REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 16.12

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

                                                                           

Chapter Sixteen

The Great Tribulation

The Seven Trumpets

Judgment Resumed

Trumpet Number 7 (Woe Number 3)

 

 

Outline

1. The First Bowl – Boils afflict followers of the beast (v. 2)

2. The Second Bowl – Oceans become a sea of blood (v.3)

3. The Third Bowl – Rivers and springs turn to blood (Vv. 4-7)

4. The Fourth Bowl – Oppressive heat from the sun (Vv. 8-9)

5. The Fifth Bowl – Darkness engulfs the earth (Vv. 10-11)

6. The Sixth Bowl – The River Euphrates dries up (Vv. 12-16)

7. The Seventh Bowl – Hail crumbles the cities (Vv. 17-21)

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

 

The Sixth Vial

As the sixth angel pours the sixth vial, the great Euphrates River dries up (Literally: will be dried up) for the kings of the east to pass through and assemble in preparation for the great Battle of Armageddon.

 

The Euphrates River

Once again, the Euphrates River, where Eden was located, plays an important role in Bible Prophecy (cf. Revelation 9.14 study). Serving as a dividing line between Eastern empires and Western civilization since the dawn of history, the Euphrates River (mentioned 21 times in the Bible) is the last barrier toward total devastation. 

 

And the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared

The purpose of the Euphrates River drying up is to prepare the way for kings and oriental rulers of the East and their armies, under satanic leadership, to cross its natural barrier into Palestine, descend on the plains of Megiddo, and wage war with Jesus Christ and His saints. Scripture foretells the drying up of this river:

Isaiah 11:15-16 – And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea (the Nile River), and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river (the Euphrates), and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod (Literally, in their shoes, i.e., without taking them off). And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

 

There are three prior instances in Scripture where the Lord needed to dry up waters for special purposes:

1. The drying of the Red Sea by Moses so the Israelites could exodus out of Egypt:

Exodus 14:22 - And the children of Israel went into the midst of the [Red] sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and their left.

 

2. The drying of the Jordan River so the priests of Israel could pass through with the Ark of the Covenant:

Joshua 15:5 - And the priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

 

3. The man-made diversion of the Euphrates River so the Persians could enter under the city gate and capture Babylon:

Daniel 5:30 - In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) slain.

 

Hence, the Euphrates being dry will lead the nation’s armies into destruction just as the parting of the Red Sea led the Egyptians to their doom. Someone has explicitly stated:

The Euphrates, once at the cradle of man's civilization, one day will be the grave of man's civilization.

 

The kings of the east

The word east in Greek means a rising of light that is dawn. Better expressed are the kings of the rising sun, but ultimately, unto the kings of the whole inhabited earth.

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

 

As a continuation of the sixth vial, John the Apostle writes of an additional vision. He envisions several spirits emitting from the mouths of three members of the unholy trinity:

1.  Out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan)

2.  Out of the mouth of the beast (Antichrist)

3.  Out of the mouth of the false prophet

 

Interestingly, the Greek word for spirits is pneuma, meaning breath (a current of air). Context identifies them as unclean apparitions of evil forces as they were frogs. Unlike frogs seen during the second plague in Egypt (cf. Exodus 8:5-6), these spirits represent devilish forces.

 

Frogs

Why frogs? Only used once in the New Testament, frogs (Hebrew, ts^ephardêa, swamp, or marsh leapers) in the Old Testament are listed in the glossary of unclean animals:

Leviticus 11: 10, 41 - And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you…And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

 

So, frogs are indicative of unclean, slimy, and creepy things. And the croaking sounds they make during the night are symbolic of meaningless speech and unclean influence. Notice the contrast:

A. The Holy Spirit is like a Dove

B. The unholy spirits are like frogs

 

Lying Spirits

One of Satan’s tactics is the employment of lying or seducing spirits (spirits of demons) to deceive humankind. Notoriously documented (cf. 1 Chronicles 18:20-22), God gave the lying spirit permission to enter into the false prophets of idolatrous King Ahab and entice him to attack Ramoth Gilead. As a result, Ahab was killed and the dogs licked his blood (cf. 1 Kings 22:20-22).

 

At the final vial, lying frog-like spirits will inspire all nations to gather together for the final battle (cf. Joel 3; Zechariah 14). Thwarting the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom upon earth is their ultimate purpose. Notice the comparison:

A. In Ahab's case, it was one evil spirit

B. In Revelation 16 it is three evil spirits

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

 

The world conflict will be a direct result of demonic forces. A further description unveils their deceptive tactics. These spirits aforementioned have the power to work satanic miracles. They will proceed throughout the world influencing the multitudes into deception, thus causing the kings of the earth to assemble for war with God.

Paul captures the essence of this act:

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 - And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

The battle of that great day of God Almighty

Undoubtedly, the battle is Armageddon (cf. Revelation 16:16), which was formerly and graphically prophesized in Joel and Zechariah:

Zechariah 14:2-3 - For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle [at Armageddon]; and the city [of Jerusalem] shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle (i.e., when the Lord fought for Israel against the Egyptians at the Red Sea).

 

 

(Verse 15)

 

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

 

The same voice of Christ that spoke of the Rapture interjects another warning and reminder to those who remain faithful throughout Tribulation’s wrath. Stating He’s coming as a thief (i.e., a sudden unexpected coming) is reminiscent of a previous caution in preparation for His Second Coming:

2 Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [a time of great darkness]; in  which, the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

Every God-fearing person must be removed before the Almighty thrusts in His sharp sickle (the Word) to reap the earth. For assurance to the faithful, previous events have been well documented:

1. Regarding the Flood, not one drop of rain fell until the Lord shut the door of the Ark (cf. Genesis 7:1-16)

 

2. Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, not until Lot was safely out of the city did its destruction take place

 

 

3. Regarding the Rapture, God leaves no saint behind to experience the wrath of Tribulation

 

The above incidents serve as a reminder for those to hold out just a little bit longer before the last vial is poured.

 

Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments

A Blessing

Before the final vial of wrath is poured upon the planet, the voice of Christ, in a brief respite, pronounces the third of seven beatitudes of Revelation. The blessing is contingent upon one being vigilant of His coming and continuing to keep one’s garments unstained by sin, namely:

1. The lust of the eyes

2. The lust of the flesh

3. The pride of life 

Undefiled garments constitute the righteousness of the saints.

 

Lest he walk naked, and they see his shame

The allusion is for Christians to be completely spiritually clothed with the righteousness of Christ and ready for His appearing so it will not come upon them unawares. The language of the Fall is also evident in this passage. The moment Adam and Eve sinned, they realized their nakedness and shame. Recall: Linen robes of righteousness are pure white (cf. Revelation 19:8, 14).

 

During the forthcoming studies of Chapter 16, Armageddon will be explained along with the aftermath of the seventh vial.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1.   What is the importance of the Euphrates River?

2.   What is the significance of the Euphrates being dried up?

3.   What emits from the mouths of the unholy trinity?

4.   Why are frogs mentioned in this passage?

5.   What is the role of the spirits of devils?

6.   What is the third beatitude of Revelation?

7.   Why are Tribulation saints warned to be ready?

 

 

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