And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
9. repented not to give him glory ] Contrast Rev 11:13, which therefore cannot refer to the same judgements as here, nor (probably) to judgements on the same place or people.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And men were scorched with great heat – That is, as above expressed, calamity came upon them which would be well represented by such heat. It is said that this calamity would come upon people, and we are to suppose that it would be such that human life would be particularly affected; and as that heat of the sun must be exceedingly intense which would cut down people, we are to suppose that the judgment here referred to would be intensely severe.
And blasphemed the name of God – The effect would be to cause them to blaspheme God or to reproach him as the author of these calamities; and in the fulfillment of this we are to look for a state of things when there would be augmented wickedness and irreligion, and when people would become worse and worse, notwithstanding the woes that had come upon them.
Which hath power over these plagues – Who had brought these plagues upon them, and who had power to remove them.
And they repented not – The effect was not to produce repentance, though it was manifest that these judgments had come upon them on account of their sins. Compare the notes on Rev 9:21.
To give him glory – To turn from sin; to honor him by lives of obedience. Compare the notes on Joh 9:24.
In regard to the application of this the following things may be remarked:
- That the calamity here referred to was one of the series of events which would precede the overthrow of the beast, and contribute to that, for to this all these judgments tend.
- In the order in which it stands it is to follow, and apparently to follow soon, the third judgment – the pouring of the vial upon the fountains and streams.
- It would be a calamity such as if the sun, the source of light and comfort to mankind, were smitten, and became a source of torment.
- This would be attended by a great destruction of people, and we should naturally look in such an application for calamities in which multitudes of people would be, as it were, consumed.
- This would not be followed, as it might be hoped it would, by repentance, but would be attended with reproaches of God, with profaneness, with a great increase of wickedness.
Now, on the supposition that the explanation of the previous passages is correct, there can be no great difficulty in supposing that this refers to the wars of Europe following the French revolution, the wars that preceded the direct attack on the papacy and the overthrow of the papal government, for these events had all the characteristics here referred to:
(a) They were one of a series in weakening the papal power in Europe – heavy blows that will yet be seen to have been among the means preliminary to its final overthrow.
(b) They followed in their order the invasion of Northern Italy, for one of the purposes of that invasion was to attack the Austrian power there, and ultimately through the Tyrol to attack Austria itself. Napoleon, after his victories in Northern Italy, above referred to (compare chapter xx of Alisons History of Europe), thus writes to the French Directory: Coni, Ceva, and Alexandria are in the hands of our army; if you do not ratify the convention I will keep these fortresses and march upon Turin. Meanwhile I shall march tomorrow against Beaulieu, and drive him across the Po; I shall follow close at his heels, overrun all Lombardy, and in a month be in the Tyrol, join the army of the Rhine, and carry our united forces into Bavaria. That design is worthy of you, of the army, and of the destinies of France (Alison, i. 401).
(c) The campaign in Germany in 1796 followed immediately this campaign in Italy. Thus, in chapter xx. of Alisons History, we have an account of the campaign in Italy; in chapter xxi. we have the account of the campaign in Germany; and the other wars in Europe that continued so long, and that were so fierce and bloody, followed in quick succession – all tending, in their ultimate results, to weaken the papal power and to secure its final overthrow.
(d) It is hardly necessary to say here that these wars had all the characteristics here supposed. It was as if the sun were smitten in the heavens and power were given to scorch people with fire. Europe seemed to be on fire with musketry and artillery, and presented almost the appearance of the broad blaze of a battlefield. The number that perished was immense. These wars were attended with the usual consequences – blasphemy, profaneness, and reproaches of God in every form. And yet there was another effect wholly in accordance with the statement here, that none of these judgments brought people to repentance, that they might give God the glory. Perhaps these remarks, which might be extended to great length, will show that, on the supposition that it was intended to refer to those scenes by the outpouring of this vial, the symbol was well chosen and appropriate.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. They repented not] No moral national amendment has taken place in consequence of the above calamities in that unhappy country, nor indeed any of those nations engaged against her in that long and ruinous contest, which has now terminated, (1817,) without producing one political, moral, or religious advantage to herself or to Europe.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
What the damned do in hell, where the wrath of God is poured out upon men to the utmost, that reprobates do upon earth, they are
scorched with great heat, the vengeance of God cometh upon them; they are mad and enraged, and speak evil of a just and righteous God, who bringeth such plagues on them; but they have no sense of their sins, nor any thoughts of turning to God, confessing their sins, and giving him glory. This will be the upshot of Gods lesser judgments upon the papacy: they will be mad at them, and rage, and reproach Gods justice, but prove a hardened generation, given over to ruin, that will never be sensible that these judgments come upon them for their idolatries and superstitions, and for their persecutions, and the shedding the blood of Gods holy ones. Not that all adhering to that church will be so, (many, probably, will convert, and be brought to acknowledge the truth), but there will be a great party of them, whom nothing but the wrath of God come upon them in the bottomless pit to the utmost, will ever make sensible that they have done amiss, being given up to strong delusions, to a blind mind, and a hard heart, and a reprobate judgment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. menGreek, “themen.”
