Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 16:10

"And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain," — Revelation 16:10 (ASV)

And the fifth . . .—Better, The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne (not “the seat:” see Notes on Revelation 4:10; Revelation 13:2) of the wild beast. The vials of judgment gradually dissolve the integrity and organisation of the kingdom of the wild beast.

The results of the principles on which it has been based begin to show themselves: first, moral disease in individuals; then a corrupt tone of national morals spreading into the higher orders of society; then the fierce pride of vaunted light which scorches.

Where these are, disorganisation is not far off; evil goes out a murderer and comes home a suicide. The retribution comes home; the throne of the world-power, the very head and centre of its authority, is smitten.

And his kingdom was full of darkness.—And his kingdom was darkened. We have the counterpart of the Egyptian plague (Exodus 10:21–23); there was a typical force in that ancient plague: the kingdom which boasted itself so full of light becomes darkened.

When men shut out the higher light, the smoke of their own candles will soon obscure the whole heaven. When moral evil is linked with intellectual light, the moral evil will be found the stronger, for we cannot have a sunbeam without the sun.

“Take heed,” said Christ, “that the light that is in thee be not darkness.” There is a light that is darkness; the progress of evil bringing about its own retribution proves this conclusively.

On verses 10, 11:

But even the failure of their own light does not work repentance: they gnawed their tongues from their pain. Here is remorse and suffering. They are “unto themselves” (as the Book of Wisdom describes the Egyptians) “more grievous than the darkness” ; but there is no softening or humbling of themselves, no turning to God.

They still love what God hates, and hate what He loves, for they blasphemed God, and so forth, and repented not of their works. Such is the wretched state of the world-power in the day when retributive evil overtakes it—darkness, pain, and inability to repent. Is it not a picture of the ultimate state of all sin? It is not a vast world-power alone which exhibits pain and confusion like this.

It is to be seen over and over again in people and nations. The power of evil comes home and robs people of their accustomed guides. They are brought into darkness and trouble.

The throne where the master-power of worldliness sat is cast down. The evil passion which was the unifying power of their life is deprived of the field of its power.

Then follows exasperation, anger at defeat, readiness to accuse others, but no blame of self, no repentance.