DEATH BY WORMWOOD - When the third trumpet sounded, a blazing star called Wormwood fell to earth. Wormwood contained a contaminate that turned 1/3 of the earth’s fresh water bitter or released pollutants on earth that contaminated 1/3 of fresh water sources and many people died from the bitter water. The star’s name identified that its effects were judgment on man for his idolatry and injustice. Idolatry is blind or excessive devotion to something or someone, e.g., money, prestige, a charismatic individual. Wormwood was a falling star with the same name as a plant. Revelation is an unveiling of spiritual forces operating behind the scenes in history. Revelations is largely prophecy, describing what will occur in future time. The book was written in the form of a letter addressed to the 1st century churches in the 7 cities of the Roman province of Asia in the region now known as western Turkey. John wrote Revelation when he was exiled to the island of Patmos. In Revelation chapter 8, John described a vision in which 7 angels, each with a trumpet, stood before God. The angels were ready to sound the trumpets, initiating judgments on the earth. These judgments were not the final judgment on the earth; rather, they were to warn the people of coming destruction and call them to repentance. The calamity and sorrow associated with contamination of 1/3 of the fresh water supply of the world will be natural consequences of turning from God and worshiping idols.

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Death by Wormwood

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When the third trumpet sounded, a blazing star called Wormwood fell to earth. Wormwood contained a contaminate that turned 1/3 of the earth’s fresh water bitter or released pollutants on earth that contaminated 1/3 of fresh water sources and many people died from the bitter water. The star’s name identified that its effects were judgment on man for his idolatry and injustice. Idolatry is blind or excessive devotion to something or someone, e.g., money, prestige, a charismatic individual.

Carolyn A. Roth

Wormwood was a falling star with the same name as a plant; read Revelation 8:1-11.

St. John, the Beloved Disciple, is credited with writing Revelation.

Revelation is an unveiling of spiritual forces operating behind the scenes in history (ESV-SB, 2008).

Revelations is largely prophecy, describing what will occur in future time.

The book was written in the form of a letter addressed to the 1^st century churches in the 7 cities of the Roman province of Asia in the region now known as western Turkey.

Probably, John wrote Revelation in 95-96 AD when he was exiled to the island of Patmos

In Revelation chapter 8, John described a vision in which 7 angels, each with a trumpet, stood before God.

The angels were ready to sound the trumpets, initiating judgments on the earth.

These judgments were not the final judgment on the earth; rather, they were to warn the people of coming destruction and call them to repentance (ESV-SB, 2008).

The sounding of the first four trumpets caused plagues in nature – land, sea, fresh water, and heavenly bodies.

See Table 1 for a synopsis of the effect of the sounding of the four trumpets.

Table 1, Outcome of Blowing Trumpets 1-4.

Trumpet	Caused	Outcome on the earth
First: land	Hail and fire, mixed with blood, were thrown on the earth	1/3 of the earth was burnt to include 1/3 of trees and plants. Every form of plant life was affected.
Second: sea	Something like a great burning mountain – a great burning mass – was thrown in to the sea.	1/3 of the sea became blood, 1/3 of living creatures in sea died, 1/3 of ships were destroyed.
Third: fresh water	A blazing star called Wormwood fell on 1/3 of the rivers and springs of the earth.	1/3 of waters (possibly fresh waters) became bitter and many people died from the bitter water.
Fourth: heavenly bodies	Sun, moon and stars were struck	1/3 of the day and 1/3 of the night was without light.

When the third trumpet sounded, a blazing star fell to earth.

This blazing star was called Wormwood or Absinthus.

When meteors enter the earth’s atmosphere and start to burn, they are called meteorites.

In the United States, we commonly call them shooting stars.

When a large meteorite hits the earth’s surface, a huge dust cloud rises.

The dust and particulates in the cloud spread around the globe moved by winds and the rotation of the earth.

Wormwood contained a contaminate that turned 1/3 of the earth’s fresh water bitter; or somehow released pollutants on earth that contaminated 1/3 of fresh water sources.

Wormwood

The Revelation 8:11 wormwood reference is to Artemisia absinthium, the best known of the approximately 400 artemisias. 

According to legend, wormwood grew up in the trail left by the serpent’s tail as it slithered out of the Garden of Eden.

The earliest known description of wormwood was found on an Egyptian papyrus dated approximately 1600 BC; it was described as a medicine to rid the body of worms.

With the exception of rue, wormwood is the bitterest known herb.

Wormwood is native to North Africa and temperate regions of Eurasia. Americans describe wormwood as similar to Western sagebrush.

An addictive drink, absinthe, can be made from the Artemisia leaves and flower tops.

Absinthe is illegal in most countries of the world including the United States, Canada and France.

The active ingredient in wormwood is thujone, which in large quantities is a convulsive poison.

Symbolism: Idolatry

In the Old Testament, wormwood was used as a metaphor in the following ways:

a) idolatry of Israel (Deuteronomy 29:18);

b) calamity and sorrow (Jeremiah 9:15, 23:15; Lamentations 3:15, 19); and

c) false judgment (Amos 5:7) (McGee, 1991).

The star’s name identified that its effects were judgment on man for his idolatry and injustice.

In the Bible era, idolatry primarily referred to worship of idols or graven images, e.g., Baal, Artemis, Neptune.

Most westerners do not worship statues, but that does not mean that we are not idolaters.

Idolatry is blind or excessive devotion to something or someone, e.g., money, prestige, a charismatic individual.

Reflection: The calamity and sorrow associated with contamination of 1/3 of the fresh water supply of the world will be natural consequences of turning from God and worshiping idols.

I love Bible plants along with their symbolism. If you want to learn more about them, read my two books: 1) Rooted in God and 2) God as a Gardener. You can purchase them from my website: Carolyn Roth Ministry at http://www.CarolynRothMinistry.com/

Carolyn Roth Ministry (CarolynRothMinistry.com)

offers research, education, and consultation to individuals and organizations who want to deepen their understanding of the Bible.

Welcome to godasagardener.com

As the site editor, participants should know I am a spiritual woman with a deep belief in God. Many friends would describe my Christian perspective as orthodox. I believe in the inspired, written word of God. I live in Roanoke, Virginia.  I am a Virginia Master Gardener and a Tree Steward.

This website/blog glorifies God within the context of earth as His garden, describes Bible  and other growing plants, and applies them to our Christian walk in the 21st century. On Creation day 3, God created vegetation, e.g., trees, herbs, flowers. On this site, the word plant will be used to encompass all types of vegetation.  God created plants right after He created the heavens (Day 2) and before He created the sun, moon, and stars (Day 4). This creative order demonstrates that God valued and had a purpose for the varied flora in our world. Our response to this creative process should first be love for the Creator and second a reverence for this earthly garden.

If you would like to see a full-size picture of the plant in the story, click on it and it will expand to fill the page. The contents of this website including pictures are copyright. You may use the materials after getting permission from the editor. If you use the materials in your writings or presentations, properly cite the website.

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