Let us remind the reader that these terrible plagues will fall primarily on the major cities of the earth, the centers of commerce, entertainment, politics, and education. We think there will be many smaller nations, tribes, villages that will not be partaking of the Antichrist system, as today there are numerous peoples on the earth who are relatively untouched by the commerce, entertainment, politics, and education of the larger nations. It is the larger nations that have become an expression of the Antichrist spirit, and this may continue until the Lord returns.

One of the worst torments that can be imagined is an increase of the temperature on the surface of the earth without any means of escaping the burning heat. Severe cold is not nearly as tormenting. When one becomes extremely cold, drowsiness sets in. Freezing to death is like going to sleep.

To be "scorched with great heat" is another matter. There is no escape except in death. Sleep is difficult or impossible. There is no rest, no refuge, except in water or by means of a mechanical cooling system. If the waters are blood, and the cooling systems fail, people may begin to dig in the ground to attempt to find a cooler place.

The response of mankind will be to blaspheme the name of God. Men will recognize, finally, that God has authority over the calamities that have fallen on the earth. Instead of repenting the wicked of the earth will shake their fists toward Heaven and curse their Creator.

Today people are unwilling to recognize that God is the One who is in control of the volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other catastrophes and afflictions that plague mankind. To mention publicly that God is in control and is warning us of our sins and self-will is to become the target of ridicule and anger. People are determined to go on believing God is "too good" to be responsible for anything that appears to harm people; that the worldwide increase of problems is unrelated to human behavior.

By the time society is willing to recognize that God has authority over these plagues, wickedness will be so far advanced in the personalities of the inhabitants of the earth, particularly of the larger nations, that people will curse and blaspheme the name of God. Many members of the civilized nations will become the body of Antichrist, of Satan.

The fifth bowl.

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10,11)

The kingdom of the Beast will include the world centers of commerce and politics. It is likely that the seat of the Beast will be in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem.

To be continued.