Pain: Set in contrast to the paradise of heaven (7:15-17) is the pain that will befall the world because of its unrighteousness, the pinnacle of which is the persecution of the church (6:9-11). Even as the winds gather quickly after the sixth seal (7:1), so the silence in heaven is fast broken and the judgments begin in half an hour (8:1, 6). God answers the prayers of His elect decisively and swiftly (8:5; Lk. 18:7-8). The judgments are introduced with the clarion blasts of trumpets (6:10). These signal the coming of extraordinary and supernatural plagues, not unlike those of Egypt:[1] 1) hail and fire, 2) asteroid strike and water into blood, 3), poisoned water, 4) darkened heavenly bodies, 5) monstrous locusts, and 6) death, fire, famine, blood, and plagues.[2] The stark contrast of paradise and pain shows the future of man as either heaven or hell, either homegoing to everlasting paradise or banishment to everlasting pain.[3]
Unrepentance: Widespread unrepentance is what characterizes the period of tribulation. Instead of humble confession and an about-face, those who dwell on the earth blaspheme God and refuse to repent (9:20-21; 16:9, 11). There is one exception: With the resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses, the population of Jerusalem glorifies God (11:13).[4] This is likely the conversion of the 144,000 Israelites (7:4; 14:1-5). Further evidence of repentance during the tribulation is slim at best. Now is the time (before the tribulation) to flee God's wrath and take refuge in Christ (Ps. 2:12; cf. also Mt. 3:7; Acts 17:30-31).
[1] Many of these judgments are reminiscent of the plagues of Egypt: Ex. 7:20-21; 9:23; 10:13, 22.
[2] This trumpet has three parts: execution (9:13-21), an undisclosed judgment (Ch. 10), and the rest (11:1-13).
[3] For everlasting torment, cf. 14:11; 20:10; and for banishment, cf. Matt. 7:23; 25:41; 2 Thess. 1:9.
[4] Though some argue that this is not genuine repentance, in every case where glory is given to God, it is indicative of genuine worship (4:9; 19:7) or repentance (14:7; 16:9).