“And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”
My Notes
What Does Revelation 16:11 Mean?
"They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." Under the fifth bowl judgment, people experience terrible suffering — darkness and pain so severe they gnaw their tongues (verse 10). And their response is blasphemy, not repentance. The pain produces cursing, not turning. The suffering hardens rather than softens.
The phrase "repented not" appears repeatedly in Revelation's judgment sequence (9:20-21, 16:9, 16:11). Each time, the suffering fails to produce the intended response. The judgments are designed to provoke repentance. The recipients refuse to repent. The opportunity is given; the opportunity is wasted.
The blasphemy — cursing God because of the pain — reveals that the sufferers know who's responsible. They're not confused about the source of their suffering. They know it's God. And their response to God's judgment isn't submission but defiance. The clarity of knowledge produces the intensity of rebellion.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Is your current suffering producing softening or hardening in your heart?
- 2.Why does suffering sometimes produce blasphemy rather than repentance?
- 3.What does 'repented not' — repeated throughout Revelation — teach about the limits of pain as a teacher?
- 4.How do you respond to suffering you know comes from God?
Devotional
They knew it was God. They felt the pain. They understood the source. And instead of repenting, they cursed Him. The suffering that was supposed to produce turning produced hardening instead.
This is the most terrifying human response in Revelation: suffering that doesn't produce repentance. The judgments are escalating. The pain is increasing. The evidence is unmistakable. And the people experiencing it become more defiant, not less. Each plague hardens rather than softens. Each bowl produces blasphemy rather than confession.
The phrase 'repented not of their deeds' is the persistent refrain of Revelation's judgments. It appears again and again — after the trumpets, after the bowls, after every escalation. The repetition isn't for the readers' education. It's the documentation of a tragic pattern: no amount of suffering, by itself, produces repentance in a hardened heart.
The knowledge without willingness is the worst condition: they KNOW God is behind the suffering. They acknowledge His power by blaspheming His name — you don't curse someone you don't believe exists. Their theology is correct. Their response is defiant. They believe in God enough to curse Him and refuse to believe in Him enough to repent.
Suffering alone doesn't save. Pain alone doesn't transform. The assumption that enough consequences will produce repentance is demolished by Revelation 16. Some hearts harden under pressure rather than break. Some people choose blasphemy over submission no matter how severe the consequences.
Is suffering softening you or hardening you?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And the sixth angel poured his vial on the great river Euphrates,.... Which is not to be understood literally of the…
And blasphemed the God of heaven - The same effect which it was said would be produced by the pouring out of the fourth…
Blasphemed the God of heaven - Neither did they repent; therefore other judgments must follow. Some think that the sun…
In these verses we see the work going on in the appointed order. The fourth angel poured out his vial, and that fell…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture