What will the coming of Christ be like for those who have rejected His authority and have refused His salvation? With sores afflicting the people (vv. 2, 11), the waters turned into blood (vv. 3-4) and the sun itself afflicted (v. 8), we are reminded of the plagues that God sent on the Egyptians in the days of Moses, plagues which overturned the natural order of creation.

But the plagues at the end of time will be much greater in both their scope and severity. For while it was only the Nile River that turned to blood in Exodus 7:20-21, the Revelation describes all the rivers and springs of water turning to blood, along with all the oceans (16:3-4). And while the ninth plague on Egypt darkened the light of the sun for three days (Exodus 10:21-23), the fourth bowl of God’s wrath transforms the sun’s lifegiving light into deadly, scorching rays (16:8). Just as in the days of the Exodus, the forces of nature, in which so many people continue to place their faith, will turn on them.

But perhaps the most frightening thing is the reaction that the unbelievers will have to God’s judgment. For in the days of Moses, Pharaoh’s magicians realized their plagues came from “the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19), and Pharaoh’s servants pleaded with him to release the Israelites from their bondage, saying, “Egypt is ruined” (Exodus 10:7). But time after time, Pharaoh refused to bow the knee to God.

Just so, John marvels that even such overwhelming, unmistakable displays of God’s almighty power will not faze the unbelievers at the end of time. Instead, “they did not repent and give Him glory” (16:9). “They did not repent of their deeds” (16:11). In fact, they “cursed the God of heaven” (16:11). Like Pharaoh, their hearts will remain hardened.

It’s no wonder that the angels affirm the justice of God’s judgment on such unrepentant persecutors of the Church (16:5-6). So while Jesus’ return is still in the future, the important question for us is simple: will we repent? Will we turn from our sin and embrace the authority and the protection of Christ? Or will we cling to our illusions of autonomy until it’s too late?

Revelation 16:1-11 (ESV)

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.
5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!”
7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire.
9 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.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish
11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.