Revelation 16:12-16 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
This bowl of wrath prepared for the great battle at Armageddon. The drying up of the Euphrates is symbolic of breaking down a boarder between the east and Israel. This river today is in Iraq. Iran, Israel’s ancient enemy, is directly to the east not far away. There are many other opponents to Israel to the east.
Three unclean demonic spirits come from the opponents of God’s people. These spirits plant ideas in the minds of leaders and people to gather against God’s people in the valley of Megiddo, the ancient battle ground of the mighty empires of the Ancient Near East. These evil spirits perform convincing signs that lead people into this war. This is a world-wide battle. It is interesting to read even today how some people in the United Nations call for the destruction of Israel. Through all this, we must remember that God is ultimately in control.
John records a quotation from Jesus that Jesus will come like a thief sneaking into a house at night. This is a thought that occurs in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 3:3. Jesus will come in a way like a thief who sneaks in at night. People will not be ready or thinking about this but caught up in their own agendas. Jesus warns his followers to be awake and ready. This is a key theme in Matthew 24-25 and other places throughout the Bible. We must be ready by doing what we have been commanded to do.
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