As
John continued to share concerning the events during the tribulation,
He wrote about the antichrist, the false prophet and the angels who
were involved in the reaping of the harvest of believers who received
the Lord Jesus during that time.
John wrote about the first, second and third angel and what happened
when they poured out their “vials”,
and he continued by writing,
“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power
was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched
with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over
these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth
angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom
was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. And
blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores,
and repented not of their deeds.” In
chapter sixteen and verse twelve of Revelation John shared what
happened when “the
sixth angel poured out his vial”
where
we read:
And
the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;
The
verse reads, “And
the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;”
John
began with the words, “and
the sixth angel”
which means “and the sixth messenger, envoy or one sent” “poured
out”
or “shed forth, bestowed and distributed largely”
“his vial”
which means “his shallow bowl filled with the wrath of God” “upon
the great river”
or “on the large, abundant and massive flowing torrent or stream”
“Euphrates”
which refers to “a large, famous river which rises in the mountains
of Armenia Major, flows through Assyria, Syria, Mesopotamia and the
city of Babylon and empties into the Gulf of Persia. It's name means
“the good and abounding river”. John watched as this “sixth
messenger” from God “distributed” his “shallow bowl of God's
wrath” upon the “Euphrates”
river.
The
verse continues, “and
the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east
might be prepared.”
John
added the words, “and
the water”
which refers to “the flowing waters as from rain” “thereof”
or
“within the river Euphrates” “was
dried up” which
means “became withered or wasted and pined away”, “that
the way”
or “so the journey or course for travelers” “of
the kings”
which refers to “the leaders, princes, commanders and lords” “of
the east”
or “from the rising of the sun and stars” “might
be prepared” which
means “would be provided and made ready”. John saw how the drying
of the “waters”
from the “river Euphrates”
would become a passageway for leaders from the
“east”
to travel.
When
we consider John's words in this verse, we see the effect of this
“sixth angel's” distribution of his “vial”.
This time the “river Euphrates” will be the target, and
the result of this action will be to dry the “waters” of
that river so amply that the “kings” of the “eastern
countries” will be able to use it for a road of travel. In other
words, it will be a great provision for “war”. God does not
desire for people to suffer in the manner that is to be within this
tribulation period, and He has given His Son Jesus not only to “save”
people from this time, but also to “save” them for all of
eternity. Be assured, this “river Euphrates” shall be
“dried up”, and the kings of the east will use it. However, those
reading these words will never have to experience these things if
they will only submit their lives to Jesus today. May all who read
take heed.
Next
time John shares what happens when, “three
unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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