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. Revelation 8:10-11

Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker, along with fellow comet hunter David Levy, watched through their telescopes for six days, between July 16th and 22nd 1994, as the twenty one major fragments of their jointly discovered comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacted the planet Jupiter.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork . Psalm 19:1

Described by some observers as a "string of glowing pearls", the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet fragmented as a result of a near collision with Jupiter in July 1992, and was calculated to unleash an energy equivalent to several million megatons of TNT each after their 1994 plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere and impacting on the surface of the planet. Further, this event most likely attracted more observations than any other astronomical event in history. Shoemaker-Levy 9, along with the entertainment medias recent glut of asteroid disaster movies, has fueled the public's interest in the collision of astronomical bodies

On May 19,1996, a small Asteroid, between 100 and 300 meters wide, passed 280,000 miles from earth, which is a bit farther out than the moon. If it had hit the earth, it could have destroyed an entire state in the United States with an explosion larger than that of any hydrogen bomb ever tested. And this asteroid was discovered only four days before it passed by earth. In January 2002, an asteroid about 1000 feet wide passed by earth missing it by less than 400,000 miles. In March 2002, asteroid 2002 EM7 came within 300,000 miles of earth, a bit farther out than the moon, and it was about 200 feet wide. This one really gave the astronomers a scare because it was detected 4 days after it passed by earth, because it had come from the sun's direction, and therefore was coming from a direction where they cannot be seen because of the sun's brightness. A very dangerous asteroid about a half-mile wide NY40 passed by earth at 330,000 miles out on August 18, 2002. So it passes by earth at a bit farther out than the distance to the moon. If it did strike earth it would not be an "Extinction Level Event", but the impact and explosion could cause a major decrease in the human population and giant tidal waves that would swamp the coasts of the earth's continents. During the summer of 2002, it was announced that asteroid 2002 NT7, detected on July 9 in New Mexico, could strike earth on Feb. 1, 2019. However, once there is more data collected and reviewed on its orbit, it could turn out that it will not hit earth. This particular asteroid has an orbital period around the sun of 837 days and is around 1.2 miles in diameter, giving it enough kinetic energy to be a doomsday asteroid. This asteroid is large enough to wipe out most of mankind.

There are most certainly a lot of similar small asteroids that will pass close to earth, but they are unknown now and will likely only be noticed as they get close to earth. What some think is needed is a major international effort to determine the orbits of small asteroids that could come close to earth, by using a network of telescopes around the earth. The more telescopes that are used, and the larger they are, the faster the identifying and determining the orbits of these asteroids could be determined. The other craze that some in the intellectual community think is absolutely required is to develop a space intercept system.  The function of this system would be to intercept and deflect asteroids or comets headed for the earth, so they cannot impact on the earth. Unfortunately, there is no major effort to detect the asteroids, or to develop the interceptor system.  There is considerable discussion and argument on the actual feasibility of such a program.

In western Australia, a small program is progressing whose charter is to recognize the threat or hazard of a cosmic impact and to continuously search for detection of specific threats.  What is most interesting about this small endeavor... is its name, "Project Wormwood"!

Have any near misses by extraterrestrial objects been documented?  A spectacular fireball appeared in August 1972 in daylight over the Grand Teton National Park in Southwestern Wyoming.  This chuck of extraterrestrial material was traveling at around 10 miles/sec and skipped out of Earth's atmosphere like a stone skipping on water.  The image below is taken from an amateur 8mm. movie taken at the time.

NASA has recently developed the Deep Impact spacecraft.  It was launched on January 12, 2005, and arrived at Comet Tempel 1 on July 4 2005, The Deep Impact mission is the first to explore a comet's interior by using a spacecraft to create a crater, allowing a look deep inside. When the spacecraft make a rendezvous with the comet it will blast a crater in it with explosive power equal to 4.5 tons of TNT.   Dramatic images from both the flyby spacecraft and the impactor will be sent back to distant Earth as data in near real-time. Amateur astronomers will combine efforts with astronomers at larger telescopes to offer the public an earth-based look at this incredible July 2005 encounter with a comet. Quite some fireworks for the fourth of July, wouldn't you say?

While, Deep Impact is a scientific mission to study comets, it will also develop and demonstrate some of the technology to blast off course a comet or asteroid headed for earth.

Why the name Wormwood in scripture?  Is there something called Wormwood? As it turns out Wormwood has been around and in use for quite awhile.  Wormwood has been used for centuries as a moth repellant, general pesticide and as a tea/spray to repel slugs and snails. Wormwood is the dominant plant in vast areas of desert in the Middle East. The silvery green leaves of this compact shrub give it a distinctive appearance when the rest of the vegetation is dry.

Before its' toxicity was known it was used as the name implies: a worming medicine for people and animals. . Historic references to wormwood go back as far as 1600 B.C. in Egypt. Wormwood leaves contain absinthian a substance which can be toxic to other plants. You may have heard of the alcoholic drink "absinthe" a green colored beverage that is now illegal in most countries. It has been documented that the painter Vincent Van Gogh was imbibing of absinthe when he lopped off his ear to send to a woman.

The New Testament Greek word for "star" is aster , as in asteroid. Providentially, the not-too-distant occurrence of the 3rd Trumpet Judgment (as seen above in Revelation 8:10-11) of the Tribulation Week, places Wormwood, the Asteroid of Judgment, in prophetic focus. Apsinthos , the Greek word for "Wormwood", means undrinkable.

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. Jeremiah 9:15

The book of Revelation discloses what appears to be the Earth being struck by an asteroid, with the result that the "third part of the rivers" and the "fountains of waters" became "wormwood". The aftermath will be that "many men will die of the waters", and specifically, "because they were made bitter". GOD's judgment will most assuredly come to pass!  Wormwood is one of many judgments to occur during the Tribulation Week.  The judgments described to occur during this upcoming period in human history are hard to imagine.  Meditation on these judgments is difficult, but as with all scripture, meditation is for our benefit and is a blessing to us.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14

On September 26th 1990, the United States House of Representatives, in its NASA Multiyear Authorization Act of 1990, stated: "The Committee believes that it is imperative that the detection rate of Earth-orbit-crossing asteroids must be increased substantially, and that the means to destroy or alter the orbits of asteroids when they threaten collision should be defined and agreed upon internationally." As is seen, the secular world is unwittingly being prepared by the Almighty for their rendezvous with Wormwood, the Asteroid of Judgment.  Coming judgment is in the hands of the Living God to work out His purpose of judgment to an unbelieving and stiff-necked World.  Are you ready for that?

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.  2 Peter 3:9-11

The end of the age is near.  Believers and heathen agree.Wormwood is coming.  Does the coming judgments prompt you to do anything?  The LORD is longsuffering and wishes that no one would perish, but He desires repentance from everyone.  Do you need to repent?  Are you ready?  Are the members of your family ready?

Be blessed and meditate or meditate and be blessed!  The choice is yours!