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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Revelation 16:13 - 16:16
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But the papacy would not yield without a struggle:
v. 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
v. 14. 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.
v. 15. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.
v. 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Satan himself here hastens to the assistance of Anti-Christ: And I saw 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 spirits of demons performing miracles, which go forth upon the kings of the whole earth to assemble them to battle of that great day of Almighty God. These three are here combined in a union of iniquity: the dragon, Satan, the beast, the Anti-Christ, and the false prophet, whatever Pope may just be occupying the throne at Rome. The spirits of demons speak out of their mouths, clammy and ugly as frogs. And dangerous they are, for they have Satan's power to perform miracles on earth. They go forth and influence the kings and the mighty ones of the whole earth for the last great and decisive battle, whose end will be only on the last great day of the world, when the Lord Himself will terminate it by His appearance for Judgment.
In the very midst of this gloomy picture the Lord inserts a warning to those that are His: Behold, I come like a thief; blessed he that watches and clings to his garments, lest he go naked and men see his shame. The reference is probably to the fact that the priests and Levites who were on duty in the Temple at night were not permitted to go to sleep, lest the officer, in making his rounds, set fire to their priestly garments and strip them naked, sending them away in disgrace. These words are addressed to all Christians. The hour of midnight, the hour of the Lord's return, is at hand, and He is coming like a thief, having revealed the exact minute of His final revelation to no one. To watch and to pray, to be ready for His coming all the time and at every moment, that is the duty which rests upon every believer.
After this digression the prophet continues: And he assembled them in a place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon. The almighty God, with whom the dragon and his allies intend to battle, has the victory in His hands before the first attack is made. And it is a source of great comfort to us believers to know that He will gather the nations before Him, to pass judgment upon them. There can be but one end when the Lord goes forth to assemble the nations, for the name of the battlefield is given: Armageddon, Destruction of Their Army. The triumph of the Lord of our salvation is assured.