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[In the Old Testament] it is suggested that it is a poison derived from a root of some kind (Deuteronomy [[29:18|bible.5.29.18]]), that it is very bitter (Proverbs [[5:4|bible.20.5.4]]), and that it produces drunkenness (Lamentations [[3:15|bible.25.3.15]]) and eventual death. It is associated with another poison known as "gall" (Deuteronomy [[29:18|bible.5.29.18]]; Lamentations [[3:19|bible.25.3.19]]). This substance was used to produce a stupefying drink for Christ on the cross (Psalm [[69:21|bible.19.69.21]]; Matthew [[27:34|bible.61.27.34]]) which, however, He refused to drink.4
Significantly, God describes idolatry as "a root bearing bitterness of wormwood" (Deu. [[29:17|bible.5.29.17]]). Idolatry is a prevalent sin of the earth dwellers during this time of judgment (Rev. [[9:20|bible.87.9.20]]+; Rev. [[13:15-16|bible.87.13.15-87.13.16]]+). So God judges their bitterness of wormwood by giving them wormwood to drink. This is the same judgment which God gave Israel when she rejected Him and pursued false Gods (Jer. [[9:14-16|bible.24.9.14-24.9.16]]; [[23:15|bible.24.23.15]]). Wormwood also describes the fruit of unrighteousness, which will be a prevalent characteristic of the Tribulation period (Amos [[5:7|bible.30.5.7]]; [[6:12|bible.30.6.12]] cf. 2Ti. [[3:2-4|bible.76.3.2-76.3.4]]).At the bitter waters of Marah, Moses cast a tree into the waters and made them sweet (Ex. [[15:25|bible.2.15.25]]). This pictured Messiah's work on the cross which provided living water (John [[7:38-39|bible.64.7.38-64.7.39]]). Here, we have wormwood which turns the earth dwellers' water bitter. Since they would not avail themselves of the cross of Christ--today's "tree of life"--to obtain the living waters of Jesus (John [[4:10|bible.64.4.10]]), God gives them wormwood instead and poisonous waters which bring death rather than life. Like Moses, one of Elisha's miracles healed bitter waters and made them sweet (2K. [[2:19-22|bible.12.2.19-12.2.22]]).many men diedNotes
1 Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, and Henry Stuart Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon. With a revised supplement, 1996., With a revised supplement, 1996 (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1996), 299.
2 Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 85.
3 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), electronic ed. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), s.v. "a very unpleasant substance to consume, which may make one sick, either a root herb, leafy plant oil, or liver-bile; wormwood, i.e., a dark green bitter oil used in absinthe ."
4 Henry Morris, The Revelation Record (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1983), Rev. 8:11.
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