eschatology, Sixth Bowl: Euphrates Dried Up (Rev.16:12-16)

The sixth bowl of God's wrath is released upon the earth.  This dries up the Euphrates River.  This might have huge implications for Babylon in the way of transportation and commerce;  but having the river dry up will give the Antichrist a chance to prepare for war against God and His chosen ones.  It's like God "clearing the way" for the battle which is inevitable...

(Revelation 16:12)  The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.

The outcome is already known, but even still, Satan is going to try to change the course of time stated in prophecy.  Since Satan is the leader of all evil spirits, three spirits will be sent out to influence all unbelievers in the world to join forces - thinking that they can conquer God's people and God, Himself...

(Revelation 16:13-14)  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 spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 

Here we have a quick warning to us - those in the Church Age reading this right now - to be "prepared!  This is the only interpretation that makes sense, since we in the Church Age do not have any "signs of the times" and we do not know when the rapture will happen.  Then once the Tribulation begins, there ARE"signs" which let people know there will be seven years left until the Second Coming of Christ.

So without warning - at any time - Jesus will gather all believers up to heaven!  I'm thinking that "clothing" represents righteousness and protection...

(Revelation 16:15)  (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)

Then the vision-story continues.  The evil spirits have influenced the world, so that the unbelievers will gather together in order to wage war against God and His chosen ones...

(Revelation 16:16)  And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.

Today's takeaway:  it's a good thing we don't know our future.  God tells us not to seek out seers, fortune tellers and the like (this would include reading horoscopes).  First of all, most of them are "fake" and only know how to do their research, spout out random generalities, analyze people and anticipate situations;  but when it is real - it means they are interacting with demons.  Why would we want to put our future into the hands of demons?

Even if we could know things in our future - would it make a difference?  From the scriptures above, we know that the answer would be "not necessarily."  And if we knew certain things were going to happen - would we look to God for things like patience, guidance and wisdom?  God knows us better than we know ourselves, so therefore, I trust that God knows what is best for me...

(Leviticus 19:31)  Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

(Proverbs 27:1)  Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

(James 4:13-15)  Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 

(Proverbs 16:9)  The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

(Jeremiah 29:11)  For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope...'

(Proverbs 3:5-6)  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.