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Revelation 8:12
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12 And [kai] the fourth [tetartos] angel [aggelos] sounded, [salpizo] and [kai] the third part [tritos] of the sun [helios] was smitten, [plesso] and [kai] the third part [tritos] of the moon, [selene] and [kai] the third part [tritos] of the stars; [aster] so as [hina] the third part [tritos] of them [autos] was darkened, [skotizo] and [kai] the day [hemera] shone [phaino] not [me] for a third part [tritos] of it, [autos] and [kai] the night [nux] likewise. [homoios] KJV-Interlinear
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. NASB
The fourth trumpet is giving humanity a bit of a pause in the judgments. Since people refuse to see the light of truth, then light will be withheld.
No damage or destruction comes from this trumpet, however, ‘plague’ is the concept given here.
The sun is smitten, ‘plesso,’ which means to be hammered or slapped, beaten or wounded, or struck, to apply with calamity or to remove, but it also means to apply something, to something. The concept here is that the sun, the moon and the stars, but not themselves, but their light, is struck with a plague, and when a plague strikes something then it removes something from its victim, namely life, therefore the light loses some of its life and is removed from its usually place, so to speak. The light is diminished.
This source of the plague is not explained, but its affect is described, and however, from the trumpets we have seen thus far, there is one possible source and that is the volcano that erupted. Thus far there have been no supernatural events. The judgments have been exaggerated events caused from natural events common to history.
Making an assumption, that the sun will have some sort of interruption in its solar flare activity, or that the stars which are millions or billions of light-years away will altogether have some sort of change in them, or that the moons light which is only reflected light will somehow be blocked out, would be a really big assumption. There is nothing in the text or in the context that suggests any sort of supernatural event such as those.
However, the reduced light is said to be diminished. An eclipse would not affect the stars, nor would it diminish the light of both the sun and the moon both day and night. The night is when the stars are out. Eclipses occur and then they are gone. Likewise, the population of the world in that future day, would have a thorough knowledge of eclipses and such things.
Now, thus far we have seen ‘one-third’ impacts of these judgments. They have covered only a portion of the world, a portion of the plant life, a portion of the sea life, and a portion of the fresh water supply. But now, the light of the world is diminished throughout the planet, both by day and by night. The duration of this ‘light’ plague is not mentioned.
But there is no damage, no storm, no death as a result, only a pause. And anytime you receive a pause in the midst of suffering, then it is for reflection, and time to gather ones thoughts.
Normal people will do just that. But people who are rigid in their anti-God attitude, will do what?
The will increase their rejection of truth (light). That means they will reduce (reject) the truth, or light, that has been made available to them. Through their own volition, they will turn their attitudes into bitterness. See the previous trumpet.
The will refuse to acknowledge that these catastrophes are from God, and refuse to acknowledge them as punishment for their own hate and arrogance and spiritual failure, and their rejection of Christ, of doctrine, of truth.
Humanity will by this time, be on a downward spiral, leaving their spiritual life behind and pursuing the very thing that is going to destroy them – evil.
Now, Satan is the epitome of evil. And we will soon see that the very thing that evil people worship, is going to come out that persecute them. Their own object of worship, is going to be their own source of suffering. But then we are getting ahead of ourselves.
Now here is a question for your preparation for tomorrows study. What is the significance and connection between our study to date, and the next verse for tomorrow? You should already know that answer.
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