The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom became very dark. People chewed on their tongues because they were suffering so much.
The great dragon was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. That dragon is the old serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they can’t see the light of the good news that makes Christ’s glory clear. He is the image of God.
When people hear the message about the kingdom, but they don’t understand it, the evil one comes and steals what was planted in their hearts. Those people are like the seed that landed on the path.