Who Is This Star That Is Called Wormwood

And the third angel sounded, and there fell

 a great star from heaven, burning as it were 

a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of 

the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 

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.

Revelation 8:10-11 

     We return to Chapter eight of Revelation beginning at verse 10 and look to see what and how certain symbols and words have a meaning and they apply to our everyday life. I gave much information regards to the various theological thought for you to surmise, study, and to come to some understanding. But...I also reminded you that there are things of difference, those things that are not based on Scripture properly, that which leads to false teaching, even heresy, or just another man's opinion often based on "proof" texts. There are things of indifference and we cannot argue against them so long as they are not subject to control, that is, that a particular denomination, or preacher causes them to be necessary for faith, or to belong to that particular denomination. Therefore this information should aid you to come to a decision as to who, and how, and what you are being taught and as 1Thessalonians demands at 5:21: "test all things, and hold to that which is good." 

     In verse 10 there is a mention of an angel, a third angel, and about a star in heaven, a burning star, burning as a lamp and this star fell upon the third of the rivers and upon fountains of waters. This star has a name "Wormwood" and in this case as the Greek word is masculine, nominative, and being called something it is to be understood as a proper name so then the name of the star is Wormwood. By this star, Wormwood and falling upon the waters they became bitter. What is wormwood? I will draw upon information from WebMd: wormwood is called by several different names, one you may be familiar with is Absinth. Wormwood is an herb and the oil from this plant is used for medicine. Wormwood is used for various digestion problems, to treat fever, or liver disease, and to stimulate sweating, and such as Crohn's disease and other ailments. Wormwood is applied for insect bites, to reduce pain, even used in some alcoholic beverages, Vermouth is and example, uses in soaps and cosmetics, perfumes. Now it gets interesting for wormwood is banned in many countries, including the U.S. but is still allowed in European Union countries as long as the thujone content is less than 35 mg/kg. Why? Thujone, a product in wormwood is potentially poisonous chemical and to distill this for alcohol increases thurjone concentration. Thujone excites the central nervous system and can cause seizures and other adverse effects. The Greek word for wormwood means a type of bitterness, there is a figurative use of it in the Bible meaning calamity (Lamentations 3:15, and for injustice (Amos 5:7). Men died due this star causing the water to be poisoned. 

     Who is this star that fell from heaven? The word "star" is used often in the Bible, in fact we use the word "star" when we speak of celebrities. We give a star to those who have done something special, and maybe in your early school years you got a gold star next to your name when you accomplished a feat. Stars can mean celestial bodies, the measureless expanse in which we came from, about heavenly beings singing together (Job 38:7). The sun, moon, and stars can be seen as evidence of God creative power. Depending on what theological view a person has will determine what the deem to be the correct view. I will only give this, that fresh water are waters without pollution. Wormwood pollutes a third part of the waters. Life requires water but not just water, pure water, unpolluted water to be sustained. Let me quote, not that this is the only thought about this star, but to give food for thought: For more than half a century evangelist, author, journalist, and Bible expositor Arno C. Gaebelein (1861-1945 A.D.) passionately proclaimed the prophetic truths of the Bible and daily lived with the hope of their fulfillment.

	With reference to falling of the great star (v. 10), Gaebelein writes that it is some person who claimed authority and who becomes an apostate, whose fall produces the awful results given here. It may be the final anti-Christ who first may have claimed to be for Israel a great teacher with divine authority and then takes the awful plunge. Worm-wood is his name and the waters became worm-wood and bitter. It stands for great corruption. Gregg, Steve: Revelation, Four Views : A Parallel Commentary. Nashville, Tenn. : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Re 8:10-11       What we do know is that this falling star brings a plague upon a portion of the earth, the waters, a calamity. This strikes as a punishment from God, from heaven. Yes it is true that Lucifer fell from heaven due to his opposition to God, not of God's power for if he had done that God would be just to just destroy him, no, he stood against the right to have authority over man, over God's creation, therefore man fell due to Satan's sin, and we are subject to that sin and are in need of a Savior, and Jesus who is the Bright and Morning Star gives to all who believe on Him salvation. Satan does not bring to earth punishment, rather that because of him, and all who are wicked will receive the punishment they deserve from God, from the One Whom He sent to earth to destroy sin.       We can debate this until the coming of the Lord and while this may not be all bad, it does, if allowed, to derail us from our mission and that mission is to bring the Gospel to our world. Does this mean this, or that, the Pope, or some other event in the past, or should we take this for what it means first and foremost? It means that God will bring His wrath upon the ungodly and if we are a child of God we have no fear for God will protect us, no matter what we go through, and we have the one hope that is sure and true from the truth of God's word: eternal life. God is merciful, and God has given to men much time to turn to Him, but as in the days before the Great Flood some men will never no matter how much truth is presented to them to turn to God. God is patient, but God does have a time limit on that patience, not for Himself but for all who have chosen and will choose to be a believer in the One that He sent to save. Choose will: time is of the essence.    O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger,     neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak:     O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD,     how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies sake.                         Psalm 6:1-4   God is coming: Your expectation should be high   Richard L. Crumb