daytime and during the night.

Rev 8:13. After the fourth trumpet has sounded John sees and hears “an eagle flying in midheaven”. An eagle is the symbol of the speed with which the judgment is exercised. It sees its prey from a far distance and dives at a high speed to catch it. The eagle flies “in midheaven”, so that it can be seen and heard by everyone on earth. It announces the judgment of the remaining three trumpets.

Because of fierceness of these three trumpets the eagle cries out a threefold “woe”. This threefold ‘woe’ corresponds to the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpet. As a result, the last three trumpets also form a whole. The three coming trumpet judgments or woes do not so much affect the circumstances in which people are, as has been often the case up to now, but they now strike the people themselves. They ae no longer indirect judgments.

These people are referred to as “those who dwell on the earth”. In the book of Revelation this expression always refers those who feel themselves at home on earth and live only for that. For them, nothing else exists. God has no place in their thinking and life. Therefore they will be judged with the earth, which they love that much and to which they attached their fate. Believers do not ‘dwell’ on the earth, but they are pilgrims there. Their home is heaven (Phil 3:20).

The judgments that follow are terrible, with those of the third woe, which includes the seven bowls, being the very worst. The first ‘woe’ comes on the unsealed Jews, the second ‘woe’ afflicts Christless Christianity.

Now read Revelation 8:8-13 again.

Reflection: What is all affected by judgments in this section?