Fall of Empires (4) Fourth Trumpet

When the fourth trumpet sounds, an angel strikes the sun.

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night (Rev 8:12).

This is not the physical sun. The sun and moon represent powerful nations and empires in apocalyptic language. This means that the sun is the most powerful empire that will ever exist on earth.

The Beast of Revelation is the most powerful empire that will ever appears on earth. When this trumpet is sounded, this empire will experience judgement. Terrible events will shake the centre of this democratic empire and cause it to stumble. John dies not explain the nature of the judgment, but it will be a time of darkness and fear for those living within this empire.

When the sun is darkened, the moon and stars are turned dark too. The democratic empire becomes gains such immense power that it can impose peace through most of the world. Other empires and nations will have grown up in the shadow of that peace. When the great empire that has been guaranteeing peace stumbles, every nation and empire that has benefitted from that peace will experience disaster too.

The sun only loses a third of its light, so this is only a partial judgment. These events do not destroy the Beast. This trumpet has a different purpose. It exposes the true character of the Beast. The Beast will demand more power and be more ruthless in its use of military violence and force. The people that welcomed the Beast it as the best government will ever be amazed. Christians who have accepted the Beast as a force for good, will begin to understand that it is being manipulated and controlled by the forces of evil.

The sun is not snuffed out. This time of darkness will actually make the Beast of Revelation stronger. The people of the world will call on it to the Beast to turn back the tide of trouble. It will be given enormous authority and power, but will not produce the desired result. This powerful empire will turn it into a Terrible Beast that releases dreadful woes on earth.

As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” (Rev 8:13).

The next two trumpets give an indication of how this works out.