Dominating the Darkness | Daily Devotion
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.
Revelation 16:10-11 NLT
Here the apostle John tells us the fifth angel specifically poured out his bowl judgment on the beast’s dominion, throwing the Antichrist and everyone loyal to him into complete darkness.
Very symbolic of who they seek for guidance.
And another illustration of Jesus Christ dominating the darkness, showing Antichrist, he holds no power over the solar system. He holds no power over the light.
For we Christians know Jesus Christ is the light of the world as Jesus says in John 8:12 NLT, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
Many think Jesus speaks figuratively here, referring to spiritual light and spiritual darkness; however, He is actually referring to both the spiritual life and the physical life. He speaks of what’s to come during the Tribulation, for those who follow Antichrist will have to physically walk in darkness during the fifth trumpet judgment. In taking the mark of the beast, they refused Jesus Christ, the light leading to eternal life. They chose a spiritually dark life, thus received a physically dark life where they were unable to see.
We are told at the end of the book of Revelation that the New Jerusalem has no need for a sun or moon for the Lamb is its light. We know Jesus is never changing, therefore He is always physically the light we need and we know from John 1 that everything in creation was created through Him, He who is Wisdom incarnate; therefore, the sun was created through Jesus Christ as was the moon and stars – reflections of who Jesus is, reflections of Wisdom. The light we need at the perfect time.
Only the Lamb who was slain could open the scroll, the title deed to the earth but also the title deed to the universe, including the solar system – thus He has power over the solar system to cause such darkness.
Jesus Christ is one with God the Father- John 10:30, and we see in the Old Testament, when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh experienced a plague of darkness at the command of God, as Exodus 10:21-23 NLT says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered in darkness so thick you can feel it.’ So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.”
Here in the Old Testament, God created a physical contrast between the darkness of the world system and His light found amongst His people. A real life experience detailing their spiritual life. A real life experience signaling their need for a Savior. A plague that did not remain long, but a plague that opened their eyes to their lack of power. A plague judging their spiritual life.
Then in Isaiah 8:19-22 NLT, Isaiah speaks of spiritual darkness and it’s direct negative effect on people’s psyche and livelihood when he says, “Someone may say to you, ‘Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.’ But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.”
And we see this here during the fifth trumpet judgment – the spiritual darkness of the people had a direct negative effect on their psyche, especially as they experienced this judgment as the people are plunged into physical darkness. John tells us they ground their teeth in anguish and cursed God for their pains and sores. Their god, the Antichrist did not save them.
See there is something about being unable to see, while experiencing pain. Your inability to see drives focus to what you are feeling and experiencing. You do not have anything to take your mind off of the pain, thus pain is heightened as you’re made more aware of it. You become isolated in your pain, due to the physical darkness, with no way of escape. This increases duress and thus in their pain they sought power over God by cursing Him, but of course to no avail. If anything, cursing God increases their negative psyche, which increases their self-focus, and heightens their mental and physical anguish and suffering.
John tells us they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. This tells us, severe suffering does not necessarily turn people toward Jesus Christ. It does not humble them, if anything it can increase their pride and anger. Moreover, disciplining someone doesn’t necessarily turn them toward a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. It really comes down to the heart and mind of the individual and what they choose to believe.
In His love God always gives people a freewill. He is not a controlling, domineering God.
He is a loving God, who remains in control regardless of our decisions.
Will you pray with me?
Abba, thank You for Jesus Christ who is the light of the world, we lift up every wandering Christian to You Lord, asking for You to draw their hearts back to Yourself and we lift up everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, praying You soften their hearts, giving them a desire to know Jesus Christ, the One who leads out of darkness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
