And the fourth angel sounded, and the third
part of the sun was smitten, and the third
part of the moon, and the third part of the stars;
so as the third part of then was darkened,
and the day shone not for a third part of it,
and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard
an angel flying through the midst of the heaven,
saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the
inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other
voices of the trumpet of the three angels
which are yet to sound.
Revelation 8:12-13
I have covered the various theological views on this chapter so I will give some information as to how they approach these verses. The Historicist sees The sun, the moon, and the stars represent “the political firmament of Rome.” The conquest of Rome and the end of its imperial rule were accomplished by the Heruli under the command of Odoacer in the year 476.Gregg, Steve: Revelation, Four Views : A Parallel Commentary. Nashville, Tenn. : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Re 8:12.
Matthew Henry is still open to the idea that this section is describing events that affect the church: The sun, and the moon, and the stars, either guides and governors of the church, or of the state, who are placed in higher orbs than the people, and are to dispense light and benign influences to them.Gregg, Steve: Revelation, Four Views : A Parallel Commentary. Nashville, Tenn. : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Re 8:12.
The Preterist
Assigning these events to the times of the Jewish War, Chilton writes: “The imagery here was long used in the prophets to depict the fall of nations and national rulers (cf. Isa. 13:9–11, 19; 24:19–23; 34:4–5; Ezek. 32:7–8, 11–12; Joel 2:10, 28–32; Acts 2:16–21).”Gregg, Steve: Revelation, Four Views : A Parallel Commentary. Nashville, Tenn. : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Re 8:12.
The Futurist
The diminishing of the heavenly lights in this judgment is interpreted by Ironside as a reduction of the light of spiritual perception in the Tribulation, a blinding of those who rejected the all-too-adequate light of the gospel to which they had been exposed. He references the prediction that “God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thess. 2:11–12).Gregg, Steve: Revelation, Four Views : A Parallel Commentary. Nashville, Tenn. : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Re 8:12.
The Spiritual
At the sounding of the fourth trumpet, the light of the sun, moon, and stars is impeded. This is not the natural result of man-made pollution (which might conceivably diminish the light reaching the earth by one-third), for it is a darkening that only affects a portion of each day and night. Herschel Hobbs understands this trumpet to apply principally to the fall of the persecuting Roman Empire:
Gregg, Steve: Revelation, Four Views : A Parallel Commentary. Nashville, Tenn. : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Re 8:12.
There are many more that I could quote but this should suffice for you to examine.
The three woes: what are they and what to they mean? Without going through all the various theological positions this is probably the best: The final trumpets are designated as woes because of the surpassing intensity and duration of the judgments. Some would like to translate the Greek word for angel to be an eagle but I cannot agree for the Greek is very clear that it is an angel. Often presuppositions get in the way of accuracy. I will not go down that path.
K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple) this is my way of interpreting that which I cannot fully understand. Why? Because if it does not lead a person to Jesus Christ, and it is not the Gospel, which is Jesus Christ, if does not give instructions as to how to live, then and until that happens all theories are just that: theories. To believe as a Historicist, a Preterist, a Futerist, or a Spiritualist, has some merit in a debate but has nothing to do with salvation. You are saved only by believing in Jesus Christ as God incarnate, the Savior sent by God to pay this debt of sin that now paid can be applied to all who believe and with that, eternal life is not possible, not probable, but is a fact. Arguments among Christian people of different denominations is the biggest plague on Christianity. Why? Too much is taught that if one does not believe in their Church doctrine they are not saved.
Apply what you want according to the various views, but keep this in mind: God is bringing judgment upon this evil world and we have a mission, a responsibility, not to fight among ourselves, but to bring to our world Jesus Christ. If a person want to discuss this, then do it, but do it quietly, then get on with why we are left here on earth: Go and make disciples, teaching them, baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ. If a person follows the teachings of Jesus Christ they will be blesses, living a blessed life. This does not mean perfection, and it does not mean that a person will not suffer or have trials, but it does mean that inside that person comes a change on the outside. You are a child of God: Live it! The three woes: three is completeness, done God's number, so these plagues upon the earth are from God, and are to do the will of God bringing judgment.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it,
that I will keep thy righteous
judgments.
Psalm 119:10-106
You are a new creature: nothing can harm you
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