‘Day 279

“And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.” And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 And the people were scorched with [a]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. And 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, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.”  Rev.16:7-11. (NASB)

With the cessation of Christ’s intercession in the heavenly sanctuary, the destiny of each individual is forever determined. The time has come for those who have spurned the gospel to experience God’s wrath in its fullness.

The seven last plagues mirror the plagues poured out upon Egypt (Ex.7-11). Just as the Egyptian plagues affected the Egyptians while the Israelites were spared, so God’s people will be protected during this time of trouble (Ps.91:3-10). The plagues on Egypt disclosed the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart and showed the Egyptians the inability of their gods to protect them. Similarly, the last plagues increasingly harden the hearts of the worshipers of the sea beast and reveal the powerlessness of Babylon to protect them from divine judgment. We have also discussed how these plagues are the plagues of the cross.

The first four plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off. The first inflict painful and loathsome sores exclusively on the worshipers of the beast. The second and third plagues affect the sea and the rivers and the springs of water, which turn into blood. Without water to drink, rebellious humanity cannot survive. The fourth plague affects the sun so that it scorches people, causing unbearable pain. The fourth plague is reminiscent of the midday-midnight of Golgotha where Jesus had borne our curse. The unbearable pain inflicted by the plagues does not soften the hearts of unrighteous humanity so as to change their rebellious attitudes. Instead, they curse and blaspheme God, who executes these plagues.

In Rev.16:10-11 (c.f.Ex.10:21-23), we can see that the fifth plague strikes the throne of the beast. It was Satan who delegated the throne to the beast (Rev.13:2). Now even the seat of satan’s authority cannot withstand the force of these plagues. As people suffer in pain, they realize the inability of Babylon to protect them. However, they have set their minds against God, and even the terror of the plagues does not change their hearts.

Walk closely with the Lord so that should tragedy strike, we know enough of God’s love to trust Him even amid suffering.