Revelation 16:10 - Exposition

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. Omit "angel" as before (see on Revelation 16:8 ). The throne of the beast. That throne which had been given to him by the dragon ( Revelation 13:2 ), and which here typifies the centre and source of his power. While this throne may aptly refer to the Roman empire in St. John's time, its position varies at different times; wherever the world power is worshipped, there the beast has his throne. And his kingdom was full of darkness; was darkened. Another allusion to the plagues of Egypt. The darkness is a type of the spiritual darkness which prevails among the subjects of the beast, and which they themselves frequently realize in the course of their career. The fear of the future sometimes arouses their misgivings, and then there is no light or hope in their hearts. And they gnawed their tongues for rain. The pain arising from the darkness of their minds; the misgivings as to their future ( vide supra ) ; or perhaps also on account of their sufferings under the former plagues, to which this is an addition.