repented not to give himglory (Re 9:20).Affliction, if it does not melt, hardens the sinner. Compare thebetter result on others, Rev 11:13;Rev 14:7; Rev 15:4.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And men were scorched with great heat,…. Burned with rage against the followers of Christ; were filled with envy at the success of his Gospel, and with fury and madness at the ruinous condition of the antichristian state, being deprived of its head, and chief officers:
and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues; plagues or judgments are from God, when and wherever they come; they are sent and inflicted by him, and he can lessen or increase them, continue or remove them, as he pleases; and these, unless sanctified, will not reform men, but harden them, and set them a blaspheming the author of them. And this blasphemy may either respect the nature and perfections of God, charging him with inequality in his ways, and with injustice and unfaithfulness; or the Gospel, and the truths of it, which declare his glory, and his greatness; and which will now have a general spread, to the great mortification and confusion of the followers of antichrist:
and they repented not to give him glory; that is, they did not repent of their wicked deeds, their idolatries, murders, sorceries, fornications, and thefts, as in Re 9:20 so as to own and confess them, which is, the meaning of giving glory to God in repentance; see Jos 7:19. This shows that repentance is not in man’s power, but in the gift of God’s grace; for though he may give space, yet if he does not give grace to repent, no man will repent; nor will any means of themselves produce it; as not the most powerful and awakening ministry, as the ministry of John the Baptist, and of Christ, and of the Gospel preachers that will be in those times, this vial refers to, nor the greatest mercies and favours, so not the severest judgments; see Am 6:6. The event of this vial, or the plague of it, is applied, by Mr. Daubuz, to the wars between the emperors and the popes, and between the Guelphs and Gibelines.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were scorched (). First aorist passive indicative of same verb.
With great heat ( ). Cognate accusative retained with the passive verb. Old word (from to burn), in N.T. only 7:16 and here. For blaspheming the name of God see Rev 13:6; Jas 2:7; Rom 2:24; 1Tim 6:1. They blamed God for the plagues.
They repented not ( ). This solemn negative aorist of is a refrain like a funeral dirge (Rev 9:20; Rev 16:11). In 11:13 some did repent because of the earthquake. Even deserved punishment may harden the heart.
To give him glory ( ). Second aorist active infinitive of , almost result. For the phrase see Rev 11:13; Rev 14:7; Rev 19:7.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Repent to give Him glory. Glorify Him by repentance.
His kingdom was darkened. Compare Exo 10:21, 22.
They gnawed [] . Only here in the New Testament.
For pain [ ] . Strictly, from their pain. Their, the force of the article tou.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And men were scorched with great heat,” (kai ekaumatithesan hoi anthropoi kauma mega) “and the men were burnt with a conflagration, a furious heat;” The heat as of an oven, Mal 4:1; as forewarned under the Law that Israel claims to believe, Deu 2:18; Deu 2:23-24; Isa 24:4-13.
2) “And blasphemed the name of God,” (kai eblasphemesan to onoma tou theou) “and they blasphemed (spoke in derision against) the name of God,” against God’s authority and judgments, as in Rev 16:11; Rev 16:21. They dare and defy and deride judgment, yet it comes, Pro 1:23-30. They knew God, but glorified him not, chose their obstinate destiny, Rom 1:19-28.
