Sunday School Notes: Revelation 16:8-9

⁸ And the fourth [angel] poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it [or him] to burn men with fire. ⁹ And the men were burned [by] a great burning and they blasphemed the name of God, the One having authority with regard to these plagues. They did not repent [in order] to give Him glory.

Continuing with the seven bowls, we turn now to the fourth angel who pours out his bowl of God’s wrath upon the sun. We’ve been noting the strong parallels between these plagues and the plagues God sent on Egypt through Moses back in Exodus. However, there’s not an exact parallel in Exodus to this one, unless we think of it as a combination of the plague of darkness (Exodus 10:21-23) and the plague of hail and fire (Exodus 9:23-26). The text doesn’t say that darkness came upon the Egyptians as a result of the sun being struck, but it makes sense that the sun would have been affected in some way for there to have been darkness across the whole land. Since it is a supernatural act, however, one might argue that God could have caused darkness to come upon the land in the form of some kind of barrier between the sun and the earth (e.g., a prolonged eclipse) that only affected Egypt. But by the same token, He could have affected the sun so it’s rays didn’t fall upon Egypt for a period of time. As for the plague of hail and fire in Exodus 9, nothing is said there about fire coming from the sun in Exodus, but these parallels aren’t supposed to be exact. Allusion is enough to make the point of connection.

We do have an explicit reference to a judgment where the sun is struck in the fourth trumpet (Revelation 8:12). In that instance we’re told one-third of the sun and stars were struck bringing darkness to the land. Here, with the fourth bowl, the effect of the sun being struck isn’t partial; it’s total. As we’ve discussed previously, I believe this speaks to an intensification of judgment. The trumpet and bowl judgments are not two different judgments, but they are the same judgments with increasing, intensifying effect over time.

If, as we have maintained throughout, that the way we must primarily look at these visions are as symbols (not denying the possibility that God might use such physical manifestations of judgment), how are we to understand fire coming from the sun? First, we recall that, while elsewhere in Scripture fire can picture purification, in Revelation fire is most commonly associated with judgment. And it is the most terrifying judgment. Not only is it extremely painful, but, unlike, say, famine or poverty, it is irreversible. That which is burned cannot be un-burned. It is totally destructive. Indeed, (spoiler!) in Revelation 20:10, the devil, the beast, and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire and sulfur to be tormented forever. Eternal destruction. Continually being consumed by fire. That’s the final judgment that awaits the earth-dwellers.

But what of the heaven-dwellers, God’s people? Back in Revelation 7:16, we saw the redeemed in heaven, clothed in white standing before the throne of God. There, it said, “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, not any scorching heat.” When we studied this verse, we noted that the background to it is Isaiah 49:8-11, where God describes how He will restore Israel as the Shepherd of His people. He will protect them from the scorching wind and sun. Does this mean the Lord will protect His people from global warming?

Isaiah 49 speaks of God protecting and sustaining His people. Revelation 7:17 appears to be a direct application of this to the saints in the final state (i.e., in glory). This is part of the “eternal rest” promised to believers. The sinless joy and security they will experience in heaven will more than make up for whatever they have to suffer on earth. In the presence of the Lord, all tears are gone, and there is everlasting peace and sustenance, without suffering under the heat of the sun.

But more than that. The blistering heat of the sun is a picture of the eternal punishment that awaits the earth-dwellers for their sin and rebellion demonstrated by their allegiance to the Beast. As we will see, they have built their security and enjoyment of life on the fact they belong to the Beast. When the fire of judgment comes, all that is stripped away. This judgment has happened in part, and will continue to happen in part during this “church age” while we await the Lord’s return. But when that final day comes, so will come the eternal fire. This will not be the fate of God’s people, as Revelation 7 reminds us. They are spared the fire of judgment, thanks to Jesus, the Lamb who has paid that penalty for them.

And lest we feel sorry for these people who are judged by fire, John tells us how they react to what’s happening: “They blasphemed God’s name, the One who has authority over these plagues, and they did not repent [so as] to give to Him glory.” The Greek verb blasphēmeō basically means “to speak against,” though, like most other words, it takes a particular nuance of meaning based on the context in which it’s used. In the New Testament it has a predominantly “religious” connotation (i.e., in terms of some kind of offense toward God), though it is possible to “blaspheme” people, in the sense of speaking against someone, or in derogatory terms about someone.

How did these people “blaspheme” God’s name? Perhaps there’s a hint in the fact John re-affirms that God has authority over the plagues, such that these people refuse to acknowledge that God is the one behind these judgments. Certainly, if they don’t accept these plagues are from the hand of God, why would they repent and give Him glory? By denying the obvious hand of God at work, and elevating “nature” or “natural occurrence” in His place, they are blaspheming His name.

Another aspect to the blasphemy also lies in the fact that the Beast they serve is said to utter “blasphemous words” in 13:6. He “blasphemed God and His dwelling.” It seems his people are following in his footsteps, identifying themselves with their master by echoing his blasphemous speech.

Their blasphemy means that they don’t “repent [so as] to give Him glory.” By not repenting, they are showing their disdain for the Lord. Not only do they not acknowledge the One who is behind the plagues, but they don’t think they need to turn from their sin. They are Beast-worshiping earth-dwellers through-and-through. And their refusal to acknowledge God in this demonstrates the fundamental idolatry at the heart of every non-Christian: self-worship. Yes, they worship the Beast, but, as we will see, their allegiance to the Beast is based on self-fulfillment and self-indulgence.

We’ll continue with the bowls next time.