First, we are told the bowl is poured out “upon the
throne of the beast.” Regardless of his apparent power, he
will not be able to escape God’s judgment.
Second, the beast refers to a person as well as to a
political system; therefore, his throne is a definite place,
the ancient capitol of Satan’s wickedness in the land of
Shinar (Zechariah 5:5-10). This is the beast of Revelation
13, who receives his power from Satan and who will become
the object of man’s worship. Men will marvel at the beast
and proclaim, “who is like the beast, and who is able to
make war with him” (Revelation 13:4). Remember, he will be
seen as the solution to the problems in the world, the hope
of the world.
Due to world conditions on every front and in every area of
the globe, things will look hopeless. People will be in
despair or certainly very fearful prior to the Tribulation.
For the varied problems of the world, man will have turned
to a variety of sources looking for hope. These will come in
many forms and sizes. There will be the false prophets of
modern science, scholarship and research, false religions,
the occult, the cults, false prophets, new world views,
social ideologies and finally, the world will look for
answers in some new and great world leader whether
political, religious, or both. Such a man will come, but he
will be “the man of lawlessness” and “the son of perdition
who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god …
displaying himself as God” (2 Thessalonians 3 and 4). He
will also be “the one who’s coming is in accord with the
activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false
wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
Now suddenly at this point in the Tribulation, like a bowl
poured out, a judgment of darkness is poured out on the
beast’s throne, the very place of his rule, and neither
Satan nor this man can alleviate this judgment. This will
clearly illustrate that there is only one hope, the Eternal
God and Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ whom the world has by
in large rejected; the One who alone is the Light of the
world. This judgment also anticipates the doom and eternal
prospects of the beast and his subjects; they will be cast
into outer darkness because they have turned away from the
true Light of the world.
The effects of the fifth bowl
The first effect is seen in “his kingdom became darkened,” a
sudden envelopment of the throne of the beast in total
darkness. Of course, we are reminded of the “darkness” in
Egypt which was so thick it could be felt (Exodus 10:21).
Since the beast rules practically the entire world, and
since these are the last plagues of the Tribulation which
complete the wrath of God to establish God’s rule on earth,
this darkness is undoubtedly worldwide.
As you read this, do not lose sight of the fact that this is
a brief forecast of the outer darkness, pain, and torment
that men will face in the lake of fire (Matthew 5:30; 22:13;
8:12). It is a literal taste of hell. However, it is also
designed to symbolize the nature of the beast and his
kingdom, his power, and Satan who gives him his power. It is
a kingdom of great darkness (Colossians 1:13; 2 Corinthians
4:4; 11:13-15).
The second effect, “they gnawed their tongues because of the
pain.” We have in this an accumulated effect of the
preceding bowls, the sores, and the seas smitten; the fresh
water turned into blood, the scorching of the sun, and now
total darkness. Men are shut up in their quarters with their
sores and pain and there is no relief, no hope, only
constant torment.
The third effect, “they blasphemed the God of heaven because
of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of
their deeds” (Revelation 16:11) In these words we are
clearly told that the world will be conscious that the “God
of heaven” is the source of these judgments. There will be
no more atheists or agnostics. All men will know, like the
demons that God exists, but they remain stubborn in their
rebellion. These verses clearly refute the idea of a final
universal salvation of all men who will finally repent when
faced with God’s judgment.
