July 30, 2022

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. Revelation 16:10-11

The first four plagues were directed at the followers of the beast: most of humanity. The fifth plague targets the seat of authority of the beast. We must pause to remember where that authority came from: The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority (13:2).

The manifestation of literal darkness on the throne of the beast is a revelation of the spiritual darkness that has been there all along. Such a darkness has a paralyzing effect. Notice that the literal darkness spreads only to his kingdom: those who have ignored the loving warnings of the Redeemer to get out. We can understand more of this darkness by looking back:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:21-23

Those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image (Revelation 16:2) have thus far suffered terrible sores, a failed economy, lack of water to drink, and scorching of the sun to rival the worst sunburn. Now paralyzed in thick darkness, they are beginning to realize the utter impotence of the “unholy trinity”* to deliver what was promised. The authority of world leaders in the eyes of the masses is undermined. In total darkness and pain, anger increases as they become more and more enraged, yet their hearts are so hardened that they would rather blaspheme the God of heaven than recognize their own faulty decision-making. Even though rage toward the worldly authorities (the beast and his image) is foremost in the minds of the suffering people, their behavior only mimics what the beast has exhibited all along (see Revelation 13:6).

Some Bible scholars believe that the thick darkness of the fifth plague covers the entire earth since spiritual Babylon is in every country on earth. If this is correct, we must still know that our refuge is in the Lord who dwells with us. He is the light of life, and even in darkness, the light of His love will sustain us. All the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. God speaks of the one who truly loves Him:

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:14-15

*Satan’s counterfeit trinity consists of himself in the place of our heavenly Father, the papacy in the place of the Son of God, and apostate Protestantism (also known as the image of the beast and called the false prophet) in place of the Holy Spirit.