The verb translated as scorch
is actually the word for burn
(see further Leviticus 4:12). Those who refuse to believe the gospel and continue to worship the beast (Revelation 14:6–11) must necessarily perish under the heat of God’s wrath. That is pictured now through this fierce heat of the sun. Though this heat does not incinerate them, it does foreshadow the eternal flames of God’s righteous anger in the fires of hell (Matthew 13:42, Matthew 13:50; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10).
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire.