Revelation 16:12-16 (NKJV)
Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
V12 “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.” The contents of the sixth bowl don’t seem to be a judgment, but it is, for the kings of the east will have better and faster access to Israel. They (the kings of the east) are joining all the nations to destroy Israel. This is their dream and hope. But! God is dragging them in so He can destroy them. Compare Zechariah 14:2-3, Ezekiel 38:14-17, and Joel 3.
V13 “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” The guiding spirits of the greatest initiators of evil. Frogs are a good symbol because they are unclean animals according to God’s Covenant laws with Israel (Leviticus 11:10 and Leviticus 11:31).
Utley writes: “These three refer to a Satanic trinity which will be defeated in two stages: the two beasts in the valley of Megiddo (cf. Rev 16:12-16) and Satan at the end of Christ’s earthly reign (cf. Rev 20:7-10).”
Keathley writes: “The immediate source of this activity, acting on their own objectives, is the trinity from hell—the Dragon or Satan, the beast (the dictator of the revived Roman Empire in its final form), and the false prophet who works miracles on behalf of the first beast (Rev 12:3; Rev 12:9; Rev 12:13).
“The means of accomplishing this are three demonic spirits who proceed from the trinity to go out into the nations working miraculous signs. This will somehow be used to act on the minds of the kings and people of the nations to move against Palestine. Exactly what these signs are, we are not told. But undoubtedly, they somehow stir up old desires and hostilities…”
V14 “For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
Warren W. Wiersbe writes: “John intended for his readers to see the contrast between Revelation 14:11 and Revelation 14:13: no rest for the wicked, but eternal rest for the saints (see 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12). Better to reign with Christ forever than with Antichrist for a few short years! Better to endure persecution patiently now than to escape it and suffer throughout eternity!”
One of satan’s goals is to destroy Israel. Reason? Because of God’s promises to Israel. Satan stirs up all his followers for that single purpose.
V15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” The idea of a thief hints at imminency. We must always be read, on the alert, live by the Law of Christ (keeping garments pure). We don’t want to find ourselves before the throne of God and ashamed. See Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:10–4:5, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. This judgment is for rewards, not salvation. Compare Psalm 132:18, Proverbs 3:35, and Proverbs 14:34. The time of Jesus’s Second Coming is at the end of the Tribulation, which is 7 years.
V16 “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” The place of the final battle. Jesus wins easily. See Zechariah 14:12-15, Psalm 110:5, and Isaiah 66:15-24.
We learn:
- God knows how to defeat any enemy.
- God wins all battles.
- Christ followers must always be ready to serve God and look for His return.