October 5, 2022
Then the third angel sounded [his trumpet]: 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. Revelation 8:10-11
After the fall of pagan Rome, a new satanic strategy began taking shape. The earlier horrific persecutions that had been inflicted upon the followers of Christ had actually caused the church to grow by leaps and bounds. Satan’s new strategy was to go to work within the church, and the plan of action was: COMPROMISE!
The great star from heaven named Wormwood refers to Satan. His work within the church had a bitter and poisonous effect on the message of the Gospel, the water of life (John 4:14) meant for spiritual nourishment. The message of forgiveness and new life in Jesus became polluted as false teachings and human traditions entered and displaced truths of the pure Gospel.
Wormwood is a notorious herb known for its bitterness and poison. Many men drank in this tainted message and died from the water. The third letter of Jesus (2:12-17) to Pergamos commended those who were remaining faithful, but He also pointed out that compromise was being tolerated. In fact, Jesus stated—twice!—that Satan was present in the church (see v.13).
The corresponding third seal (6:5-6) refers to a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
The black horse, opposite the white horse of the pure gospel, denotes an absence of the Gospel message. Wheat and barley are grains that represent the bread of life (John 6:33,35), and the pair of scales points to a growing scarcity of spiritual nourishment. However, for those who desired truth, it could still be found by sincere seekers per the command: do not harm the oil and the wine. The light of the Gospel and its true doctrines are symbolized by oil and wine.
In AD313, the Edict of Milan was issued making Christianity legal. Emperor Constantine in AD330 moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium (later called Constantinople) and delegated all religious power to the bishop of Rome. The church was morphing into an institutionalized entity, founded upon greed and promoting a perverted system of dogmas that were spiritually deadly to all who came to rely upon them for salvation. Thus began the freefall that plunged the world into the Dark Ages.
The apostle Paul was shown these things ahead of time.
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:29