Unimaginable Pain

Kingdom Was Full of Darkness (Revelation 16:10)

Ken

“We prefer seeing to everything else,” wrote Aristotle, and the Fifth Vial Judgment brings absolute darkness upon the kingdom of the Beast. “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain” (Revelation 16:10 KJV). The human mind is baffled by apocalyptic judgments because we cannot explain the physics of how darkness can be present in all places, where the kingdom of the Beast is, but with the Almighty “all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Of course, this makes no difference to these hardened rebels, who have survived the horrors of God’s judgments up to that point. But, evidently our All Wise God must save all the elect, for this is His method in the Final Harvest. “1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me: for I will tread them in Mine anger, and trample them in My fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon My garments, and I will stain all My raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me. 6 And I will tread down the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth” (Isaiah 63:1-6). 

The Fifth Vial Judgment brings a painful darkness causing Beast worshippers to gnaw their tongue (Revelation 16:10); but still, they “blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds” (16:11). Even comparing the carnage of an entire world wiped clean by a Flood (Genesis 6), this Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) has been worthy of recording the Book of Revelation as the final capstone of the NT canon. We may speculate what those who drowned in the Deluge of Noah might have said, as the water crested over their heads. But, the official transcription of the words of the Beast Worshippers in this Fifth Vial Judgment is marked, BLASPHEMED THE GOD OF HEAVEN. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). LORD, You are worthy to fulfill all Your prophecies and judgments. Grant us understanding that we may not only sympathize with Your actions, but pray that You would return and accomplish all Your judgments. Remove our ignorance and grant us Your understanding. Will Thou not judge them? In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Demonic Locusts From the Abyss (Revelation 9:1-12)

Ken

Terrorizing only the ungodly with unimaginable pain without the release of death for five months is Satan unmasked, revealing his malevolent intentions upon his own in the Fifth Trumpet Judgment. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1 KJV). The game is up and the hand of the wicked one is forced by the Almighty, incentivizing repentance 
to those previously not so inclined in this latter part of the Tribulation Week, but why then not sudden and total mass defection from the wicked one? The chains of bondage to sin go to the depths of humanity’s normal inaction in the face of divine displeasure. The hidden curses upon all has piled up, where ‘every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword,’ as observed by Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1865), who further declared, “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). Father, it is our unimagined delight to so petition You with this affection of Your parentage. We have such tangled webs of curses ensnaring us, we find it bewildering to address. Abba Father, deliver us! Show us Your glory! In Jesus’ sin delivering name, we pray. Amen and amen.