In contrast to the first three trumpet judgments against
the land, sea, rivers, and fountains of water, the fourth
trumpet is aimed against the heavens. It is interesting that
it was on the fourth day that God created and made visible
to the Earth the sun, the moon and the stars.
Jesus said prior to His return to earth, “There will be
signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay
among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and
the waves” (Luke 21:25).
The point is that God strikes one-third of the light-bearing
bodies of the universe that hinders their light-giving
capacity in some way. The statement, “so that one-third of
them might be darkened,” focuses our attention on both God’s
purpose or design and the result. The rest of the verse
gives us the result.
“And the day might not shine for a third of it, and the
night in the same way.” The daylight hours are reduced by
one-third and even the light of the night from the moon and
stars will likewise be eclipsed for one-third of the night.
The sun, moon, and stars now so obedient and consistent in
their orbit will then be moving out of their orbit. This is
all tremendously frightening, and to live in these days will
be beyond description.
