Day 201: End of the United Nations – Revelation 16 vs 12 – 21

12 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. 13-14 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. 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.

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20-21 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. Revelation 16:12-21 English Standard Version

As I've mentioned frequently before, knowledgeable believers have differed in explaining these visions John saw. Some believe there will be a day when the Euphrates River (which starts in Eastern Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq) will be made to literally dry up so that military forces can cross over. Others see this vision as symbolically showing what goes on 'behind the scenes'. Vs 13-14 describe how the kings of the world are gathered for a final showdown. But who is ultimately behind this united front by the nations? (vs 13-14)

We see that there is demonic activity involved in deceiving the nations. The apostle Paul spoke of this when he said to Christians at Ephesus: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12) And this war of the nations on God's people was not a new one. Way back in Psalm 2:1-3 we read: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One saying 'Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.'” So vs 16 could refer to a literal battlefield of the future – or it could be symbolic of the day when God crushes His enemies. Verse 17 certainly points to that.

The judgement that come from the seventh bowl of wrath (vs18-21) see cities collapsing and islands and mountains disappearing. It is a day of reckoning. The apostle Peter put it this way: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.” 2 Peter 3:10. Peter then adds in the next verse: “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness.” Can you see how that ties in with what John said in vs 15 of today's reading?

So from as early as the days when mankind tried to make a name for themselves and built a high tower (which was called Babel and Babylon) and through the days of Psalm 2, we see the nations uniting together against God, against His Messiah, and against His people. This hostility and opposition is clearly still evident in the days we are living in – and sometimes it looks as if they are winning and Christians will surely be wiped out. But the final victory will not be theirs, but God's. And in the meantime, Christians must stay awake and keep their garments pure. We must conduct our lives in holiness and godliness. Our redemption is drawing nearer.