Revelation 16:8-11 (NKJV)
Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
V8 “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.” The bowl and contents are real. The contents are symbolic of the reality of God’s wrath. These contents are upon the sun, which increased the sun’s output and increased the temperatures on Earth. Compare Isaiah 30:26.
Dr. Henry M. Morris notes: “Note Malachi 4:1; Isaiah 24:6; Isaiah 30:26. The angel responsible for the sun’s energy conversion processes, and understanding their real nature, will be able to intensify them perhaps sevenfold (Isaiah 30:26). The intense heat and light, little relieved even at night, will aggravate their sores even more. Furthermore, the high temperatures will likely melt the polar ice caps, causing a rapid rise in sea level which will inundate and destroy most of the great and wicked cities of the world, situated as they are almost at sea level (New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Rome, Amsterdam, etc.). Such Scriptures as Job 38:22-23 seem to suggest such a thing as well: “ … the treasures (literally ‘storehouses’) of the snow … Which I have reserved against the time of trouble [or ‘tribulation’].” Note also Amos 9:5-6 and Psalm 147:17-18 in this connection.”
V9 “And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” A time of very difficult living. It is a warning of eternal judgment of hell. Instead of repenting, they blasphemed God and His character. This only worsens judgment (Exodus 20:7) because they break God’s laws. Blasphemy is not just cursing. It is also living rebelliously against His laws, slurring His character, and encouraging people not to worship the creator. God has the authority and ability to judge. All God’s judgments are in wisdom, love, and holiness. Why love? It shows love because evil is destroyed and righteousness displayed.
V10 “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.” The contents of this bowel of God’s wrath are on the throne of the antiChrist. It is on his physical throne, his city, his business, his followers, etc. The darkness was physical. Compare Exodus 10:21-22. The pain is so intense that people start chewing their tongues.
Constable writes: “The weakness of the figurative interpretations is that the fifth trumpet judgment apparently involved literal darkness (Revelation 9:2), as did the ninth Egyptian plague (Exodus 10:21-22). God also darkened Jerusalem when Jesus Christ died on the cross (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44). Since the beast’s kingdom is worldwide, this darkening apparently amounts to a global judgment. Perhaps the faithful remnant will remain unaffected by this judgment, as it did earlier in Egypt (cf. Exodus 10:23).”
“This judgment of worldwide darkness inflicts excruciating pain on the beast-worshippers also. Just how darkness will cause so much pain is hard to understand, but the chaos that darkness caused in Egypt may suggest some ways.”
Revelation 16:10 (Holman Commentary) “So far, the avenging angels have poured their bowls onto natural elements: land, sea, waters, and sun. The impact on human life as nature is destroyed can only be described as cataclysmic. Yet the monster is still in charge. Antichrist is proudly in control. All that begins to change with the next two bowls. The seventh and final bowl will conclude what these next two begin.”
V11 “They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” The stubbornness of those who love their sinful pleasures. They know the source of these judgments, yet it does not bring repentance. Compare Proverbs 27:22, Matthew 11:20, Ephesians 4:19, and Romans 1:32.
This stubborn pride leads to destruction. So deep is the rebellion. Proverbs 27:22 (MSB) “Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.”
F. B. Meyer writes: “Revelation 16:10 (Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary (7 Vols.)) All these judgments apparently refer to the destruction of those great systems of falsehood and apostasy which set themselves against the truth and purity of God. The dragon, beast, and false prophet are the devil’s mimicry of the divine Trinity. The dragon corresponds to God the Father in delegating his authority; the beast, like our Lord, is crowned with diadems, Rev. 13:1; 19:12; the false prophet directs attention to the beast, as does the Holy Spirit to Christ.
“The mystery of iniquity will make one last effort to obtain the empire of the world, seeking to effect its purpose through a human confederacy. When that confederacy has reached its climax of effrontery, the coming of the Son of God is near; hence the need for watchfulness and purity, v. 15. Armageddon is the mountain of Megiddo, in the plain of Esdraelon. See Joel 3:2, 12, 14; also Zechariah 12:11. The great city symbolizes the apostate Church, or professing Christendom. The true Bride is away from these judgments, awaiting the manifestation of her Lord.”
We learn:
- More about God’s anger at sin
- The stubbornness of most evil people
- The destructiveness and torment of judgment