The fifth bowl judgment

Revelation 16:10 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.

The throne of the beast. If you remember the beast, as he is called here, is whom we know as the anti-Christ. He is the one on earth Satan has been granted the ability to give unusual power. What we see here is God directly attacking his throne. Whether this is referring to Babylon the city or the metaphorical system, wrath is being poured out on it here.

Darkness and pain. This seems to be a combination that is like two peas in a pod. Suffering always seems worse in the darkness. Darkness is an absence of light. When the Light, (Jesus) is absent, then truly suffering is worse. Pain so bad that people gnaw on their tongues. As a nurse, I have witnessed people with seizures do this and it is not pretty. In these cases, it is involuntary. But to intentionally gnaw the tongue, now that is intense suffering.

Does repentance come?

Revelation 16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores and did not repent of their deeds. Sadly, people do not repent. In fact, they do the complete opposite and blaspheme God. This is true insanity. Cursing and denying God when you know for a fact that it is God who is performing these acts of judgment. This is the result of pride in a person’s life.

These judgments come from the effects of sin. This is how detestable sin is to a holy and righteous God. Even if someone does not hear the gospel, God gives us a conscience that leads us to the question of right and wrong. We just choose to listen or not to listen to either our conscience or to where it leads. This is the foot of the cross.

What is repentance?

Forgiveness and repentance is not the same. Judges 3:9 When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The children of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. They did not repent. This is why the book of Judges is circular. People are blessed, they sin, judgment comes, then they cry out.

Repentance is turning away from the sin that causes the judgment. It is turning from sin to Jesus. Have you turned to Jesus? Tomorrow is promised to no one.