Morning Bible Study: Revelation 16: 12-16

12  Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. 

13  And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 

14  They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. 

15  "Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed." 

16  And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon [or Harmagedon].  NLT

Commentary

(the following commentary is from www.easyenglish.bible/bible-commentary/revelation-lbw.htm)

"Verse 12 The River Euphrates was the boundary of the land that God promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). This big river became dry. This made it easy for those who would come from the east to cross over it. The kings of the east were ready for war. They would come across the river for the great final battle.

Verse 13 John saw three demons. They came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. The dragon was the devil and Satan (Revelation 12:9). The beast was the Antichrist that came out of the sea (Revelation 13:1-10). The false prophet was the second beast that came out of the earth (Revelation 13:11-17).

Verse 14 These demons went to all the kings of the earth. By their astonishing deeds, they were able to persuade the kings to come together. The kings brought their armies to fight against the Lord. On the day, which God had fixed, there will be the final great battle. The armies of the world will fight against the forces of God.

Verse 15 The forces of the devil will gather for the final battle. Then, when they do not expect him, Jesus will come.

The Lord says that he will come like a thief. Paul wrote that the day of the Lord would come like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Nobody knows when he will come. He will come but it will be a surprise to all the people.

Those who trust in the Lord must be ready for this great event. The Lord describes them like soldiers before the command to go into a battle. Such a soldier has his clothes ready for the battle. And he has his sword ready to put on. So, God’s people must prepare themselves for Jesus to come. They must expect him and they must be ready for him.

Those who are not ready will be ashamed. They will be like soldiers with no clothes to protect them. Or, like soldiers without any weapons (arms) to fight their enemy.

Verse 16 Armageddon or Megiddo is a place in Israel. There is a large plain there. There have been many battles in that area.

The demons brought the kings of the earth to this place. There they made their armies ready to fight against the Lord. John tells about this battle in chapter 19.

The armies will spread out over a large area. But the center will be in or near Megiddo."