The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Rev. 8:12
The obscuring of truth.
The third trumpet warned that the Christian church is taken over by the "fallen star"
The fourth trumpet warns of more destructive religious delusions. Christ's heavenly ministry is partially obscured from the sight of the inhabitants of the earth. This parallels Daniel 8 where the little horn reaches up to heaven and exalts himself as high as the Prince of the host and casts down the place of His sanctuary.
The key issue in both Daniel and Revelation is the sanctuary in heaven where Christ is ministering for our redemption. This sanctuary truth was obscured from the people and an earthly system put in its place.
The light of truth, the light of heaven, was darkened -- not totally -- This is a graphic depiction of the "dark ages".
Malachi 4.2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;
2 Cor. 4.6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Matt. 4.16 "The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and in the shadow of death, upon them a light dawned".
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
It is through Christ that people are rescued from the realms of darkness and brought into God's marvelous light. (Col.1:13-14, 1 Peter 2:9)
It's also interesting to note that the end of this period was marked with signs in the sun, moon and stars. (Matt. 24.29)
This too, foreshadows the day when people will search for truth, but will not find it. The plague of darkness. The next two trumpets I believe are judgments on the "apostate church".
