Revelation 8:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.

NIV: the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

NASB: The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.

CSB: The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter.

NLT: The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.

KJV: And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

NKJV: 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.

This passage describes one of the trumpet judgments, in this case a burning star that falls from heaven onto a third of the rivers and springs of water. Here, John names this "star," which is called Wormwood. Wormwood is a bitter desert plant found in the regions surrounding the Middle East, in Syria, and in Palestine. It is related to the plant from which the alcoholic drink absinthe is made. Added to alcohol, absinthe can cause complete deterioration of the brain. As seen by John in this Revelation, when the star Wormwood fell into the waters, it poisoned those who drank the water, killing many.

While the judgment described here is literal, Wormwood also symbolizes the bitterness of the consequences of sin. We see something similar in the Old Testament. When the Hebrews journeyed through the Negev, they came upon bitter water at Marah (Exodus 15:23). When the people complained to Moses (Exodus 15:24), he called upon the Lord (Exodus 15:25). In response, the Lord showed him a log. When Moses threw the log into the water, the water became sweet. Similarly, because of Jesus' death on a wooden cross, God can remove the bitter sins of life and make life sweet.

Revelation 8:6–13 follows a lengthy hush in heaven, after which seven angels receive seven trumpets and another angel mixes the prayers of the saints with incense. After emptying the censer of incense, he fills it with fire and casts it down to the earth. Thunder, rumblings, lighting, and an earthquake ensue. Now four of the seven angels blow their trumpets with disastrous effects on earth.

Revelation 8 tells us John saw seven angels receive seven trumpets. Another angel brought incense and the prayers of the saints at the golden altar, then filled the container with fire and cast it down to the earth. Next, four angels blew their trumpets in succession. The consequences were devastating: hail and fire mixed with blood; a third of the earth and trees were burned up; all green grass was consumed; a third of the sea became blood; a third of sea life died; a third of the ships were destroyed; the water supply became bitter, and many people died. Further, a third of the sun, moon, and stars experienced some kind of blackout, and darkness extended for a third of the day and night.

In chapter 7, an interlude occurs between the opening of the sixth seal and the seventh seal. In the interlude an angel seals 144,000 saved Jews as God's servants. Chapter 8 introduces the second series of judgments, the trumpet judgments. They begin when Jesus the Lamb opens the seventh seal. The trumpet judgments seem to follow the seal judgments without overlapping them. They are more severe than the seal judgments, resulting in catastrophic damage to plant life, salt waters, fresh waters, and light. Even so, this passage warns that the remaining judgments are even worse.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''