The Evil Nature of Mankind Revealed - Revelation 12-17

Revelation 16:21 (ESV)

And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.

God is sending His judgment on mankind using hailstones as big as boulders.   Yet, notice how they respond.  This is not the first mention of a response like this in Revelation.  Note:

Revelation 9:20-21 (ESV)

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 11:17-18 (ESV)

saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

for you have taken your great power

and begun to reign.

The nations raged,

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged,

and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name,

both small and great,

and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

Revelation 16:9 (ESV)

They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16:10-11 (ESV)

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

Never underestimate the evil nature of mankind.   Given every opportunity to repent because of the wrath of God, mankind will typically accept more wrath rather than repent and submit to God’s rule through His Son, Jesus Christ.   From the day of His birth, mankind has rejected their KIng.  King Herod demonstrated this when, instead of looking to worship the new born baby Jesus, killed all the children in Bethlehem, hoping to destroy Jesus.  This is the evil battle that rages in the universe.    Evil does not want to submit to God’s glory.