Revelation 8:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The fourth trumpet sounds, and a third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck, so that a third of their light is darkened.
What Does Revelation 8:12 Mean?
The fourth angel sounds, and the judgment lifts to the heavens themselves. A third of the sun, moon, and stars is struck, and their light is dimmed, so that day and night each lose a third of their brightness. The great lights set in the sky at creation are shadowed.
From land, sea, and rivers the vision now rises to the lights of heaven, the steady lamps by which the world keeps time and finds its way. To darken them is to unsettle the rhythms men take for granted. Yet again only a third is touched; the darkness is partial, the warning measured. The lights that God appointed to rule the day and night answer to His hand still. When the familiar order grows dim, it is a call to remember the true Light that no darkness can overcome. The God who made the sun can veil it, and He does so that the world might look beyond the creation to the Creator.
Revelation 8:12 in the Original Language
plesso (πλήσσω), 'was smitten' -- to be struck or beaten, here the heavenly lights stricken at God's command.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 8:12
What does Revelation 8:12 mean?
The fourth trumpet sounds, and a third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck, so that a third of their light is darkened.