October 18: THE THIRD TRUMPET JUDGEMENT (part 1)

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11 (KJV)

Rome’s fall and the rush of pagans and paganism into the church not only introduced compromise but also threw both the church and the world into a long era of darkness. That great star that fell from heaven was Satan himself (Luke 10:18). It was (and is) burning as it were a lamp. The phrase as it were (or as if it were) signals a counterfeit. Be reminded, beloved, that Satan knows Scripture. He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and works through false prophets to confuse, misrepresent, and misquote God’s word, presenting his twisted interpretations as a counterfeit lamp to [the] feet and a light to [the] path (Psalm 119:105) of believers. Protection from this attack covers all who cultivate the love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10), a love of Jesus who is truth (John 14:6). In the third trumpet judgement we see the third part twice more, symbolizing deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV – see also Revelation 12:4 and Isaiah 9:15). God wants to save everyone, but people render themselves vulnerable to deceptions if they reject a teaching from the Lord, as this opens the door to a counterfeit teaching.

Judgement fell upon the third part of the rivers, meaning leaders, kings (Proverbs 21:1, Revelation 17:1-2). World leaders have influence, as do Christ’s professed followers (see Revelation 1:6). Again, we are shown that the subjects of these judgements are those who allow themselves to be deceived. The Dark Ages were marked by the institutional church exercising power over the kings—the crowned heads of Europe—intimidating them to do her bidding. Satan’s work upon the fountains of waters calls us to consider these words of Jesus: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The Holy Spirit is symbolized as living water that can become… a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). We must understand that Satan targets believers. A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring (Proverbs 25:26).

In the events of the third trumpet, Satan enters the church impose his will upon believers. This judgement shows the falling away, the apostasy that takes place – sparked by compromise with the world – as this power rises up. Paul predicted this (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). He said that Jesus would not return before the man of sin (v.3 – see also Daniel 7:8,25; 8:9,11; 11:31-32) would be revealed. Thus far in the third trumpet we see Satan using the Bible and a religious guise to deceive world leaders and believers in Christ, using a false message of salvation, causing people to do his evil will thinking they’re doing God’s will (see Matthew 7:21-23; John 6:66; 16:1-3).

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20