Revelation 8:10-11 says “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter.” John said “…and there fell a star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp…”. The Bible says that stars represent angels (Rev.12:4), but they also represent messenger’s and Pastor’s of churches: Revelation 1:20 says “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord (Pro.20:27). Jesus said we are the light of the world, and candles giving forth light to those who need sight (Matt. 5:14-15). The book of Proverbs tells us in chapter 13:9 that the “…lamp of the wicked shall be put out.” Job 18:5-6 says “Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.” This is the fall of Jerusalem as stated above: “…the light of the candle shall shine no more at all in thee…” But what happened as a result of the fall of Jerusalem is wormwood coming out of the mouths of its Prophets who didn’t believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many Christians fell away before the fall of Jerusalem because they didn’t believe that the temple would be destroyed because they kept the Jewish laws: Jeremiah 23:15 says “Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.” The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were perplexed about their new faith, and were warned not to return to the Law of Moses: Hebrews 12:15 says “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” The book of Deuteronomy warned of turning from the Lord: Deut.29:18 says “Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood.” Jeremiah 9:11,13-15 says “And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without man…And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them the water of gall to drink.” Revelation 18 reminds us that Jerusalem became a place of dragons, or devils in verse 2: “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Be careful not to become bitter and turn from the Lord!
-Anthony D. Booker
The GATHERING Place 