The Christ in Prophecy Journal

The Mighty Angels of Revelation 16 Turn the Lights Out

MP3: The Mighty Angels of Revelation 16
Hosts: Nathan Jones & Vic Batista

The Fifth Bowl Judgment Angel

Vic Batista: As we read through Revelation 16 and learn about the Seven Bowl Judgments, we find that the conditions across the planet will continue to get progressively worse. So far loathsome sores have broken out on all those who have taken the Antichrist’s loyalty mark. The oceans and fresh waters have turned to blood, killing all aquatic life. The sun flames brighter, scorching the world and its inhabitants.

Nathan Jones: Now we get to the Fifth Bowl Judgment, and this one is a judgment of darkness and pain. Revelation 16:10-11 reads:

“Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.”

Vic Batista: Here in Florida a few years ago we experienced darkness for four whole days due to a few tornadoes which had come through and knocked out our electricity. It wasn’t the type of darkness this Fifth Bowl Judgment is talking about, though, right? It’s not just the lights going out?

Nathan Jones: No, not at all. This darkness will be a complete darkness. Verse 11 reveals the darkness descends over the throne of the Beast. The Beast is another name for the Antichrist, the coming one-world ruler. This judgment is a darkness which covers solely his kingdom. So, the world’s enduring the blazing hot sun from the Fourth Bowl Judgment, but the Antichrist’s domain over the earth is now put under darkness.

How is that possible? How can the sun be so bright that it’s burning people to death, yet the earth is also dark? Is there a natural reason behind this judgment, or is this calamity supernatural? And, how much of the world will this darkness affect?

Scriptures say that the darkness presides over the throne of the Beast, and that’s his capital city which is called Babylon. Whether the reference is to the real Babylon rebuilt in Iraq, or Rome, or Jerusalem, we don’t know at this point in history. Any of those locations might be the object of the reference, or none of them. Regardless, the throne of the Beast is plunged into darkness. The kingdom of the Antichrist at this point in the Tribulation covers the entire planet, so likely this is a global darkness.

How strange that this darkness actually causes pain.

Vic Batista: Possibly this is the type of darkness the Bible describes in Revelation 14:10 for those who have taken the Mark of the Beast, “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” This torment has to deal with the pain of darkness and separation from God. In the presence of the Lord there is joy. Separation from God is a sad situation indeed, and not just because of the fire. I cannot imagine what Hell is going to be like for those who die in rebellion against God. God originally did not create Hell for humanity, but it was for Satan and his angels. But, when we reject God, we choose to go to that dark and awful place.

Nathan Jones: When we read about the verses that describe Hell, Hell is described as a place of fire, a lake of fire, a place of torment, and also oddly black as coal. How ironic that we’ve got Hell described as a lake of fire, but it is also called a place of Outer Darkness where there is no light. That’s a weird dichotomy where we have heat without light.

With the Bowl Judgments the Antichrist’s kingdom is plunged into heat but without light. I wonder if this isn’t God’s way of saying to those few unsaved people who have yet to have taken the Mark, “You’ve got to repent because this is a taste of Hell. This is what Hell is going to be like, and you don’t want to be going there.”

And how do the people respond? “They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” These are people whose hearts are so hard they will never give in to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Vic Batista: What a contrast from Revelation 12 where God’s people are going to be taken into the area of Petra to be protected, and so they are still going to have light, while the kingdom of the enemy remains under total darkness.

Nathan Jones: You’ve got to wonder just what is blocking the light of the sun as almost the entire planet falls into darkness, yet a small portion remains in the light. I believe that it’s probably supernatural in origin, such as the work of an angel or legion of angels, because you would have to black out the stars and the moon along with the sunlight. We’ll later read in Revelation how just before Jesus comes back at the Second Coming that all sorts of signs in the skies will show how special the actual day of the Lord’s return will be. Therefore, the lights will be turned back on at some point after the Fifth Bowl Judgment. But, for a time, the Antichrist’s kingdom falls under complete darkness.

The separation from God is likely what’s causing the pain, and the people are blaspheming God for it, even though they’re the ones actually causing their own pain! Instead of calling out to God in repentance for mercy, they are blaspheming God for their judgment.

Vic Batista: How said that is. Christ’s message is still the same then as it is today — turn to Christ while you still have time. God loves you and He has a wonderful plan for your life. It all must start, though, with a relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t live in Satan’s kingdom of darkness, or your life will become utter darkness.

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In the forty-first segment of our series “The Mighty Angels of Revelation,” the sixth of the Seven Bowl Judgment Angels of Revelation 16 dries out a great river to let pass the powerful Kings of the East.

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ABOUT AUTHOR View all posts Author Website

Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

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  • We should praise the Lord that he has given us his wisdom through the Holy Spirit to discern the truth, and so be saved. Take every opportunity to be saved before the great and awesome day of the Lord. Jesus has done this to save us through his sacrifice, death on the cross, and resurrection. He is a loving God, but also a God of wrath. Ezekiel 8:18 “Therefore I will also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.” Be saved while there is still time. I can’t say this often enough.

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