From Behind The Veil (10)

The Third Trumpet – Wormwood and the Bitterness of Judgment

Primary Text: Revelation 8:10–11 (KJV)

Primary Scripture Reading

Revelation 8:10–11 KJV 1900

10 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; 11 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.

(Additional references: Jeremiah 9:13–15; Jeremiah 23:15; Deuteronomy 29:18; Exodus 15:23–25; Luke 10:18)

Introduction

The judgment is moving closer.

First trumpet – the earth Second trumpet – the sea Third trumpet – the water people drink

Behind the veil, the progression is undeniable:

God is moving from external systems to internal necessity.

You can survive without certain comforts. You cannot survive without water.

This trumpet reveals a sobering reality:

What sustains life can become the very thing that brings death.

A Great Star Falls – Literal, Spiritual, or Both?

Scripture: Revelation 8:10

“…there fell a great star from heaven…”

“Star” – Greek: astēr (Strong’s G792)

Meaning:

• a star • a luminous body • figuratively: an angel or messenger

This word is used both literally and symbolically in Scripture.

Revelation 1:20 tells us:

“…the seven stars are the angels…”

So we must consider both possibilities:

• a literal object (meteor, celestial body) • a spiritual being released in judgment

Now notice the description:

“…burning as it were a lamp…”

“Lamp” – Greek: lampas (Strong’s G2985)

Meaning:

• torch • blazing light • something that burns intensely

This indicates something highly visible, fiery, and descending.

Luke 10:18

“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

This shows how spiritual events can be described in physical language.

Behind the veil we see:

Whether literal or symbolic, this is something released from heaven with destructive purpose.

The Target – Rivers and Fountains

Scripture: Revelation 8:10

“…upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters…”

“Rivers” – Greek: potamos (Strong’s G4215)

Meaning:

• flowing streams • channels of provision

“Fountains” – Greek: pēgē (Strong’s G4077)

Meaning:

• springs • sources • origins

This is critical.

God is not just striking what flows—He is striking the source.

Behind the veil we see:

Judgment is reaching the origin of life systems.

Wormwood – The Name of Bitterness

Scripture: Revelation 8:11

“And the name of the star is called Wormwood…”

“Wormwood” – Greek: apsinthos (Strong’s G894)

Meaning:

• bitter • poisonous • associated with sorrow and judgment

Old Testament usage gives us clarity.

Jeremiah 9:15

“I will feed them… with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.”

Jeremiah 23:15

“…I will feed them with wormwood…”

Deuteronomy 29:18

“…a root that beareth gall and wormwood…”

In every case, wormwood represents:

Bitterness that comes from turning away from God.

Behind the veil we see:

This is not just physical—it is spiritual consequence manifesting physically.

Main Point 4 Waters Become Bitter – Life Turned to Death

Scripture: Revelation 8:11

“…the third part of the waters became wormwood…”

Water represents:

Life Sustenance Purity

Now it becomes:

Bitter Poisonous Deadly

Exodus 15:23–25 shows the opposite:

God turned bitter water sweet.

Here, God turns what was good into judgment.

Behind the veil we see:

The same God who heals can also judge when truth is rejected.

Chernobyl – Could This Be Wormwood?

This is where many people make a connection.

The nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 has often been linked to this passage.

Why people think it could be:

The name connection

“Chernobyl” is often said to be associated with a plant known as wormwood.

This immediately draws attention because Revelation specifically names the star “Wormwood.”

2. A burning event

The nuclear explosion produced:

• intense fire • radiation • a glowing, burning release

This could resemble something “burning as a lamp.”

3. Water contamination

Chernobyl caused radioactive contamination that affected:

• rivers • groundwater • surrounding ecosystems

People suffered illness and death connected to contamination.

So on the surface, the parallels seem compelling:

A burning event A connection to wormwood Water contamination Death resulting from it

Now we must examine why this does not fully align with Scripture.

Why Chernobyl Does Not Fully Fit the Third Trumpet

The scale is too small

Revelation says:

“A third part of the rivers… a third part of the waters…”

This is global in scope.

Chernobyl, though devastating, was regional, not worldwide.

2. The sequence is not present

The third trumpet follows:

• the first trumpet (earth burned) • the second trumpet (sea struck)

These are global, escalating judgments.

Chernobyl did not occur within such a sequence.

The source is different

Revelation describes:

“A star fell from heaven…”

Chernobyl was:

• a man-made reactor failure • not something cast from heaven

The origin matters.

This event is heaven-initiated judgment, not human accident.

2. The result is more severe in Revelation

Revelation says:

“…many men died of the waters…”

The implication is widespread death from drinking water.

Chernobyl caused suffering, but it did not result in:

• one-third of global water contamination • mass death on that scale

3. The timing within the Day of the Lord

The third trumpet occurs after:

• the sixth seal (cosmic disturbances) • the beginning of God’s wrath

Chernobyl occurred in 1986 without those preceding global signs.

Behind the veil we see:

While Chernobyl may resemble aspects of this prophecy, it does not fulfill the full biblical description.

Why Events Like Chernobyl Still Matter

Even though it is not the fulfillment, it serves as:

A preview A shadow A warning

It shows:

• how quickly water can become deadly • how fragile human systems are • how dangerous contamination can be

It gives us a glimpse into what a global version of this judgment could look like.

Behind the veil we see:

God allows shadows before the substance.

Application

Do not force prophecy to fit history.

Scripture must define fulfillment—not resemblance.

2.Recognize the warning signs.

Events like Chernobyl show how vulnerable the world is.

3. Guard against spiritual bitterness.

Wormwood is not just physical—it is spiritual.

Bitterness in truth leads to death.

4. Stay anchored in truth.

When systems fail, the Word of God remains.

Closing Insight

The third trumpet reveals something deeply sobering:

When God judges, He can turn the source of life into the source of death.

Water becomes bitter. Life becomes fragile. Dependence becomes vulnerability.

Behind the veil we see:

This is not chaos—it is consequence.

Next Session Preview

In the next session, we will study the fourth trumpet.

The sun will be struck. The moon will be darkened. The light itself will begin to fade.

And the world will move closer to darkness.

But remember this:

Even when the world grows dark, the Light of Christ still shines—and darkness cannot overcome it.