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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 16:10 - 16:11
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_16:10-11
10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.
Rev_16:10 "the fifth angel poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast" The throne of Satan was given to the beast in Rev_11:7. His power is described in Rev_13:2 ff. This seems to refer to the capital city of his end-time, one world government.
▣ "his kingdom" Satan mimics God. As God has a kingdom, so Satan has a kingdom. Throughout these remaining chapters the ministry of God in Christ is parodied by the evil trinity. Satan's kingdom, through the beast, is international (cf. Rev_13:14-17).
▣ "became darkened" This is another allusion to the Egyptian plagues (cf. Exo_10:21-23). God controls the light (cf. Rev_8:12; Rev_9:2; Gen_1:5; Gen_1:14-18).
Rev_16:11 "they blasphemed the God of heaven" These unbelievers recognized the source and reason for their pain, but would not repent and turn to Christ! The plagues on Egypt were sent to expose the false gods of Egypt and cause the Egyptians to trust the God of Israel. The "curses" of Deuteronomy 27-28 were sent to restore unbelieving Jews to faith and obedience. Judgment has a redemptive goal (except for the last one)!
The title "the God of heaven" was used earlier in Rev_11:13 and reflects a Babylonian and Persian title for Deity used often by Daniel (cf. Dan_2:18, see my commentary on Daniel at hyperlink