Vulcan the Greek god of Volcano’s

Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Rev 8:8-9 NKJ)

In the same manner that God attempts to draw man’s attention back to himself by way of a fire destroying vegetation, fire form a main focal point of the second trumpet.  Again the sea turning to blood red would have drawn the reader’s attention to the plagues of the exodus.  Here, however, a mountain spews out fire causing the sea to turn blood red, and one-third of the creatures die and one-third of the ships. As we read this, we need to remember that the people didn’t know what we know today.  Mountain’s always symbolized the dwelling place of the gods. The Greeks would have thought that the mythological god Hephaestus (Vulcan) the son of Zeus and Hera was angry.

We know today that a volcanic eruption, when the lava runs into the water can turn the water red and kill the fish because it becomes very acidic.  This happens recently at a mountain called Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is 40 miles north of Tonga’s capital.  As it erupted, the sea turned red.  We also know that volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can cause tidal waves that would have been deadly to first-century shipping.

As I said yesterday, perhaps God is trying to get man’s attention.