Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Revelation 8:12-13 comments: woe to the inhabiters of the earth


8:12  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. 13  And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of 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!
The fourth angel heralded a third part of the sun and the moon neither giving a third part of their light. The day and night are affected by this. But, an angel says that the remaining three trumpets are going to herald in even worse things.
Hail and fire mingled with blood kills a third part of the trees and all of the green grass. A mountain on fire is cast into the sea turning it into blood with a third part of creatures dying and a third part of ships destroyed. Wormwood makes fresh water poisonous. A third part of the light from the sun, moon, and stars is prevented from reaching earth and the day and night are affected.
It is interesting to note that commentators from a few hundred years ago like John Gill would present these happenings as metaphors and symbolic of issues within Christianity relating them to historical events like the decline and fall of the western Roman Empire and doctrinal disputes. I am taking these as literal physical events in space-time, however.

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