3) “Which hath power over these plagues,” (tou echontos tes eksousian epi tas plegas tautas) “the God who continually holds administrative power or ,jurisdiction over these many plagues; Act 17:30-31; 2Ti 4:1-2.
4) “And they repented not,” (kai ou metenoesan) “and these (men) who had received the mark and worshipped the image of the beast repented not; what one sows he surely reaps, Gal 6:7-8; Heb 9:27; 2Pe 3:9.
5) “To give him glory,” (dounai auto doksan) “to give glory to him,” the-righteous and true God. Apart from or without repentance and faith no man can please or glorify God, through Jesus Christ, while living or beyond death, Luk 13:3; Luk 13:5; Act 17:30-31; 2Co 7:10. Others under judgment had given him glory, Rev 11:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9. Blasphemed Penalty sometimes admonishes and reforms, as in Rev 11:13; but it aggravates the hardened, as here and in Rev 9:21. Like the hardened Israelites of Isa 8:21, these sun-scorched sinners could only “curse their God and look upward.”
From the four creation points the avenger now approaches nearer and nearer the beast. Clearly, (notwithstanding Dusterdieck’s denial,) there is a distinct transition from the previous four vials, poured upon points of inanimate nature, on account of man, and the three directly poured upon the bestial throne, his Euphratean population, and his metropolis.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 2520
REPENTANCE
Rev 16:9. And they repented not to give Him glory.
THROUGHOUT this chapter, the Apostle is speaking of the seven last plagues which were to be poured out upon the earth by the instrumentality of seven different angels, each of them having a vial of wrath committed to his hands for that purpose [Note: Rev 15:1; Rev 15:7.]. As no man can with certainty determine the periods and the events to which these prophecies refer, I shall forbear to speak of them, any further than to observe, that God would by these afflictive dispensations bring men to repentance; but they repented not to give Him glory. The same, alas! may be said of too many amongst ourselves: for whose benefit I propose to consider the subject of repentance, and to commend it to them,
I.
As giving glory to God
I conceive that all will readily acknowledge that they need repentance; so that I need not at present enter upon that point, or endeavour to convince any that it is their duty to repent. But the true light in which repentance should be viewed is not generally seen: it is regarded only as a means of averting wrath: whereas it should be considered as giving glory to God. Sin has greatly dishonoured God: it, in fact, pours contempt on every perfection of the Deity, saying, Tush, God shall not see; neither will the Almighty regard it. Repentance, on the contrary, honours God, and gives glory to Him;
1.
As an omnipresent and omniscient God
[Repentance, if it be really genuine, enters into all the secrets of the soul, and spreads them before God; acknowledging, that God has seen them all, and that he will surely call us into judgment for them Now, I entreat you, brethren, to honour God in this view; and, like Achan, to give glory to Him, confessing before him what no human eye has ever seen, even the most hidden abominations of your hearts [Note: Jos 7:19.] ]
2.
As a just and holy God
[An impenitent man considers his sins as light and venial; and thinks that God may well overlook them, without any expressions of his wrath and indignation. But a true penitent regards God as of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and as bound, for the honour of his own moral government, to execute vengeance on the transgressors of his law. Real humility will justify God in all his threatenings; and will tremble at them, as sure to be executed in their appointed season Do ye then, beloved, see how impossible it is for you ever to dwell in the Divine presence, unless you be first cleansed from your guilt in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, and purified from your pollutions by the influences of the Holy Spirit. See this; feel this; acknowledge this; and hope for mercy in no other way than this ]
3.
As a merciful and gracious God
[Nothing but a persuasion that God is merciful can ever encourage true penitence. Without this view of the Deity, a man will lie down in utter despair But look into the Scriptures; hear the representation which Jehovah gives of his own character, as merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thousands, and forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; and then will you come to him, not merely as to a Governor and a Judge, but as to a Father and a Friend ]
4.
As a true and faithful God
[Question not his invitations or his promises: but take them; trust in them; plead them before the mercy-seat; and determine, that, if you ever perish, you will perish at the foot of the cross, looking to Jesus as your only hope, and resting altogether on his meritorious death and passion This is the posture of every true penitent: nor shall any sinner in the universe, who thus comes to God, ever fail of obtaining mercy at his hands ]
But I would commend repentance to you further,
II.
