Revelation 16:11
“And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”
During the tribulation period, one of the calamities that will fall upon the Earth are the seven vials that will be poured out to set up total destruction. These vials are truly the indication that God is fed up with the sins of the world, and His wrath is going to be unleashed upon the world, the beast and the false prophet.
Each of these vials affect different parts of human life. The first vial will be open sores upon their bodies. The second vial will be the seas turned into blood. The third vial will be the rivers and fountains turned into blood. The fourth vial will be the sun scorching the bodies of man. The fifth vial will be darkness upon the land. The sixth vial will be the Euphrates River completely drying up. The seventh vial will be great earthquakes like never seen before.
You would think that as these vials are poured out that man would eventually come to their senses and repent of their sins. Each of these vials affects mankind differently. The first vial affects their health. The second vial affects their food source. The third vial affects their water source. The fourth vial affects their personal comforts. The fifth vial causes government disorder. The sixth vial causes economic collapse. The seventh vial causes total destruction of kingdoms. God literally destroys everything that affects the civilization of mankind.
Yet, what is interesting about these vials is that when you come to the fourth and fifth vials God said that the people “repented not.” After all that God will pour out upon these people they still will not repent of two things. They won’t repent of not giving Him glory, and they won’t repent of their deeds. God sends His judgment upon the land because He is tired of the people not giving Him the glory and not doing works of righteousness.
Hold on! I know these verses point out what will happen during the tribulation, but if God will punish the world for their deeds and lack of giving Him glory, would He not also judge individuals today for the same? Friend, the fact is that He does judge people today for the same sins. These vials in Revelation are the final act, but God still desires people to do right and give Him glory today.
Christians need to understand that God desires for us to give Him glory in all that we do. We live in times when Christians are pointing more towards themselves than they are to God, and He will share His glory with no man. God will remove a man when that man takes the glory that belongs only to God. Don’t be surprised when a man of God is removed because the people give him glory and he does nothing to stop it. Glory only belongs to God.
Furthermore, God will not always put up with our wicked deeds. After all the vials God sent, the people will not repent of their deeds. What will it take for you to get rid of the sin that causes the judgment of God? Does God have to totally destroy your life before you finally get things right? God desires righteousness and nothing less.
Let these vials be a warning to you to live righteously and to always give God the glory. Don’t become so hardened that no matter what calamity comes your way you will not stop your wickedness and stealing His glory. When adverse circumstances come your way, let it cause you to step back and see if there are some deeds that need to be changed or if you are not giving glory to God in some area of your life.