Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 9:21

"and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." — Revelation 9:21 (ASV)

God’s first purpose for the plagues is judgment on the human race for their willful choice of idolatry and the corrupt practices that go with it (v.21). John had earlier called the churches to “repent” of their faithless tendencies lest they too share in God’s judgment (2:5, 16, 21–22; 3:19). In these verses we see the end result of refusing to turn to God. This stubbornness leads to worship of demons as well as worship of cultic objects made by human hands (gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood; cf. Pss 115:4–7; 135:17; Jeremiah 10:1–16; Daniel 5:23). “Demons” may mean either pagan deities (Psalms 106:37) or malign spirits (1 Corinthians 10:20–21; 1 Timothy 4:1). John no doubt shared Paul’s concept of demons as evil spirits (Revelation 16:14; Revelation 18:2). Hence, there is a twofold evil in idol worship: it robs the true God of his glory (Romans 1:23) and it leads to consorting with evil spirits.

This demonic corruption is manifest in the inhuman acts of those who have given up God for idols—acts of murder, sexual immorality, and thefts (cf. Romans 1:24, 28–31). In general, these are violations of the ten commandments. “Magic arts” (GK 5760) means “a practice of sorceries” or “witchcraft” (cf. Exodus 7:11; 9:11; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15); usually drugs were involved.

God’s second purpose revealed in the agonizing plagues described in chs. 8– 9 is to bring societies to repentance (cf. 16:9, 11). God is not willing that any person should suffer his judgment but that all should repent and turn to him (Lk 13:3, 5; 2 Peter 3:9). But when God’s works and words are persistently rejected, only judgment remains (Ephesians 5:6; Hebrews 10:26–31).