And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. (Revelation 16:9)
That is, acknowledge Him to be true and righteous (see on v. 7). Those suffering from the plagues refuse to admit themselves in the wrong and God in the right, even in the face of severe judgments that would lead honest contrite men to amend their ways (cf. Isa. 26:9, 10. Their hearts prove to be utterly hardened and unsusceptible to either divine mercy or severity see on Ex. 4:21; Eph. 4:30; Rev. 16:1).
Repented not.
Instead of acknowledging their guilt they proceed to lay the blame for their miserable plight upon those who have remained true and loyal to God (see EW 34; GC 624). In utter perversity they refuse to yield to His will, and demonstrate themselves to be what they really are—devoted servants to Satan (see on v. 1). The refusal to repent proves them to be altogether and unalterably opposed to God.
Name of God.
That is, God Himself. The name stands for the person who bears it (see on Matt. 6:9; Acts 3:16).
Blasphemed.
Gr. blasphemeō (see on ch. 13:1). Here, to blaspheme God is to speak of Him in a derogatory fashion. Under the fourth plague men begin to blame Him for their misery and to realize, at last, that they are fighting against Him (see on ch. 16:1).
Power over these plagues.
They view the plagues as a demonstration of divine power (see on v. 1).