As answering the end of all his dispensations
God delighteth not in the death of a sinner, but rather that he turn from his wickedness and live. To bring men to him with penitential sorrow, and thus to effect their restoration to his favour, is the end of all his dispensations. It is the end,
1.
Of his mercies
[Considering what a world this is, it is wonderful that God does not break forth in indignation against us, and overwhelm us all, as he did Sodom and Gomorrah. But on the great mass of mankind he is conferring the richest benefits from day to day; causing his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and his rain to descend on the just and on the unjust. Let all of us survey the dealings of God with us from our youth up; and we shall see that God has borne with us beyond all that we could have reasonably expected; and that our blessings have been double the amount of the judgments we have merited [Note: Isa 40:2; Isa 61:7.]. And what has been Gods design in all these dispensations? Has it been to encourage our thoughtlessness, and to lull us asleep in our sins? No: it has been, as St. Paul expressly tells us, to lead us to repentance [Note: Rom 2:4.]. And shall not these mercies be improved for this end? Let us blush, and be ashamed, that ever we could continue in rebellion against so good a God, and so basely requite our heavenly Benefactor ]
2.
Of his judgments
[God does sometimes strive with men in a way of merited displeasure: and, when he does so, he bids us hear the rod, and Him that hath appointed it, And is there any thing difficult to be understood in such dispensations as these? No: he has told us wherefore he visits men for sin: and, if he have threatened to punish the impenitent seven-fold more for their sins, and to scourge them with scorpions, the deduction is clear, namely, that he chastises us for our profit, that he may make us partakers of his holiness. He seeks by all means to bring us to repentance, and to the acknowledgment of the truth. Has he then afflicted any of us, either in our own persons, or in the persons of those who are dear unto us? Are we troubled in any respect, in mind, body, or estate? Let us make it an occasion of inquiring wherefore God contendeth with us; and of turning unto him with truly penitential sorrow, if by any means he turn from his fierce anger, and be pacified towards us [Note: Amo 4:6-12.] ]
Let me conclude with a word of salutary advice
1.
Let your repentance be genuine
[Let it not be such as is but too common in a season of affliction, a forced acknowledgment of sins, which yet you have no disposition to renounce [Note: Psa 78:34-37.]; but such as the Corinthians experienced under the remonstrances of St. Paul [Note: 2Co 7:10-11.] O that in all these different exercises of mind, you may make it clear that your repentance is genuine, even such a repentance as is never to be repented of!]
2.
Delay it not
[Many defer their repentance, under an idea that in a season of sickness or affliction they will find it more easy. But, in truth, the very reverse of this will be found more agreeable to fact and experience. Afflictions will not, of themselves, humble the soul: they will rather irritate and harden the soul of man; just as they wrought on the proud rebellious Pharaoh, and on the persons specified in my text [Note: See ver. 10, 11.]. Ask of persons, when bowed down with pain or trouble, whether they find the same freedom of mind as in seasons of ease: and they will tell you, that they are rather impeded than aided, in their repentance, by the distractions which they suffer. Be ye then, brethren, careful to improve the present time. And if ye will really give glory to your God, in repenting of your sins, you need not fear but that he will receive you to mercy, and honour you as his accepted and peculiar people.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Ver. 9. And men were scorched ] Or parched, scalded, roasted, . This is by accident in regard of the Scriptures; for the Lord speaketh peace to his people; and his word is good to those that are good, Mic 2:7 . But as Origen saith of devils, so may we say of Papists; there is no greater torment to them than the word of God. In hoc eorum omnis flamma est, in hoc uruntur incendio. Hence they burn up Bibles, tanquam doctrinam peregrinam, as strange doctrine. (Spec. Europ.) Hence they censure St Paul as savouring of heresy, and could find in their hearts to purge his Epistles. Eckius is not afraid to say, that Christ did never command his disciples to write, but to preach only. (Enchirid. loc. com. cap. Eccles.) Bellarmine saith, the Bible is no more than commonitorium, a kind of storehouse for advice. Hosius saith that the pope’s interpretation, though it seem never so repugnant to the Scripture, is nevertheless ipsissimum Dei verbura, the very word of God. The Council of Basil answered the Hussites (requiring Scripture proofs for such doctrines as were thrust upon them), that the Scriptures were not of the being of the Church, but of the well being only; that traditions were the touchstone of doctrine and foundation of faith.
