Sound The Trumpet : Revelation 16:12-16 Pt. 1

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“Revelation 16:12-16 Pt. 1”
by Art Sadlier
April 4th, 2010

The Sixth Vial poured Out - The Final Preparations for Armegeddon -

The Armies were Delayed

"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." verse 12.

The sixth vial is the final preparation for the last great battle of Armageddon. We see in verse 12, that the armies had been delayed by the Euphrates river. This battle is not about weapons of war, it is about men, God is drawing men to this battle in order to destroy them. The delay is removed, God's patience has run out and it is now judgment time. The river is dried up, "that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." It was on the Euphrates River that civilization began and it will in the same place civilization will end. Its birthplace was here and its grave will be here. The Euphrates is the dividing line between the East and the West. in Genesis 15:18, the Euphrates river is the Eastern border of the promised land. It is 1800 miles long, and in places it is wide and deep, making it difficult for an army to cross it. I believe that the river will be flowing with much water at that time as an obstruction to the armies of the East, and at God's time it will be dried up. I do not believe that at this time a drought in the area has anything to do with this situation in our text.

China, India and Japan are today developing into great economic and military powers and by the end of the tribulation period they will rebel against a Roman dictator who has ignored them. Beyond that, they also are to come under the judgment of God for their false gods and their rejection of God and His Son.

The Armies were Deluded

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth 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." verse 13-14.

I remember as a boy going to the Canadian National Exabition and seeing the daredevil Lucky Teeder. In one of the acts, two cars would go around the track and head directly at each other in a deliberate head on collision. In our text we see the beast and the false prophet and the armies of the entire world in a deliberate head on collision. This is the final battle, the final confrontation between Satan and all of his dark kingdom of this world, this is the climax of the contest between God and Satan. This is the moment when the issue is going to be settled, God has suffered Satan's assaults against Him for long ages, but now the bill has come due for the enemies of God. Notice how the demon spirits work at drawing the world to this battle. They go to the kings or leaders of the world and perform miracles to deceive them into coming to the battle.

The Armies are Gathered by God

"And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armegeddon" verse 16.

So the armies of the world are assembled for the final battle of the age. There are two altars of sacrifice that dominate the history of the world. The one is Mount Calvary -- The other is The Plain of Megeddo.

On Calvary the Son of God offered up a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

On the Plains of Megiddo for those who reject the sacrifice of God's Son at Calvary, the sacrifice of vengence is poured upon them. Both are blood baths!

The Human Reason for the Battle is a showdown between the East and the Beast. It is a challenge to the World dictatorship of Antichrist. Caught in the middle, as planned by Satan, is God's people Israel facing extinction. The battle is set in array, from Megiddo to Petra (Bosra), a distance of 200 miles. The first four vials poured out have greatly weakened the kingdom of Antichrist. Now the stage is set for it's total destruction.

The Exhortation to God's Tribulation Saints

"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame," Verse 15.

We have an exhortation to these saints who are living in such a desperate time. Watch and live pure and productive lives, difficult times are no excuse for slack living, the purpose of God for His children never changes.

Zechariah 14:1-3 is an insight into this hour. "Behold, the Day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle."

Israel is in the midst of the battle, as God's people she is at the center of the conflict. we see Israel's God fighting for her.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13