The Sounding of the Fourth Angel Revelation 8:12

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he told how he, “saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 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; the name of the start is called Wormwood, 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.” In chapter eight and verse twelve John saw what happened when “the fourth angel sounded” where we read:

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 them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

The verse reads, “ 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;” John began with the words, “and the fourth angel sounded” which means “and the fourth messenger, envoy and one sent forth blew and blasted his trumpet”, “and the third part” or “one third” “of the sun” which refers to “the sun within the sky”, “was smitten” or “was pounded, inflicted with calamity and struck”, “and the third part” which means “and one third” “of the moon” or “of the lunar light of the night”, “and the third part” which means “and one third” “of the stars” which refers to “of the stars as strewn over the sky”. John heard the “fourth angel before the throne of God” blow His trumpet, and the effect of it was one third of the “sun, moon and stars” were stuck and inflicted with calamity.

The verse continues, “so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” John continued with the words, “so as the third part of them” which means “and in like manner one third of the sun, moon and stars” “was darkened” or “were obscure and covered over with darkness”, “and the day shone not” which means “and the natural day between sunrise and sunset as distinguished from and contrasted with the night did not bring forth light, shine, be resplendent and shine” “for a third part of it” or “for one third of the day”, “and the night likewise” which means “and in the same way one third of the night also”. John saw how one third of the “sun, moon and stars” and one third of the “day and night” no longer “shined” upon the earth.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see the daunting effects of this “fourth angel” blowing his trumpet. One third of the “sun, moon, stars, night and day” were stricken and no longer provided their natural function. God's “tribulation period” has come upon the earth, and the celestial spheres are altered. This time of judgment is certain to come upon the survivors of the earth although God desires to “save” them in advance through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus. Those who survive but have rejected Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” shall know the effects of this “fourth trumpet”, and woe be them who shall know “climate change” like has never been manifested before.

Next time John shares how he “beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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