Revelation 16:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

NIV: They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

NASB: And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

CSB: and people were scorched by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God, who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.

NLT: Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.

KJV: And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

NKJV: 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.

This verse continues to describe the heat from the sun after being affected by the fourth bowl judgment. It becomes so intense that people are scorched by it. One can only imagine a world ravaged by prior judgments, now suffering under intense heat and solar radiation.

Nevertheless, the blazing heat does not soften the hard hearts of the wicked. Instead of turning to God in repentance, they revile God. They recognize He has the power to send the plagues, but they curse Him for sending them. They refuse to humble themselves. Adamantly, they refuse to repent and ascribe glory to Him. The reaction of the wicked to God's judgment contradicts the notion that manmade civilization is getting better and better and will ultimately arrive at a utopia. Wickedness in the great tribulation is so advanced that civilization chooses to defy God in spite of knowing He is judging them because of their wickedness. Romans 1:18 states: "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."

This verse also supports a recurring theme of both the Bible and this revelation: humanity has no one to blame for rejecting God but themselves. No matter how much proof, evidence, or pressure God applies, people who want to reject Him will always find a way. Whether it's through excuses, self-deception, or blatant hatred, the one and only thing keeping each person from finding God is their own sinful choice.

Revelation 16:8–16 reports what happens when the fourth, fifth, and sixth angels emptied their bowls of God's wrath. It continues the apostle John's description of the bowl judgments which began in Revelation 16:1–7. The fourth and fifth bowl judgments resemble some of the events of the trumpet judgments, but are much more intense. These events occur just prior to the return of Christ to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom on earth (Revelation 17—19).

This chapter explains the bowl judgments, which are the last and most severe of God's outpouring of wrath on earth. The first three bowls bring sores, seas of blood, and rivers of blood. After a declaration of God's justice come the next three bowl judgments, involving scorching sunlight, darkness, and a drying of the Euphrates to clear the way for an invading army. In the final, seventh bowl judgment, an earthquake tears Jerusalem into three parts, levels cities worldwide, and displaces islands and mountains. Hundred-pound hailstones fall, but unbelievers refuse to repent and instead continue to curse God.

Revelation 16 resumes the account of God's judgments on the wicked. It describes the bowl judgments, the third and final series of judgments. The seven seal judgments of Revelation 6:1–17 and 8:1 are the first series of judgments. The trumpet judgments of Revelation 8:1—9:21 and 11:15 are next. All of these judgments vent God's wrath and are recognized as the day of his wrath and the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:17). Chapters 17 and 18 further describe the destruction caused by the judgments. Revelation 19 and 20 will describe the culmination of God's wrath and the final events of the end times.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''