You are trying to understand Wormwood in isolation from the rest of Revelation, and I think that is a mistake.
In the first place, you need to understand it as one of the elements of the great crisis of the whole of chapter 8. It is part of a big picture which
includes the first, second, and fourth trumpets.
We also have to think about where it fits into the sequence of events in Revelation as a whole.
As I see it, this goes;
The Four Horsemen of ch6.
The rise of the Beast in the world's recovery from the Four Horsemen.
The Beast's persecution of God's people.
God's response to this, in the events from ch8 onwards.
I don't think we've even seen the Four Horsemen yet, so it may be premature to start looking for Wormwood.
Can I recommend;
Battered Planet
Revelation Project Complete
edit on 4-11-2011 by DISRAELI because: (no reason given)