<i>"... And a great star fell from the Heavens, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood, and many died from the water, because it was made bitter." (Revelations 8:10)</i>
This is very interesting. I've heard alot about endtime events, and know that there is a bit of disagreement between different groups, but I think Revelation really is future prophecy (there are some groups that say the whole book has already been fulfilled). With that particular verse, it is true, I have heard the same thing about Wormword=Cherynobel. However, that does not necessarily mean that the Cherynobel catastrophe was the fulfilment of this prophecy. It may be an advance warning. Think about a nuclear missile for a moment. It has a long, skinny section tapering to a point, and when it launches, it has a flame at the wider end. Turn it upside down, and it would look just like a "torch." It would certainly look like one. And during a nuclear strike, the missile would appear to "fall from the heavens" along its trajrctory. Now, is it really that inconcievable that someone might name a nuclear misssile "Cherynobel" after the famous disaster?
Deadwood, I've also heard the idea that this could refer to a meteor. While that is possible, I think there is a more likely candidate for a meteor than that verse. Like these:
<i>"Rev 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
Rev 8:9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed."</i>
but then again, we don't really know for sure how these prophecies will be fulfilled. The interesting thing is, a nuclear device named cherynobel contaminating water isn't all that far fetched (considering its happened once before) to our modern world. On the other hand, the people back then (such as John, writting the prophecy) would have had no clue. Nor would they have known about burning mountains falling into the sea (meteors). If John hadn't seen the actual event or been told by someone who had (Jesus, who is God, and knows the ending already), then there would have been no natural way to envision what John was talking about in terms of known prcesses and objects. But it all makes sense today, because, just like the angel Gabriel told Daniel,
<i>"Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall <u>run to and fro</u>, and <u>knowledge shall be increased.</u>"</i>
Considering that the fastest form of land transportation for thousands and thousands of years was the horse, it is no surprise that we, with locomotives, automobiles, airplanes, and even space shuttles, would be considered "running" to and fro. And just look at how often we use them. Run to work in the morning, run home, run to soccer practice, run out to the store for a gallon of milk. And of course, knowledge has been increased -- we now have technology that they couldn't have dreamed of back then!
Daniel's prophecies are coming true, and shedding light on the possibility of how John's prophecies in Revelation might come true.
~Caleb
