Fourth Trumpet Series

By: Tom Lowe Date: 4-12-2016

Series: Verse By Verse Through Revelation

Title: Fourth Trumpet: Third of Sun, Moon, and Stars Struck, Affecting Day and Night (Revelation 8:12)

Revelation 8:12 (KJV)

12 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.

Introduction

The fourth angel’s trumpet sound struck a third of the sun, moon, and stars. This affects the structure of the universe. Everything from the remaining plant life and even the tides in the oceans would be changed. Certainly, as described, the natural amount of daylight would be altered.

The judgments from the first three trumpets affected only a third part of the land and waters, but this fourth judgment affects the entire world. Why? Because it gets to the very source of the earth’s life and energy, the sun. With one third less sunlight on the earth there would be one third less energy available to support the Life Systems of man and nature.

This judgment parallels the ninth plague in Egypt (Exodus 10:21-23), which lasted three days. “The Day of the Lord is darkness, and not light” (Amos 5:18). Think of the vast changes in temperatures that will occur and how these will affect human health and food growth.

Commentary

12 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.

“And the fourth angel sounded.” The “fourth angel sounded” his trumpet and the celestial bodies were affected. The darkness of the fourth trumpet judgment set the stage for the last three trumpets that would bring demonic activity on the earth.

Here is a prophecy, the fulfillment of which will baffle all scientists who have made a study of the heavenly bodies. The events recorded here are similar to those under the sixth seal (6:12-14). They are predicted clearly by Christ Himself: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:25-28). No scientific answer will be able to explain adequately these astronomical effects. Apart from the intervention of the sovereign Creator of all things, there can be no explanation. These are the judgments of God going forth in the earth. On the fourth day He brought the sun, Moon, and stars into view in order to provide light for man; under the fourth trumpet He shall withdraw the light He Himself created. All of this will affect seriously the health and well-being of people on the earth at that time. This will disturb the seasons and hinder the growth of fruits and vegetables.

“And the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars.” The picture here is of the sun, moon and stars losing some of their light, but more than that, there was a third of the day during which there was absolutely no light at all. This compares to the ninth plague of darkness that descended upon Egypt (Exodus 10:21-29). In Egypt, the darkness was so total that “during all that time [three days] the people scarcely moved, for they could not see” (Exodus 10:23; NLT).

It has been suggested by some Bible scholars that in this part of his vision it is by no means impossible that John is taking at least a part of his picture from actual events which he had seen or of which he had heard. A rain which looks like a rain of blood has more than once been reported from the Mediterranean countries. There is, for instance, a record of such a rain in Italy and all over south-east Europe in 1901. The reason for it is that fine red sand from the Sahara Desert is caught up into the upper air; and then when the rain comes it seems to be raining blood, as the rain and the fine red particles of sand fall together upon the earth. It may well be that John had seen something like this or had heard of it.