Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 16:9

"And men were scorched men with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory." — Revelation 16:9 (ASV)

The fourth bowl increases the intensity of the sun’s heat; it is the exact opposite of the fourth trumpet, which produced a plague of darkness (cf. 8:12). The earth dwellers, instead of repenting of their deeds and acknowledging the Creator (the only act that could even now turn away God’s wrath), curse (lit., “blaspheme”; GK 1059) God for sending them agonizing pain (vv.11, 21). Yet their problem goes beyond the awful physical pain and is moral and spiritual (cf. Isaiah 52:5; Romans 1:25; Romans 2:24).