Revelation 16:12-14; Euphrates River Dried Up
Revelation 16:12-14 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. 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. 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.
The drying up of the Euphrates River would facilitate the armies of the east to move on dry land toward Israel for the final battle of Armageddon.
Thus, the western and eastern borders of Israel will be open to invaders. With the drying up of the Euphrates, the eastern armies under their respective kings will then achieve their objective. These kings will march without hindrance to the Promised Land. Is it not dreadful to realise that countless missions of Asians are to cross the dry bed of the Euphrates and join forces with the beast against Israel? Such a united rush of the nations before the great day of wrath is fearful to the extreme. Blindly, they rush toward wholesale slaughter, when blood will come up to the bridle of the horses. [Herbert Lockyer, Revelation – Drama of the Ages, Whitaker House, 2012, 248-249]
Evil spirits energised the mouth of the dragon (Satan), beast (Antichrist cf. Rev. 13:1-10) and false prophet (cf. Rev. 13:11-18) so as to energise and garner the kings of the world for the battle against God Almighty. A ridiculous proposition but true!
Psalm 2:1-12 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth forthy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
The great confrontation between God and Satan will build up to a climax at the Second Coming of Christ in Revelation 19.