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Scientific Scenario Of A Comet's Impact And The Wormwood Star Prophecy by Marshall Beeber
The Messianic Literary Corner ^ | February 2008 | Marshall Beeber

Posted on 09/21/2008 9:24:38 AM PDT by mbeeber

Scientific Scenario Of A Comet's Impact With Earth And The "Wormwood Star" Prophecy

by Marshall Beeber

An Introduction

In the First Century AD, the Apostle John wrote an apocalyptic book called "Revelation" in which he described among many "end-time" events the collision of a star called Wormwood with Earth. Revelation states:

Rev. 8:10-11: The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water-- the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

Wormwood is a botanical herb commonly known for its bitterness. See Botanical.com. It was used a pesticide, medicinal tonic and liqueur ingredient. The term "wormwood" was often used to describe "extreme bitterness".

Let us consider the possibility of a "star" turning the waters bitter on Earth. The term "star" in classical terminology lacks the modern astronomical sense. It could have been referring to a comet, asteroid, "sun-like" star or planet. Since the possibility of a planet or sun colliding with earth is infinitesimal, we will eliminate this possibility.

A Scientific Explanation For The Wormwood Star

The Wormwood prophecy cites a "great star, blazing like a torch". Comets are well known for their blazing tails, due to ionization of their gases by the Sun. Either an asteroid or comet could manifest a blazing tail on their entry into Earth's atmosphere. With respect to a comet's impact with a planet, astronomers have recently tracked the collision of the "Shoemaker-Levy 9" comet with the planet Jupiter and were able to confirm many of their theories.

Various scientific scenarios have been theorized on the effects of an asteroid or comet's collision with Earth. An applicable scenario theorizes a chemical change in the atmosphere due to "heat shock" during entry and/or impact of a large asteroid or comet, reacting Oxygen and Nitrogen in the atmosphere to produce Nitric Acid rain. The bitterness produced by the Wormwood Star upon a third of the Earth's potable waters could be the Biblical prediction of "acid rain" from the "heat shock" of a large comet or asteroid's impact with Earth.

The Hooper Natural Science Museum in Ottawa, Canada cites a scientific theory that postulates "atmospheric chemical changes" from the impact of an asteroid or comet with the Earth. See the statement below:

When an asteroid enters earth's atmosphere there are two occurrences of extreme shock. The first occurs as the asteroid enters the atmosphere. The second, more important one, occurs when the ejecta plume (the ejected debris caused by an impact) enters the atmosphere (Zahnle, 1990). This shock causes the breakdown of the oxygen (O2) and the nitrogen (N2) molecules found in our atmosphere. Through a series of chemical reactions the dissociation of the nitrogen and oxygen forms NO which is then converted into NO2. These two molecules can produce acid rain (HNO3) (Prinn and Fegley, 1987). In 1987 Prinn and Fegley determined the atmospheric consequences of a "large" comet impact versus a "small" comet impact. They assumed the "large" impact comet had a mass of 1.25 x 1016 Kg traveling at a velocity of 65 Km/s. As for the "small" impact asteroid, they assumed it had a mass of 5 x 1014 Kg traveling at a velocity of 20 Km/s. It is important to note that these two objects are possible bolides that hit the earth 65 million years ago.

Conclusions of the Large Impact Scenario

If the comet scenario occurred, 7 x 1040 molecules of NO would have been produced and subsequently converted into acid rain. (See chemical reactions) This would have caused a global dispersal of acid rain with a pH of 0-1.5. On the continents the acid rain would have weathered the soil removing many of the insoluble elements ( for e.g. Be+2, Al+3, Hg+2, Cu+, Fe+2, Fe+3, Ti+3, Pb+2, Cd+2, Mn+2, Sr+2). These elements would end up in soil water, streams, rivers, lakes, etc., causing a problem as some of these elements are known for their toxicity towards plants and animals (e.g. Al, Be, Ti, Hg). As for the oceans, the global acid rain would lower the pH of the mixed layer (the top 75 M of the ocean) to a pH of 7.8, breaking down the calcareous shells of organisms that thrive in the mixing zone.

Conclusions of the Small Impact Scenario

If the "small" asteroid scenario were to occur, the amount of acid rain produced would be similar to the "large" comet scenario but only near the impact site. The global pH change would be rather insignificant.

Above statement is referred to Reference Link #4 (Hooper Museum Website)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the scientific scenario theorizing "acid rain" following a large comet or asteroid impact with Earth is the best explanation for the "Wormwood Star" prophecy existing today. Such information enhances the credibility of the "Wormwood Star" prophecy and New Testament writings with scientific theory.

Referring Links

Below are various links discussing asteroids and comets. I have focused particularly on the scientific scenarios of a comet or asteroid colliding with Earth, causing chemical changes in the atmosphere.

"Academy of Sciences" website article describes comets.

"Purdue Univ. Physics Dept." article on physical attributes of comets.

