Revelation 9:13-16 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
The blowing of the sixth trumpet marks the beginning of the second woe. The voice told the angel to release the great river Euphrates. This must be symbolic for something besides a dam that has stopped up a river. Some people interpret this to mean a great army coming from the east. Four angels have been kept just for this time. Their task is to kill another one-third of humanity. The number is 200 million. In John’s day, this number would have been unbelievable. In our day, that many soldiers is possible when nations join forces. This vast army from the east is a message from God. Will people listen to God or will they continue to descend into rebellion. Armies of people can be moved by spiritual forces. This is a cooperation and not coercion. The human army may be doing what it intends but it is fulfilling God’s greater purpose.
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