Revelation 9:20-21; Murders, Sorceries, Fornication, Thefts

Revelation 9:20-21 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. 

These two verses serve as a brief summary of the catastrophes God has sent, including calamities in both nature and warfare. The word plagues in the Greek text conveys the sense of God administering blows. Even though plagues destroy a third of the world’s inhabitants, survivors appear to become inured to the repeated calamities. If terms like tidal wave, earthquake, genocide, and ethnic cleansing become common expressions, the population at large begins to take them in stride and refuses to consider the impact and message they convey. God uses these disasters to call human beings to their senses and does not limit adversities to those resulting from armed conflict.

These concluding verses relate not to God’s people but rather to unrepentant sinners. This passage, therefore, emphasizes not adversities but recalcitrant unbelievers. In spite of the traumatic loss of life, the rest of humanity refused to repent from the works of their hands. This is not because God had not given them time and reason for repentance. For example, Jesus told the church of Thyatira that He had given the prophetess Jezebel “time to repent, but she does not want to repent from her fornication” (2:21). Likewise, the people on whom God’s wrath was poured out cursed God’s name and refused to repent (16:9, 10). God employed plagues to cause people to change their ways and convert; instead, they repudiated him. [Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 300). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House]

Verse 21 tells us the men continue to break the commandments of God without recourse.

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. 

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal. 

How great is the power of sin! How merciful and long-suffering God is also to unrepentant sinners. He continues to give time.

May God grant us His grace to bear witness of the gospel and the better life loving the commandments of God. Amen.