Revelation Part 34

The second trumpet brings another judgment upon the physical creation. Revelation 8:8–9 says, 

“Something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” 

The language describes an enormous object entering the sea with catastrophic results. John does not say that it literally was a mountain, but that it was “something like” a great mountain burning with fire.

One possible explanation is a massive meteor or asteroid striking the ocean. An object of that size entering the atmosphere could appear as a burning mass and cause enormous destruction when it impacted the sea. The resulting effects would extend far beyond the initial impact. Ocean currents could spread the consequences across large portions of the world's oceans. The Pacific Ocean alone accounts for roughly 46 percent of the world's ocean surface and about 30 percent of the Earth's total surface, demonstrating the enormous scale of the area that could potentially be affected.

The judgment specifically affects marine life and human commerce. One third of the sea becomes blood, one third of the living creatures in the sea die, and one third of the ships are destroyed. The destruction of marine life would have major consequences for food supplies and the ocean ecosystem, while the destruction of ships would severely disrupt transportation and international commerce. Much of the world's economy depends upon maritime shipping, so a judgment of this magnitude would have consequences far beyond immediate physical destruction.

The text does not identify the exact mechanism by which this event will occur. It could involve a supernatural event, a meteor or asteroid, or some combination of natural and supernatural phenomena. The important point is that Revelation describes a massive judgment affecting the sea, marine life, and human transportation as the Day of the Lord progresses.

The third trumpet shifts the judgment from the seas to the fresh water upon which human life depends. Revelation 8:10–11 says, 

“And a great star fell from heaven, burning 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 men died from the water, because it was made bitter.”

Again, John describes what he sees rather than necessarily identifying the physical object by modern scientific terminology. The “great star” could represent a meteor or asteroid entering the earth's atmosphere. Its appearance as something “burning like a torch” could describe an object breaking apart and igniting as it passes through the atmosphere. If such an object struck or contaminated a significant portion of the earth's rivers and springs, the consequences would be devastating.

Another possible interpretation is that the event could involve some form of human technology or warfare, including a nuclear or other catastrophic event. However, the passage itself does not tell us exactly how judgment occurs. The name “Wormwood” emphasizes the bitterness and contamination of the water. Whatever the physical mechanism, the result is clear: a third of the fresh water becomes undrinkable, and many people die because of it.

The progression of the first three trumpets is significant. The first trumpet affects vegetation on the land. The second affects the sea, marine life, and ships. The third affects rivers and springs, threatening the fresh water necessary for human survival. These judgments demonstrate the increasing severity of God's intervention during the Day of the Lord. They also show that the consequences extend beyond isolated disasters. The earth's basic systems of food, transportation, and water are being affected as God's judgment unfolds.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.