A Star Named Wormwood

The Third Trumpet “Plague”

The announcement of the third trumpet “plague” in Revelation brings some strange events. These loud trumpets are urgent warnings from a loving heavenly Father. Here’s the description of the third trumpet.

¹⁰ Then the third angel sounded: 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. ¹¹ 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

Wormwood

Wormwood is a strange name. Did you know it is a plant native to Eurasia and Northern Africa? It contains the ingredient thujone which can cause seizures, muscle breakdown, kidney damage, irregular heartbeat, paralysis, and death. I definitely don’t want wormwood in my water!

The wormwood mentioned in Revelation is more than just a literal poisonous plant. What does it mean? The first mention of a word in the Bible sometimes gives us a clue as to the symbolic meaning. The first mention of wormwood is in Deuteronomy 29. God compares having a root of wormwood to turning away from God and serving other gods. Then He warns that if you think you will have peace walking after the imagination of your own heart, you are fooling yourself. It will not go well! Read the words from the Bible below.

¹⁸ Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood; ¹⁹ And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: ²⁰ The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.” -Deuteronomy 29:18-20 (KJV)

The first commandment is “thou shall have no other gods before me” (Exod. 20:3). Sin is when we do not follow God’s commandments (1 John 3:4). Sin leads to death. This is not a punishment, it is cause and effect. Names will be blotted out of the book of Life. Wow – this is serious. No wonder Smith’s Bible dictionary says “wormwood is symbolical of bitter calamity and sorrow”. Those who realize they are not saved because they went their own way will have great sorrow.

Loving Instructions or Wormwood

Why does the Lord blot out someone’s name from the Book of Life in these explanations? It is not because He wants to. It is because people follow the imagination of their own hearts, instead of the instructions from the heart of a loving and faithful God. They want to be their own gods and decide what’s right and wrong for themselves. This is the root of wormwood.

The belief that you should “follow your heart” comes from the star that fell from heaven. The Bible tells us who that fallen star is.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!

For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,

I will be like the Most High.’

Isaiah 14:12-13 (NKJV)

Another translation says it this way, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!” (ESV). The star that fell from heaven described in Revelation’s third trumpet is Lucifer, or Satan. The waters that are poisoned are beliefs and false teachings, often taught by religious leaders. Listen to this strong warning from Lord.

 Thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ” -Jeremiah 23:16-17

Jesus has wonderful water for us, it’s called the “Water of Life” (John 4:14; Rev. 22:17). It is free to all who trust in Him. It is not bitter and has not been poisoned by wormwood. It is found in Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. He gave His life and died for your sins, so you can have life through Him. He is the only way to eternal life.

Don’t follow your heart

The third trumpet warning is telling us that the teachings of a loving God (water of life) have been poisoned by the devil’s deceptions (wormwood). The next time you are told you should “Follow your heart” or “Wish upon a falling star”, remember the star that fell from heaven and poisoned the waters with this very bad advice. Instead, turn your eyes to Jesus and follow his loving instructions in the Bible. His words lead to life – eternal life.