REVELATION 8:10-11
(We are once again privileged to have Mako Kato, our summer intern, share his thoughts on our passage today.)
Read Revelation 8:10-11.
Whereas the second trumpet affected the seas, the third trumpet affects the freshwater, the rivers and the springs. The passage says that a great star fell from heaven and even names the star, Wormwood. It is because of this star that a third of the waters became wormwood and many people died from the water.
Let’s take a look at the term “wormwood.” It is the name of a bitter plant mentioned several times in the Old Testament. One example is in Proverbs 5:3-4 which says the adulteress is bitter as wormwood. Another example comes from Jeremiah.
The LORD said, “Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it, but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,” therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. –Jeremiah 9:13-15 (NASB
It is because the Israelites would not follow God that he gave them wormwood as a punishment.
In Revelation, we see God’s judgment on the world for not following him and part of that judgment is in this bitter water.
Think of this. This is water that brings death. People will try to drink it and will die because of it.
In this hot weather, there’s nothing like a glass of cold water, but even something as pure as freshwater will be made unclean in the last days. It will cause death. But consider Christ: The Living Water.
He remains forever pure, giving the gift of eternal life. Whoever drinks the water that He gives will never be thirsty again (John 4:12). Praise Him for His gift of Living Water.
Where O death is thy sting?
