Trumpet 3 - Rumor notes 42

 Trumpet 3

The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)

This is strikingly parallel to what we just saw in the previous trumpet.

The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. (Revelation 8:8)

Could this be two perspectives of possibly the same thing? In trumpet 2 we view this as happening from above the sea of glass while in this one it is witnessed from under the sea of glass on earth. That is one possibility but there's sure to be much more involved. But for sure there is burning involved and there is water involved and affected.

I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad. (Proverbs 29:6)

a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch

The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. (Revelation 6:13)

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. (Revelation 9:1)

His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (Revelation 12:4)

You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves. Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," says Yahweh, whose name is the God of Armies. (Amos 5:26-27)

You took up the tent of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.' (Acts 7:43)

wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. (Jude 1:13)

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" He said to them, "I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. Nevertheless, don't rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20)

How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! (Isaiah 14:12)

Burning like a torch

This is another case that may well involve the concept of something being like This is true of nearly all symbols, but contains an inherent warning to be cautious on how one chooses to interpret it. Whenever this appears we should be very careful how we view the meaning of it since there may well be a counterfeit involved. The very nature of a counterfeit is that it appears to be like something else of value but inherently contains less or no value within itself.

He said to Abram, "Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth, but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried in a good old age. In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full." It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:13-18)

He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers. (Judges 7:16)

The three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands with which to blow; and they cried, The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon. (Judges 7:20)

His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth. There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him. (Job 41:18-22)

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. (Isaiah 62:1)

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. (Ezekiel 1:13)

I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were girded with pure gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn't see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves. (Daniel 10:5-7)

He who dashes in pieces has come up against you. Keep the fortress! Watch the way! Strengthen your waist! Fortify your power mightily! For Yahweh restores the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the destroyers have destroyed them, and ruined their vine branches. The shield of his mighty men is made red. The valiant men are in scarlet. The chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the pine spears are brandished. The chariots rage in the streets. They rush back and forth in the broad ways. Their appearance is like torches. They run like the lightnings. He summons his picked troops. They stumble on their way. They dash to its wall, and the protective shield is put in place. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved. It is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, beating on their breasts. But Nineveh has been from of old like a pool of water, yet they flee away. "Stop! Stop!" they cry, but no one looks back. (Nahum 2:1-8)

In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6)

But it happened after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father wouldn't allow him to go in. Her father said, I most certainly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion: isn't her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her, instead. Samson said to them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief. Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails. When he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves. (Judges 15:1-5)

You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. You don't have his word living in you; because you don't believe him whom he sent. "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. (John 5:33-39)

it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters

The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

(Revelation 16:4)

Moses and Aaron did so, as Yahweh commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. The fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians couldn't drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:20-21)

The men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, we pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees: but the water is bad, and the land miscarries. He said, Bring me a new jar, and put salt therein. They brought it to him. He went forth to the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus says Yahweh, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying. So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.

(2 Kings 2:19-22)

Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure. Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open. (Hosea 13:15-16)

These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. (2 Peter 2:17)

He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!" (Revelation 14:7)

A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became four heads. The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good. There is aromatic resin and the onyx stone. The name of the second river is Gihon: the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Hiddekel: this is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. (Genesis 2:10-14)

Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)

They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:16-17)

Remember that the most important thing to keep in mind here is the reality to which these symbols direct our attention.

The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood

Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, but with him who stands here with us this day before Yahweh our God, and also with him who is not here with us this day (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed; and you have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them); lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from Yahweh our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood; and it happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry. Yahweh will not pardon him, but then the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie on him, and Yahweh will blot out his name from under the sky. Yahweh will set him apart to evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law. (Deuteronomy 29:14-21)

My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding: that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. (Proverbs 5:1-4)

therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. (Jeremiah 9:15)

In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, so that none does return from his wickedness: they are all of them become to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants of it as Gomorrah. Therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is ungodliness gone forth into all the land.

(Jeremiah 23:14-15)

I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day. He has filled me with bitterness, he has sated me with wormwood. He has also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he has covered me with ashes. You have removed my soul far off from peace; I forgot prosperity. I said, My strength is perished, and my expectation from Yahweh. Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. (Lamentations 3:14-19)

You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth: seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name, who brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress.

(Amos 5:7-9)

I want to re-analyze the potential meaning of these thirds and entertain another idea that may or may not prove out with further study. Look at the pattern we find here in the trumpets.

Trumpet 1: One third of the earth was burnt up,

one third of the trees were burnt up,

all green grass was burnt up

Trumpet 2: One third of the sea became blood,

one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died.

One third of the ships were destroyed.

Trumpet 3: One third of the rivers, and the springs of the waters.

One third of the waters became wormwood.

Trumpet 4: One third of the sun was struck,

one third of the moon,

one third of the stars;

one third of them would be darkened,

one third of the day wouldn't shine,

the night in the same way.

There are no more thirds in the rest of the trumpets, making these first four especially important as they are tied together by this repeated use of one third. I think this is something very important for us to think about and allow the clues to inform us as to why this is.

Also note the effects and how they differ from trumpet to trumpet in this set of four, as well as the fact that there are four. Numbers are very important in Revelation and must not be ignored or overlooked. Look at the pattern of the effects.

Trumpet 1: things (various symbols of people) are burnt up.

Trumpet 2: blood, death and destruction.

Trumpet 3: Wormwood and bitterness.

Trumpet 4: Major sources of natural light are struck and darkened.

What seems to be emerging to my thinking is that this very well may apply to a group of people who are major players in this war, people who honestly believe they are doing the will of God and keeping His rules but whose hearts are not synchronized with the Lamb's heart.

The trumpets are a clarion call to worship the real God, the true God, the God of heaven who is like the Lamb, not like Baal. The difference is not as clear as one might imagine, for the description of Baal strikingly resembles what we have been taught about Jesus. But the one notable and stark contrast that many find difficult to accept is that Baal operates under the principles of the trading system while the Lamb reveals heaven's true economy of selfless love, forgiveness, kindness, humility and is entirely free of coercive methods for overcoming evil.

Baal encourages selfish motives by offering blessings in exchange for allegiance.

Jesus demonstrates selfless love by forgiving His enemies unconditionally.

Baal demands blood sacrifices of worth commensurate to the level of offenses needing dissolution.

Jesus seeks at-one-ment in restored relationships of trust and admiration of God's sterling character.

Consider the description of Baal condensed from historical records in the accompanying document.

Why does this fit into the interpretation for understanding the meaning of these trumpets?

While first four trumpets can readily apply to professed God followers but who are exposed by the heart-searching truths released through the clear message of the trumpets, we see a clear transition happening moving into trumpet 5 where the messages more directly impact all who dwell on the earth.

I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:13)

This alerts us that there may be a significant difference between the first 4 trumpets in contrast to the last 3 which may indicate a movement from judgment expanding beyond its initial phase of separating the wheat from the tares, the wise virgins from the foolish.

For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? (1 Peter 4:17)

Examining the symbols utilized in the first 4 trumpets from this perspective makes them resonate strongly, at least for myself. I am beginning to see this group of people that Jesus spoke of frequently as a major issue in Revelation that I had not picked up on previously.

If this is valid, then this reference to one third repeated in all 4 trumpets not only means that Satan is directly involved in some way but that this involves the most subtle working of Satan, masquerading as righteousness while in fact deceiving those who imagine they are the very elect. This is the nature of religion as I see it today. It is extremely easy to imagine that we are God's chosen messengers on earth while failing to take seriously the message of the humble Lamb who is the hero of Revelation. This takes us back to the very first key we insist on using in the very first words of this book.

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon.... (Revelation 1:1)