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12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrise. 13 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, something like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.
something like frogs
To us, it may seem like frogs are not that big of a deal when it comes to viewing them as a destructive force. Yet when the plague of frogs came upon Egypt during the second round of resistance by Pharaoh, we are told in the Psalms that it was not something they could ignore.
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust. (Psalms 78:45-46)
Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. (Psalms 105:30)
This is a desperate counter-measure by the alliance of these three deceiving powers to recapture mind control over the masses that is eroding due to these plagues (Euphrates drying up). Religious and political powers are losing credibility and support because of the increasing potency of the revelations of light through the prayers and praises of these clones of Jesus. In desperation more deceptive signs must be initiated to reestablish the power of lies in order to stay in charge.
The main attribute of frogs is their ability to use their tongue to capture and devour victims. These 3 frogs could represent systematic lies in three areas:
Scientific distortions about physical truths are promulgated by corporate interests such as drug cartels, oil companies and environmental activists who repress anything that might threaten their profits or power.
Social lies involve artificial law concepts and commerce involving relative value assertions that manipulates the masses, enforcing the system of hierarchy with intimidation and deceptions.
Spiritual lies insist God operates like our false systems of power, control and manipulation.
All of these are an attempt to launch another effective counter-attack, but it is now too weak to effectively re-blind the masses and regain full support. So they create a desperate coalition of losing forces bonded together by fear alone that soon collapses in the next two chapters.
Frogs become a plague when they are pervasive and inescapable. This indicates that the lies promulgated by these entities will permeate the whole world in attempt to suffocate the power of truth.
they are spirits of demons, performing signs
What are demons? They are former loyal angels who allowed themselves to be swept out of heaven by the tail of the dragon’s lies, seduced into believing in his grand social experiment but degraded by the influence of selfishness, pride, hatred and all the other effects that sin brings to a living being.
Angels were created to be servants (Hebrews 1:7,14). As such they can only find fulfillment by carrying out their design for existence. Selfishness led fallen angels to lose interest in serving others as they sought to exalt themselves as their leader did. The further they become estranged from fulfilling their purpose, the more miserable they become until the very presence of love causes torment in them. This explains the violent reaction of demons anytime Jesus came near someone they controlled. Demons hate the light and are terrified of exposure to the light of love and truth, for it is nothing but torment for them as it has become foreign to their way of thinking and living.
Demons also crave worship just as does their leader Satan. They lust for the power derived from people who share their lust for control over others and who become like them. The pagan gods throughout history are no less than demonic entities seeking to draw attention to themselves as sources to which people look to find security, identity, provision, pleasure or other needs. They want people to grant them authority in their lives instead of submitting their will to God’s loving care for them. In this way they siphon off divine power from humans who surrender their will to follow the desires of their flesh. Many worship demons today with or without awareness of what they worship. And these demonic forces are active all over this planet, and more so as the final showdown between light and darkness draws closer.
These fallen angels turned demons are committed fully to furthering Satan’s cause as they have thrown in their lot with his. They have vested interest in keeping attention drawn toward themselves and Satan’s system of power. In doing so they protect their agenda and prolong the time they have before the final day of judgment which they don’t even want to think about. They use supernatural power to influence both human beings and also physical aspects of nature by where they stir up violent storms and spread pain, suffering and death all over the world in every way possible.
Demons are experts in deception. They are organized in rigid hierarchical formation to carry out orders from the top just as humans organize themselves similarly. The sole purpose of going out to the whole world performing supernatural signs is to consolidate control over the minds of every human being in order to defeat the encroachment of light, love and truth that threatens to disarm their ability to stay in power. This battle has been raging for millennia, and it comes to peak intensity here in this chapter because the outpouring of light, truth, love and God’s glory is so powerful that the very fabric of their organization and control structures come under extreme stress. As a result, all the stops must be pulled out and every resource known to demons has to be employed to counteract the power of what is being poured out from these censers by these heaven-ordained messengers.
I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God's wrath is finished. (Revelation 15:1)
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. (Revelation 13:12-14)
I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:19-20)
If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave to him.
That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put away the evil from the midst of you. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)
All these curses shall come on you, and shall pursue you, and overtake you, until you are destroyed; because you didn't listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded you: and they shall be on you for a sign and for a wonder, and on your seed forever. Because you didn't serve Yahweh your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things; (Deuteronomy 28:45-47)
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: "I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself; who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; (Isaiah 44:24-25)
Hear the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel! Thus says Yahweh, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. (Jeremiah 10:1-3)
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. (Matthew 12:38-39)
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times! An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:1-4)
For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. "Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they tell you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' don't go out; 'Behold, he is in the inner chambers,' don't believe it. (Matthew 24:24-26)
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)
There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)
Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe." (John 4:48)
But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one, to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God."
They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn't right before God. (Acts 8:9-21)
Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who didn't believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12)
But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth
Why do these demonic spirits go to the kings rather than to the people?
Notice the global extent of this activity. Do we hear similar stirrings in plans being made right now?
The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They told the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, (Revelation 6:15-16)
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality." (Revelation 17:1-2)
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18)
He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury." (Revelation 18:2-3)
The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9)
The connection here to the kings of the earth and immorality with the great harlot is the activity of what these demonic spirits are going to to accomplish. This is in sharp contrast with those described in the beginning of chapter 14 who are not defiled with women and are virgins. These spirits have no access to the hearts of those pouring out these censers of praises for the Lamb, but they go to all the leaders of the world to seduce them into complete compromise with the evil spiritual forces who support the work of the great harlot in the next chapter.
The nature of this sexual compromise is through capture of the senses and manipulation of feelings.
I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:19-20)
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; (Revelation 1:5)
The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. (Revelation 21:24)
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. (2 Chronicles 9:22-23)
Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying, "Let's break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us." (Psalms 2:1-3)
It shall happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth. (Isaiah 24:21)
to gather them together for the war (unity Satan’s way)
He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, Megiddo. (Revelation 16:16)
The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful." (Revelation 17:12-14)
I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19)
And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:7-8)
This exposes the pattern that the devil has used since the very outset of the rebellion in heaven – gathering sympathetic support through seduction of others to join him in warring against God’s loyal followers and against God’s ways and reputation. But this is also a foreshadowing of the final showdown in this war when all the stops will be pulled out on both sides so that everyone will see the complete picture and Satan’s support will suddenly collapse in the light of glaring truth.
Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying, "Let's break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath: (Psalms 2:1-5)
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. (Psalms 94:20-21)
One of the primary means of unifying the world is through imposition of laws that reflect and enforce the agenda of demonic forces and human agencies.
I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together." Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh. "Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great." Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near, in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:2, 9-14)
Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city will be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go out into captivity, and the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then Yahweh will go out and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:1-3)
Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him. (Matthew 26:3-4)
They answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together." (Luke 17:37)
The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, "What are we doing? For this man does many signs. If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." Now he didn't say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (John 11:47-51)
This gathering activity is what the ripening process is all about – everyone choosing sides.
that great day of God, the Almighty
God is here identified as Almighty, because in their perspective this war is about might and power. But from heaven’s perspective the war is about what methods are truly effective to win the hearts of intelligent, sentient beings everywhere and keep their loyalty, not about how to dominate over others. Though God is indeed almighty, His true power is in His regulated use of His infinite power.
Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies. (Zechariah 4:6)
He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. (John 8:23)
Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)
We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. (1 Corinthians 2:6)
He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