And blasphemed the name of God ] The truth of God contained in the Scriptures. What a devil made thee to meddle with the Scripture said Stephen Gardiner to Marbeck. They tell us of several that have been possessed by that means; and assure us that our condemnation is so expressly set down in our own Bibles, and is so clear to all the world, that nothing more needs hereto than that we know to read, and to have our eyes in our heads at the opening thereof. (Alex. Cook.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 16:9 . Failure to honour the true God, a note of the heathen spirit (as in Rev 11:13 , Rev 14:7 ; Rom 1:28 ). See Introd., 6. For the general idea, cf. 2 Clem. ix.: “while we have opportunity of being healed, let us give ourselves over to God the healer, giving him a recompense. And what recompense? Repentance from a sincere heart. Let us give him eternal praise.”
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
power. The texts add “the”. App-172.
over. App-104.
repented. App-111.
not. App-106.
glory. See p. 1511.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 16:9. , they blasphemed) A dreadful sin, blasphemy: but yet even against the will of the wicked it turns out to the honour of GOD: for they confess, that they succumb.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
scorched: or, burned
blasphemed: Rev 16:10, Rev 16:11, Rev 16:21, 2Ki 6:33, 2Ch 28:22, Isa 1:5, Isa 8:21, Jer 5:3, Jer 6:29, Jer 6:30, Eze 24:13
and they: Rev 16:11, Rev 2:21, Rev 9:20, Dan 5:22, Dan 5:23, Luk 13:3, Luk 13:5, 2Co 12:21
to give: Rev 11:13, Rev 14:7, Jos 7:19, Jer 13:6, Amo 4:6-12
Reciprocal: Gen 1:16 – to rule Gen 4:13 – General Gen 42:22 – his blood Exo 8:15 – he hardened Exo 9:2 – General Exo 11:1 – Yet will Jos 10:13 – So the sun 1Sa 6:5 – give glory Job 1:11 – and he will curse thee Psa 140:10 – burning coals Psa 148:8 – Fire Pro 19:3 – fretteth Isa 3:24 – burning Isa 42:25 – he knew Isa 51:20 – a wild Jer 2:30 – In vain Jer 25:16 – General Lam 3:39 – a man Mal 2:2 – to give Mat 11:20 – because Luk 16:30 – repent Col 3:8 – blasphemy 2Ti 3:2 – blasphemers Rev 2:5 – and repent Rev 2:16 – Repent Rev 8:12 – and the third part of the sun
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 16:9. The intense heat caused men to blaspheme the name of God because of their suffering; that was because they recognized Him as being the cause of the affliction. But the very motive that caused them to blaspheme Him, should have had the effect of making them repent, for they must have known that a Being who can bring such tremendous revolutions in the universe is worthy to be feared and served.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
None
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 16:9. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, which hath the power over these plagues, and they repented not to give him glory. The blaspheming is produced not by the last plague alone, but by the four that have been spoken of,plagues not plague.The effect is worthy of notice. There is no repentance. Those visited are the followers of the beast. They have chosen their portion; they have hardened themselves; and they are made worse by judgment.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Evidently climatic changes will take place resulting in the sun’s heat becoming much hotter than normal (cf. Deu 32:24; Isa 24:6; Isa 42:25; Mal 4:1; perhaps the destruction of the ozone layer?). Nevertheless instead of repenting, the beast-worshippers curse God (cf. Rev 16:11; Rev 16:21). They recognize His sovereignty, but they refuse to honor Him as sovereign (cf. Rom 1:28; Rom 2:24; 1Ti 6:1; Jas 2:7). Deserved judgment hardens the callous heart even more, as it did Pharaoh. [Note: Ford, p. 262; Robertson, 6:422.]
"This is the only chapter in the visional portion of the book that speaks of widespread human blasphemy, the other references being to blasphemy from the beast (Rev 13:1; Rev 13:5-6; Rev 17:3). These men have now taken on the character of the god whom they serve . . . They blame God for the first four plagues, rather than blaming their own sinfulness." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 257.]
Previously some people repented because of the earthquake in Jerusalem (Rev 11:13), but now none do. Giving God glory is the result of repentance.