Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 8:12

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner." — Revelation 8:12 (ASV)

The fourth trumpet. The heavens are struck with partial darkness, reminiscent of the ninth plague (Exodus 10:21–23). The references to “a third of...” refer to a partial impairment of the ordinary light from these bodies. In the OT the darkening of the heavens appears in connection with the theophany of God in judgment (cf. Isaiah 13:10; Ezekiel 32:7–8; Joel 2:10; Joel 3:15; cf. Matthew 24:29). An unusual darkness also attended the crucifixion of Christ (Matthew 27:45).