Hayden Planetarium website analysis of 1994 comet collision with the planet Jupiter.

Hooper Museum website article predicting "atmospheric chemical changes" with the impact of a comet.

Smithsonian/NASA article on possible "acid rain" effect of comet's collision with Earth.

"Univ. of Bristol, Bristol, UK" website article on impact geology, physics and chemistry of comets.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Religion & Science; Skeptics/Seekers
KEYWORDS: asteroid; catastrophism; comet; endtimes; impact; stuned; wormwood
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The bitterness produced by the Wormwood Star upon a third of the Earth's potable waters could be the Biblical prediction of "acid rain" from the "heat shock" of a large comet or asteroid's impact with Earth.
1 posted on 09/21/2008 9:24:39 AM PDT by mbeeber
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To: mbeeber

Color me stuned.


2 posted on 09/21/2008 9:26:51 AM PDT by js1138
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To: mbeeber

Fascinating.


3 posted on 09/21/2008 9:27:03 AM PDT by HelloooClareece ("We make war that we may live in peace". Aristotle)
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To: mbeeber

more good news to ponder - thanks


4 posted on 09/21/2008 9:29:24 AM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: mbeeber

Interesting, and a nice mix of science and the Bible, not “It is thusly” however the possibility is plausible, even under the view of Science.


5 posted on 09/21/2008 9:33:12 AM PDT by padre35 (Sarah Palin is the one we've been waiting for..Rom 10.10..)
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To: mbeeber

Are you a real beeber or just another beeber like object?

6 posted on 09/21/2008 9:33:20 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: al baby; martin_fierro; dighton; Petronski; Constitution Day

A most inauspicious first post and screename.


7 posted on 09/21/2008 9:34:14 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Tijeras_Slim

one would think i was banned for good this time and came back to stir the post great post welcome


8 posted on 09/21/2008 9:38:56 AM PDT by al baby (Hi mom I know McCain couldnÂ’t answer her in a flippant way, but IF HE COULD it would have nice to)
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To: mbeeber

btt


9 posted on 09/21/2008 9:39:43 AM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: mbeeber

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1162751/posts


10 posted on 09/21/2008 9:39:44 AM PDT by al baby (Hi mom I know McCain couldnÂ’t answer her in a flippant way, but IF HE COULD it would have nice to)
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To: js1138

This is series! This is hugh!


11 posted on 09/21/2008 9:41:15 AM PDT by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

“A most inauspicious first post and screename.”

Truly. It makes you wonder if his beeber was stuned.


12 posted on 09/21/2008 9:42:13 AM PDT by OpusatFR (As we bicker about faith, the faithful are witnesses by their martyrdom.)
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To: mbeeber; Slings and Arrows

Sling ping for the not-a-ping list. Lots of stuned beebers on this thread, including the author. It’s Hugh and Series. SCARMABLE!


13 posted on 09/21/2008 9:43:01 AM PDT by Kevmo (Obama Birth Certificate is a Forgery. http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/certifigate/index?tab=articles)
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To: OpusatFR

We must face our end with stoic good humor....

14 posted on 09/21/2008 9:44:05 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: mbeeber

You are going to be popular here, “beeber” being local lexicon humor.


15 posted on 09/21/2008 9:45:04 AM PDT by Enosh (†)
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To: mbeeber
If you add a little sugar, it knocks the bitterness down. I like it, myself. And considering that the western half of the United States is covered with "wormwood", we probably don't need to panic; where I come it's called sagebrush.
16 posted on 09/21/2008 9:45:08 AM PDT by stormer
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Slim, can you post the beeber stuning instruction booklet?

I lent mine to a friend, along with my mu-metal foil chapeau, and he was abducted before he could return it.

Thanks,
KB

PS:
Revelations is on the money. Beeber stuning a separate but tangentially related matter. Foil hats and capes are absolutely necessary to counter Obama mind control rays emanating from your television and DNC cell phones.

17 posted on 09/21/2008 9:45:18 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (Drill. Double Refining Capacity. Make METHANOL from Coal, NG, Nuclear ..let's roll.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Slim, can you post the beeber stuning instruction booklet?

I lent mine to a friend, along with my mu-metal foil chapeau, and he was abducted before he could return it.

Thanks,
KB

PS:
Revelations is on the money. Beeber stuning a separate but tangentially related matter. Foil hats and capes are absolutely necessary to counter Obama mind control rays emanating from your television and DNC cell phones.

18 posted on 09/21/2008 9:45:36 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (Drill. Double Refining Capacity. Make METHANOL from Coal, NG, Nuclear ..let's roll.)
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To: mbeeber

bookmark


19 posted on 09/21/2008 9:48:36 AM PDT by GOP Poet
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To: Kenny Bunk

There’s instructions? I just kept trying it on my neighbors schnauzer until I had the hang of it.


20 posted on 09/21/2008 9:51:52 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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