Revelation 9:20
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that even after witnessing catastrophic plagues designed to bring about repentance, the remaining people did not even repent of the works of their hands. This points to a deep-seated refusal to turn away from their idolatry, not just a failure to stop worshipping, but a continued clinging to things they themselves had made, revealing a profound spiritual paralysis.
The preceding trumpet blasts have unleashed devastating plagues upon a third of humanity, bringing death and terror. Yet, instead of turning back to God, the survivors stubbornly cling to their idolatrous worship of demons and man-made idols. This passage highlights their hardened hearts, showing that even God's severe judgments fail to lead them to genuine repentance, setting the stage for even greater judgment to come.
Even after experiencing devastating plagues, humanity's response isn't a turning back to God. What does this stubbornness reveal about our spiritual state?
This passage confronts us with a stark reality: judgment does not automatically lead to repentance. The "rest of mankind," those who survived the terrible plagues, continued in their destructive ways. The text specifically calls out their "works of their hands" – the idols they fashioned and worshipped. This highlights a deep-seated human tendency to create and cling to things we can control, rather than submitting to the Creator.
Notice the description of these idols: "which cannot see or hear or walk." They are lifeless, powerless, and utterly incapable of offering any real help or salvation. Yet, people poured their devotion into them. This reveals a profound spiritual blindness and a deep-seated desire to worship something, even if it's a fabrication of their own making. The plagues were meant to be a wake-up call, a divine intervention to prompt a turning away from sin, but for many, they served only to harden their hearts.
The verse mentions gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. But is idolatry only about statues? What else can capture our devotion like a god?
While Revelation 9:20 explicitly names material idols, the underlying principle extends far beyond just statues. The "works of their hands" can represent anything we create, pursue, or cling to that takes the place of God in our lives. This could be wealth, power, reputation, relationships, or even ideologies.
These things become objects of worship when they receive our ultimate allegiance, our deepest desires, and our primary trust. Like the lifeless idols, these can promise fulfillment but ultimately leave us empty, unable to see, hear, or walk with God. The commentary points out that sins like "covetousness, the very essence of worldliness, is by St. Paul twice over called idolatry." This reminds us that anything that masters us, controls us, or becomes the ultimate focus of our devotion is a form of idolatry. The failure to repent signifies a refusal to dethrone these false gods and acknowledge the true King.
Understand the original words
metanoeō · Greek Verb
A change of mind and heart leading to a turning away from sin and toward God. It is the central response God requires from humanity in light of His judgment and holiness.
daimonion · Greek Noun
Supernatural, malevolent beings that oppose God and lead humanity astray. They are considered the true spiritual entities behind idolatry, representing active rebellion against the Creator.
eidōlon · Greek Noun
Physical objects created by human hands—often of precious metals or materials—that are venerated instead of the true God. The Bible consistently condemns them as lifeless, worthless, and an abomination to the Lord.
The persistent refusal to repent, even after devastating plagues and the fall of empires, highlights a profound spiritual blindness that Scripture warns against, emphasizing the divine judgment that follows hardened hearts.
c. 11th century AD
Rise of the Seljuk Turks
Turkish tribes, after converting to Islam, began consolidating power in the East, establishing kingdoms and preparing for westward expansion.
1055 AD
Turks Take Baghdad
The Seljuk Turks conquered Baghdad, consolidating their power and aligning with the Abbasid Caliphate, marking a significant step in their rise.
c. 1070-1090s AD
Turkish Conquests in Asia Minor
The Turks, particularly under leaders like Alp Arslan and his successors, began their significant incursions into Byzantine Asia Minor, establishing the Sultanate of Rum.
14th-15th centuries AD
Ottoman Expansion
The Ottoman Turks emerged as a dominant power, gradually conquering Byzantine territories and surrounding Constantinople.
1453 AD
This passage warns against worshipping idols made by human hands, connecting to Revelation's description of humanity's persistent idolatry even after judgment.
Psalm 115:4-7The Psalmist mocks the lifelessness of idols made of gold and silver, highlighting the futility of worship described in Revelation 9:20.
Isaiah 2:8This verse condemns the worship of idols made by human hands, paralleling the 'works of their hands' mentioned in Revelation and God's judgment upon such practices.
Daniel 5:23This passage describes Belshazzar praising gods of gold, silver, and wood, directly mirroring the materials of idols mentioned in Revelation and the consequence of defying the Most High.
Romans 1:21-23Paul describes how people, despite knowing God, exchanged His glory for idols and worshiped created things, reflecting the spiritual blindness and idolatry depicted in Revelation.
ellicottRevelation 9:20: "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:"
(20, 21) And the rest . . . —Translate, And the rest of mankind who were not slain in these plagues did not even repent of (or, out of — i.e., so as to forsake) the works of their hands, that they should not worship the demon…
clarkeRevelation 9:20: "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:"
Yet repented not - The commission which these horsemen had was against idolaters; and though multitudes of them were destroyed, yet the residue continued their senseless attachment to dumb idols, and therefore heavier judgmen…
The verse highlights that even after witnessing catastrophic plagues designed to bring about repentance, the remaining people did not even repent of the works of their hands. This points to a deep-seated refusal to turn away from their idolatry, not just a failure to stop worshipping, but a continued clinging to things they themselves had made, revealing a profound spiritual paralysis.
The preceding trumpet blasts have unleashed devastating plagues upon a third of humanity, bringing death and terror. Yet, instead of turning back to God, the survivors stubbornly cling to their idolatrous worship of demons and man-made idols. This passage highlights their hardened hearts, showing that even God's severe judgments fail to lead them to genuine repentance, setting the stage for even greater judgment to come.
The preceding trumpet blasts have unleashed devastating plagues upon a third of humanity, bringing death and terror. Yet, instead of turning back to God, the survivors stubbornly cling to their idolatrous worship of demons and man-made idols. This passage highlights their hardened hearts, showing that even God's severe judgments fail to lead them to genuine repentance, setting the stage for even greater judgment to come.
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Fall of Constantinople
The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and a major shift in geopolitical power.
Post-1453 AD
Continued Ottoman Influence and Plagues
The Ottoman Empire continued its expansion and influence, while the plagues described in Revelation continued to affect parts of the world, yet many failed to repent.
"The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk," — The verse highlights that even after witnessing catastrophic plagues designed to bring about repentance, the remaining people did not even repent of the works of their hands. This points to a deep-…
