1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.
6The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, 9and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.
10The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars, so that one third of them would be darkened; and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. 13I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the other blasts of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!”
The third trumpet judgment poisoned a third of the rivers and springs by a star called Wormwood and killed many men. Once again, this is the language of appearance, though the “star” could be a comet. Its devastation is limited to a third of all freshwater. It does not impact the Earth directly, but likely breaks up in the atmosphere and scatters around the planet. Wherever its material lands in water, those waters will become toxic.
The “falling star” is named after a poisonous plant, Wormwood, which can be fatal when ingested. It is not composed of the same toxin, but it will have much the same effect when taken in higher doses. The number of deaths is simply stated as “many” as people drink the poisonous water. This will bring instant crisis to the world since, even today, potable water is in short supply in many parts of the planet. The world’s scientists will likely continue to explain this as a natural phenomenon rather than a judgment from God. And, though the “comet,” or whatever it may be, will come out of space and be “from nature,” its timing, breaking up, and scattering will all be divinely directed. God can use natural means to accomplish His divine purposes.