Repented Not
“20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”
(Rev 9:20-21 KJV)
The purpose of the catastrophic events is to make men turn to God. Even after the devastation the Earth has endured up to this point, man still will not repent and turn to God. Man still turns to rebellion. Man still chooses to do evil and worship devils and idols, commit murder, sorcery, fornication, and theft. The thoughts of man are only evil continually.
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen 6:5 KJV)
Sorcery includes the use of drigs, poisons, magic arts, and idolatry.
Sorceries – 5331 φαρμακεία pharmakeia {far-mak-i’-ah}
Meaning: 1) the use or the administering of drugs 2) poisoning 3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it 4) metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry
“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,” (Gal 5:20 KJV)
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” (1Ti 4:1 KJV)
“And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” (Rev 18:23 KJV)
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8 KJV)
“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Rev 22:15 KJV)
The end of chapter 9 marks the half-way point through the Tribulation period. The first 3.5 years are over and the second 3.5 years are about to begin.