With the blowing of the 3rdtrumpet, a great star falls from heaven and is even now being made to be burning, just like it is even now being called “wormwood.” The use of the presenttense indicates that this star exists and is active. However, this burning is not like the volcanic flame of a mountain ready to spew hot fire, rather, it is more akin to a lamp—a burning torch. In other words, this flame illuminates and is the demonic spirit referred to as the False Prophet that illuminates the greatness of the Beast.
The poisoning of fresh water is a picture of the apostasy of believers who drink the waters of false religion. One-third will be corrupted and made bitter. A third of the religious institutions will also follow the tenets of the Beast proffered by the False Prophet.
With the entry of the False Prophet, the unholy trinity is completed: Satan, the Beast, and the False Prophet. Thus, with the 4th trumpet, religious institutions fall and are consumed by darkness. Fear will grow. An angel proclaims, woe, woe, woe – the 3 woes associated with the blowing of the next 3-trumpet judgments. Things are about to get even worse!
