Wormwood, Trumpets, and the Abyss: Unveiling the Judgment Sequence of Revelation

Don’t Dismiss the Signs

Before you write this off as another doomsday interpretation, let’s pause and study Scripture carefully. The third trumpet in Revelation reveals a mystery packed with prophetic depth, and it's tied to a cascading series of spiritual and physical events that unfold in a precise, divine sequence.

"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; And the name of the star is called Wormwood..."
Revelation 8:10–11 (KJV)

This star isn’t just any celestial body. It is burning like a torch. That imagery echoes other references in Scripture where torches symbolize the Spirit of God (e.g., the seven lamps of fire in the menorah), yet this star is not life-giving it is bitter and destructive. It seems to represent a counterfeit.

Wormwood: A False Fire

The language in Revelation 8 uses the image of a torch to describe this falling star. This could allude to a false spirit a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit, imitating divine fire but bringing corruption and judgment instead of light and life.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!"
Isaiah 14:12 (KJV)

Wormwood, then, may not simply be a literal object. It could be Satan masquerading as light, falling to the earth to poison the spiritual waters the truth and deceive the nations.

Linking the Third Trumpet and the Fifth

By the time we reach the fifth trumpet, we see that a star "had fallen" from heaven.

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit."
Revelation 9:1 (KJV)

This star is not a rock. It’s a being a spiritual entity with a key to the abyss. He opens the pit, and demonic forces are released.

"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon."
Revelation 9:11 (KJV)

This destroyer is Satan himself, or one empowered by him, unleashing torment upon the earth. This is the same star that falls in the third trumpet now revealed in his role.

Patterns in the Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls

The judgments of Revelation may not unfold linearly. They appear to be grouped and layered. For example, the first seal, trumpet, and bowl share thematic connections. Each group escalates in intensity:

• First Seal: White horse conquering (deception)

• First Trumpet: Hail and fire mixed with blood (judgment begins)

• First Bowl: Grievous sores (bodily torment)

The second trumpet sees a third of the oceans turn to blood. Then in the second bowl, all sea life dies complete devastation. This points to staged judgment, each trumpet foreshadowing a bowl.

"And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea."
Revelation 16:3 (KJV)

Leviathan's Domain and the Deep

The sea, often symbolic of the demonic realm in Scripture, is disrupted. The second bowl judgment disrupts the hiding place of Leviathan the twisted serpent of the deep.

"In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent... and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."
Isaiah 27:1 (KJV)

With their domain shattered, the demonic realm rises leading to war in heaven. Then we are shown in Revelation 12 that Satan and his angels are cast down to earth.

"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan... he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Revelation 12:9 (KJV)

A Timeline of Unfolding Judgment

• Third Trumpet: Wormwood falls  Satan begins deception and spiritual corruption.

• Fifth Trumpet: The pit is opened  demonic torment unleashed.

• Second Bowl: The sea  the spiritual habitat of darkness is fully judged.

• Revelation 12: War in heaven, Satan thrown down.

The signs in the earth and heavens are not random. They align with the Word of God.

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A Call to Repentance

If these things are true and the Word says they are then how shall we live?

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
Matthew 24:44 (KJV)

"Be sober, be vigilant... because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

Do not be caught in the deception. Do not drink the bitter waters of Wormwood. Run to the fountain of Living Water.

"Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."
John 7:37 (KJV)

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The Gospel Message: The Only Refuge in Judgment

All have sinned.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23 (KJV)

Sin brings death.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23 (KJV)

Jesus paid the price.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8 (KJV)

Confess and believe.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Romans 10:9 (KJV)

Let your lamp be full. Be ready. The trumpets are sounding.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.