(tm)The sixth bowl
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And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12)
The Scripture declares that Antichrist will maintain his headquarters in or near Jerusalem.
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace [the tents of his palace] between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [toward the holy mountain of beauty]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)
Although there are variant readings of Daniel 11:45, it appears that Antichrist will be encamped in or near, Jerusalem—perhaps in the Jezreel Valley, maintaining a standing army in the Great Plain. Megiddo, the site of the Battle of Armageddon, is in this area. So is Nazareth, the city of the true Christ.
The "holy mountain" of Jerusalem is between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. The Jezreel Valley and the Great Plain are toward Jerusalem and between the seas. They are surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea.
"Between the seas" may be interpreted spiritually to mean between the nations of the East and the West, which would be true of any site from Babylon to the land of Israel.
The drying up of the Euphrates and the establishing of a highway on its bed would create an excellent vantage point for the Lord and His army (the kings coming from the east, that is, from the dawning of the Day of the Lord). We know that the army of the Lord will be on horseback. The saints will not fight in the air but on the surface of the earth.
And the armies which were in the heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)
We know also that the Lord Jesus will descend to the Mount of Olives. However, this area may be too small to receive the army the Lord will be leading. The Mount of Olives will split in the middle so half of the mountain moves northward and half of it southward, leaving a valley running east and west—straight toward the wall of Jerusalem.
Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:3,4)
It appears that this will be a large valley and the people of Israel will use it as a means of fleeing from the city of Jerusalem.
And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:5)
If Antichrist and the kings of the earth gather together in the Great Plain, then it may be true that when the Lord comes to the Mount of Olives His generals will descend with the legions of glorified saints to the highway created by the drying up of the Euphrates. This would give the saints a strategic location (Revelation 16:12).
If the Lord’s generals appear on earth in the region of Mesopotamia, moving their forces on the highway on the bed of the Euphrates River, and if the Mediterranean Sea is as the blood of a dead man, Antichrist and the kings of the earth would be caught between the army of Christ on the east and north and a sea of blood on the west. Antichrist would make his stand at Megiddo and there be surrounded and destroyed by the encircling army of Christ.
A glance at the map reveals the perilous position of Antichrist. He is cut off on the east and north by the Lord’s legions riding on the bed of the Euphrates. He is cut off on the south by the Arabian Desert, and also by the Lord Jesus Himself—perhaps accompanied by some of the Lord’s most trusted and valiant warriors. They would be able to ride through the new valley dividing the Mount of Olives, coming against Antichrist’s right flank and cutting off any hope of retreat to the south. There is a sea of blood at his back. Antichrist and the armies of the earth are surrounded by fierce soldiers in glorified bodies—warriors who have learned faith and courage in the fires of their probation on the earth. Antichrist and the armies of the earth are finished. They shall be destroyed utterly by soldiers who will show no mercy.
Why saints in glorified bodies would need a highway we are not sure. However, it is likely the events of the future will be much more realistic, much more of the physical realm, than we have imagined.
The Kingdom of God is the convergence of the spiritual and physical realms. When we are raised from the dead our bodies, like that of the risen Lord Jesus, will be flesh and bones. Even though they will be clothed with incorruptible resurrection life our bodies still will be flesh and bones. They will be able to move about on the surface of the earth. How else could a war on earth be fought? The Scriptures teach that we will be kings "on the earth."
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
Perhaps when Antichrist sees the Euphrates dried up he may realize that soon the Lord’s army will be attacking his forces in the Holy Land.
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13,14)
It will be the working of miracles that will cause the peoples of the last days to take the side of Antichrist. We see this today. People have a hunger for the supernatural. Whoever is able to perform works of supernatural power is able to gain fame and amass much money. People will flock to him from everywhere, especially if he is able to heal the sick.
These particular unclean spirits will work such miracles that government leaders will be drawn into the use of spiritual power to attain the goals of mankind. The inevitable end of the use of miracles for man’s purposes is to produce antagonism toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
Since the Lord Jesus does not come to promote man’s interests but God’s interests, those who employ supernatural powers to accomplish man’s goals soon discover Christ is not on their side. They have become part of Antichrist and his army of followers.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)
The world is being prepared for Armageddon.
The fact that "the spirits of devils" will go forth to gather the kings of the earth to battle shows that occult forces will inspire and assist the nations in their warfare against Christ and His saints. Satan and human beings, utilizing supernatural wisdom and power, will be resisting Christ and His saints now clothed in glorified bodies.
Some of the nations of our day are exploring the possibility of using metaphysical power for military purposes.
And he [perhaps Antichrist] gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16)
The area of Megiddo, which is a few miles southeast of Mt. Carmel, is a natural battleground. It may be here that the army of Christ, riding from the east, will surround Antichrist and the armies of the earth and destroy them. We say "may" because we cannot be positive about these things until the Lord shows us what actually will take place. What we know from the Scriptures we state as clearly as we can, and the rest we present as being our opinion at the present time. Let the reader pray and obtain the mind of the Lord for himself.
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