STILL DID NOT REPENT / REVELATION 9:20

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(KJV) Revelation 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:

The Mystery of the Hardened Heart: Why Judgment Alone Cannot Force Repentance

One of the most sobering and terrifying realities revealed in Scripture is found in the closing verses of Revelation 9. After catastrophic, supernatural plagues hit the earth during the tribulation period, stripping away every illusion of human control, we witness a shocking response from the survivors.

Revelation 9:20–21 tells us:

“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

You would think that witnessing the unmistakable, terrifying hand of divine justice would drive humanity to its knees in absolute surrender. Yet, the biblical narrative reveals a chilling truth: even God’s judgment does not cause hard-hearted and defiant people to repent.

The Depth of Human Corruption

True repentance means fundamentally changing your attitude toward God. It requires a person to admit their sin, turn away from their own path, surrender completely to Jesus Christ, and follow God’s divine purposes.

When faced with judgment, the unregenerate human heart does not automatically soften; instead, it often calcifies. This stunning defiance demonstrates the profound depth of human wickedness, inner corruption, and our innate love for sinful pleasure. As the prophet Jeremiah so accurately captured: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

The Five-Fold Defiance of the Last Days

Revelation 9 outlines a specific, foundational list of offenses and open deviances against God that characterize the spirit of the last days and the tribulation era. When we look at the world around us today, we can already see the heavy shadows of these very sins:

The Worship of Demons: This occurs both directly and indirectly through participation in false religions, spiritism (attempting to communicate with the dead), the occult, and supposed supernatural magic. When people reject the true God, they do not worship nothing—they open themselves up to demonic deception.
Murder and Violence: A complete disregard for the sanctity of human life, which is created in the image of God.
Magic Arts (Pharmakeia): The original Greek word used here is pharmakeia, from which we derive terms like “pharmaceuticals.” In the ancient context—and increasingly today—this speaks to drug-induced alterations of consciousness, occult worship, and witchcraft designed to bypass God’s design for the human mind and spirit.
Sexual Promiscuity: The total explosion of sexual deviance, lust, and pornography, where sacred boundaries are broken down and celebrated.
Thefts and Lawlessness: A culture of entitlement, greed, and systematic rebellion against divine and moral order (Romans 1:24, 28-31).

The Gift and Weight of Free Will

God has given every individual a profound, terrifying freedom: the free will to either accept Him or reject Him—to follow His design or to go their own way. God is a loving and just Creator; He will not override these free-will choices by forcing a heart to love Him.

However, freedom does not mean exemption from consequences. He will judge and hold all people strictly accountable for how they choose to use their freedom. Scripture warns that nothing is hidden from His sight: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

The takeaway from Revelation 9 is a matter of immediate urgency. We must not wait for a crisis or a final judgment to soften our hearts. If you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart. Turn to Christ, surrender your own way, and find the mercy that is freely available right now.

A Closing Prayer for a Responsive Heart

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today humbled by the sobering reality of Your Word. Lord, we break down under the truth of how stubborn and deceitful the human heart can be. We ask right now that You would search our hearts. Remove any hidden defiance, any secret pride, and any area where we have tried to walk in our own strength and way.

Lord, save us from a hardened heart. We thank You for the precious gift of free will, but we pray that our will would be entirely consumed by Your will. Forgive us for our sins, cleanse us from unrighteousness, and wash us clean through the blood of Jesus Christ.

We pray for our loved ones and a world that is running blindly toward judgment. Break through the deception of the enemy, Father. Soften the hard hearts of those around us, and use us as instruments of Your truth, love, and grace. We surrender our lives fresh to You today.

In the mighty and holy name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

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