And the third angel sounded his trumpet; and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven, and it fell upon a third of the rivers and upon the springs of water. And the name of the star is called “Wormwood;” and a third of waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8: 10, 11

Oftentimes in the Bible, stars symbolize angels (Job 38: 7; Rev. 9:1; 12:4). This being a great star, it brings to mind Isaiah 14: 12-15, in which a star of the morning falls from heaven. That refers to Satan. Jesus spoke of that event as Satan falling like lightning (Luke 10: 18).

Although Jesus is referred to as a star too — a “star” out of Jacob (Numbers 24: 17) and the ‘bright and morning star” (Rev. 22: 16) — the fact that this star falls from heaven and causes bitterness also suggests that Wormwood is Satan. Remember too that the name “Lucifer” is from a Hebrew word meaning “light-bearer,” “shining one,” or: “morning star.”  The reason Satan here  is named Wormwood is in reference to the  bitter herb, Artemisia absinthium.”  There will be bitterness for anyone deceived by Satan.

The brightness of Satan in the sky will be an impersonation of Jesus’ coming in the sky.  Upon landing, Satan will use his ability to turn himself into a person of light. He will continue to present himself as Christ Jesus. His preaching will be that of heavenly truths while at the same time mixing in lies. He will also appear to be able to heal the sick and perform many other signs and wonders. In this way, the deceived — unbelievers and professed Christians not sealed by God — will think his sorcery to be the great power of God.

That will give Satan what he’s always wanted: worldwide worship, which is the greatest issue of our current time before probation closes. It is the issue of who will be worshiped — God or Satan; symbolized by those who follow God’s command to come together and worship on the seventh day (Lev. 23: 3; Ex. 20: 8-11), or those who follow Satan’s and man’s tradition to instead honor the first day of the week.

Incidentally, most of Wormwood’s efforts to deceive will be directed towards God’s people whom He has sealed. Wormwood knows that they were sealed because they were settled, in heart and mind, into God’s truths.  So he too knows that the sealing is a declaration by God that they can’t be moved from their convictions; that they belong to Him. Wormwood’s main objective, then,  will be to deceive just one of the sealed saints. For by doing so, he could break God’s declaration over His sealed people. That would give him victory in his war against God.

However, Wormwood will fail. And upon Jesus’ Second Coming, all who have drank Wormwood’s lies, will be bitterly disappointed; this before meeting their deaths at the brightness of Jesus’ return. Most bitter will be the deceived, unsealed, professed Christians.

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