Wormwood

The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star, burning like a torch, fell from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood, and a third of the waters became wormwood. So, many of the people died from the waters, because they had been made bitter. Revelation 8:10,11

This great star could be a huge comet, it could be a meteor that breaks up in the atmosphere or any  number of celestial objects. Some think it could be a nuclear explosion as this would definitely affect the water, some think this is a reference to a person. As the theme of the trumpets is fire and celestial manifestations it could well be as a result of a disruption in the asteroid belt, it could be an exploding galaxy, as we are a very small planet in a huge universe there are immense possibilities. As our God created all of this it is all at His disposal.

Wormwood is a bitter plant and not necessarily deadly, however the experience is bitter and deadly, whatever the cause. Suffice to say the whole experience would be horrifying. The earth would be at the mercy of the heavens and the one who created it all.

I can imagine the whole earth being on alert as it faced it's future. Emergency aid groups would be run ragged, the armed forced would be deployed to render assistance, suddenly the pleasures of this life: the lattes; the manicures; the long lunches; the trips to the beach; the caravan holidays would all be off the agenda as the world, as a whole would be in crisis mode. 

 I can hear the sirens, I can see the panic. Would anyone turn to Christ? I pray they would. The Jews that have been marked will be safe. Does that mean that Israel would be a safe place to be? Perhaps! Perhaps God marks Jews all over the world and they will see His glory amidst the ruin.