And the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, burning like a lamp, fell out of heaven. And it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water. And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters because they had been made bitter. Rev. 8:10, 11.
The language of this trumpet echoes the Old Testament. The falling star, for example, reminds me of Lucifer tumbling from heaven in Isaiah 14. Lucifer, who claims to be like God, is cast out of heaven like a star falling from the sky (Rev. 8:10).
Scripture often associates a torch, or a lamp, with the Word of God (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23). But here John connects it to a falling star, so it represents a counterfeit of the truth. The action of falling, then, represents spiritual decline (Rev. 2:5; Heb. 4:11). The falling star gives off light like the Word of God, but it is not the real thing.
These images are consistent with the embittering of rivers and springs that follows in our text. Rivers and springs symbolize spiritual nourishment. Just as we need physical water to keep from perishing, so we need spiritual water (the Holy Spirit--John 7:37-39; cf. Ps. 1:3) in order for our faith to survive.
When the falling star strikes the rivers and springs, however, it makes the water bitter. People come seeking the nourishing waters of the Spirit and the truth, but instead get poisoned by waters that have become bitter. In the Old Testament wormwood and bitterness are consistent symbols of apostasy and idolatry (Deut. 29:17, 18). Because the water of truth has been poisoned, that which promised life instead becomes the source of death. Bitter water cannot sustain life (Lam. 3:15, 19; Ex. 15:23).
Most of us know the frustration that comes when we buy computer software that doesn't do what we need it to do. Imagine purchasing a computer program that includes a software manual that is full of mixed-up information. It says, "If you want to accomplish this task, do thus and thus." But when you do what the manual tells you, nothing happens or the computer crashes.
Now, hopefully that has been pretty rare in your experience. But it happens frequently in the spiritual world. People encounter all kinds of false information about God and spiritual life. When they buy into it, their own spiritual software begins to malfunction, and the consequences are great.
Lord, help me to be more serious about what I believe. I don't want to have a casual faith--I want one that will survive whatever comes.
The language of this trumpet echoes the Old Testament. The falling star, for example, reminds me of Lucifer tumbling from heaven in Isaiah 14. Lucifer, who claims to be like God, is cast out of heaven like a star falling from the sky (Rev. 8:10).
Scripture often associates a torch, or a lamp, with the Word of God (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 6:23). But here John connects it to a falling star, so it represents a counterfeit of the truth. The action of falling, then, represents spiritual decline (Rev. 2:5; Heb. 4:11). The falling star gives off light like the Word of God, but it is not the real thing.
These images are consistent with the embittering of rivers and springs that follows in our text. Rivers and springs symbolize spiritual nourishment. Just as we need physical water to keep from perishing, so we need spiritual water (the Holy Spirit--John 7:37-39; cf. Ps. 1:3) in order for our faith to survive.
When the falling star strikes the rivers and springs, however, it makes the water bitter. People come seeking the nourishing waters of the Spirit and the truth, but instead get poisoned by waters that have become bitter. In the Old Testament wormwood and bitterness are consistent symbols of apostasy and idolatry (Deut. 29:17, 18). Because the water of truth has been poisoned, that which promised life instead becomes the source of death. Bitter water cannot sustain life (Lam. 3:15, 19; Ex. 15:23).
Most of us know the frustration that comes when we buy computer software that doesn't do what we need it to do. Imagine purchasing a computer program that includes a software manual that is full of mixed-up information. It says, "If you want to accomplish this task, do thus and thus." But when you do what the manual tells you, nothing happens or the computer crashes.
Now, hopefully that has been pretty rare in your experience. But it happens frequently in the spiritual world. People encounter all kinds of false information about God and spiritual life. When they buy into it, their own spiritual software begins to malfunction, and the consequences are great.
Lord, help me to be more serious about what I believe. I don't want to have a casual faith--I want one that will survive whatever comes.
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