Revelation 8:8-9

The second trumpet 8:8-9

Following the blowing of the second trumpet something "like [cf. Revelation 6:13] a great mountain" that was on fire came crashing down from heaven into the waters of one or more of the earth’s seas. This resulted in a third of the oceans, perhaps a third of the ocean waters, becoming blood. Whether the water became blood, or became a substance like blood, or simply looked like blood, is difficult to determine from the text (cf. Exodus 7:20-21; Psalms 78:43-44; Joel 2:31; Zephaniah 1:3). Literally it could become blood. I understand that the only chemical difference between seawater and blood is that blood contains an iron molecule that is absent in seawater. Perhaps this mountain-like mass (a meteor?) will provide that molecule resulting in a change in the chemical composition of these seas. A third of the creatures living in the sea died, and a third of the ships on the sea perished. Beale took the mountain figuratively to represent a kingdom, specifically the Babylon referred to in chapters 11-18. [Note: Beale, p. 476, ]

"As of January 1, 1981 there were 24,867 ocean-going merchant ships registered. Imagine the shock waves that would hit the shipping industry if 8,289 valuable ships were suddenly destroyed! And what about their cargoes!" [Note: Wiersbe, 2:593.]

John was clearly describing supernatural interventions, not natural happenings.