Revelation 16:12-16
Expanded Bible
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates so that the water in the river was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east to come [C reminiscent of the splitting of the Red Sea and the Jordan; Ex. 14:21–22; Josh. 3:13–17]. 13 Then I saw three ·evil [L unclean] spirits that looked like frogs [C reminiscent of the second Egyptian plague; Ex. 8:1–15] coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 [L For] These evil spirits are the spirits of demons, ·which have power to do miracles [L that perform signs]. They go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the battle on the great day of God ·Almighty [All-powerful].
15 “Listen [L Look; T Behold]! I will come as a thief comes [C that is, without warning]! ·Blessed [Happy] are those who stay ·awake [alert] and keep their clothes on [C a metaphor for staying faithful and pure] so that they will not walk around naked and have people see their shame.”
16 Then ·the evil spirits [L they] gathered the kings together to the place that is called Armageddon in the Hebrew language [C meaning “Mountain of Megiddo,” a strategic pass in northern Israel].
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Revelation 16:12-16
Amplified Bible
12 Then 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 coming of] the kings from [a]the east.(A)
Armageddon
13 And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, leaping from the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and from the mouth of the beast (Antichrist, dictator) and from the mouth of the false prophet;(B) 14 for they are [actually] the spirits of demons, performing [miraculous] signs. And they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. [b]Blessed is he who [c]stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.”)(C) 16 And they (demons) gathered the kings and armies of the world together at the place which in Hebrew is called [d]Har-Magedon (Armageddon).
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- Revelation 16:12 Lit the rising sun. Using this phrase, or just the rising, was the ancient way of referring to the east. A dry Euphrates would enable massive armies to travel quickly from the region of Iraq (Babylonia) to territory north of Israel (Syria) in preparation for the battle at Har-Magedon (v 16).
- Revelation 16:15 This is the third of the seven promised blessings. See note 1:3.
- Revelation 16:15 These are metaphorical statements referring to a believer who is always expecting the return of Christ, and maintains a lifestyle (the clothing) of which he will not be ashamed when that day comes.
- Revelation 16:16 The name means “mountain of Megiddo” and indicates a region west and slightly south of the Sea of Galilee.
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