In verse 12 the bowl is poured and we are told of its
purpose; it prepares the way for the kings of the east. Then
in verses 13-16, we are given a commentary on this judgment.
First, there is divine activity followed up by increased
demonic activity (verses 12-14a). Then there is the effect
of this on human activity (verse 14); and finally divine
activity (verses 15-16).
“The great river, the River Euphrates” stresses the
prominence of this river.
“And its water was dried up that the way might be prepared
for the kings of the east.” Isaiah 11:15 and Zechariah 10:11
are similar prophecies of the drying up of this river. The
purpose of the drying up of the river is for the easy
movements of the troops of the kings from the east.
“The kings from the east” is literally “the kings from the
rising sun,” this expression signifying the kings from where
the sun rises. Here we see God’s divine activity; God acting
in His sovereignty using the wrath and rebellion of Satan
and man to carry out his own purposes. Knowing the mind of
Satan and man, the Lord will dry up this natural barrier to
an invasion of the land that God has given to His people
Israel, a land He claims as a land for His name. It is God’s
purpose to deal with the nations in judgment in the land He
has given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The means of accomplishing this are three demonic spirits
who proceed from the trinity to go out into the nations
working miraculous signs. This will somehow be used to act
on the minds of the kings and people of the nations to
“gather them together for the war of the great day of God
the Almighty” (Revelation 16:14). Exactly what these signs
are we are not told. However, undoubtedly they somehow stir
up old desires and hostilities.
The kings of the world will be gathered together for war
with one another, but it is a war in which man is ultimately
brought against God. The armies do not know this, but God
uses this to accomplish this gathering of nations for his
own divine purposes (Joel 3:1-3; Zechariah 14:1-3). The war
is called “the war of the great day of God, the Almighty”
(Revelation 16:14) and the place of the gathering is called
“Har-Magedon” (Revelation 16:16).
Verse 15 is written to the faithful remnant of the
Tribulation to give them comfort, hope, as well as a warning
lest they become discouraged and lose their testimony. These
plagues are but a proof that the Lord’s return is near.
Therefore, in this verse the Lord Himself now speaks. He
says, “Behold.” This means, “stop, and think, take note,” “I
am coming” here the Lord is assuring the Tribulation saints
that His coming is certain.
“As a thief” stresses the fact that while the general time
of Christ’s return in the Tribulation can be known because
of the signs and specific events of the Tribulation, like
the drying up of the Euphrates, the exact moment cannot be
known (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). Therefore, Tribulation
believers are warned to stay awake. They are to live with a
view to His return. Some would try to apply this to the
church, but though there is some similarity to 1
Thessalonians 4:13f in the fact that Christ will come
silently for believers, take what is His, and leave the
world in disarray, the primary picture of Christ’s coming
for the church is that of a Bridegroom. The thief concept
primarily deals with the Tribulation or the day of wrath (1
Thessalonians 5:2-3).
This special blessing or happiness is promised to the
believer, even in these horrible times of the Tribulation if
he follows the warnings and exhortations of this verse. They
are told to do two things:
(1) “To stay awake.” To stay awake is to stay in fellowship.
(2) “He keeps his garments.” Keeping his garments refers to
righteous behavior or good works which the believer wears
like a garment; it is practical living from fellowship with
Christ (Revelation 14:13; 19:8; 11:18).
“Lest he walk about naked and men see their shame.” Men
cannot see the imputed righteousness that God imputes to the
account of believers that gives them a righteous standing
and access to God. However, they can see the practical
results of this in Christian behavior, or the fruit of the
Spirit and the Word, Christ-likeness. Otherwise, what they
see is empty profession or spiritual nakedness.
Romans 13:11-14 makes a similar application to believers for
our day and in this sense the passage in Revelation 16:15
has application for us today. We can see events which are
unfolding today that could very well be preparatory to the
Tribulation, politically, spiritually, morally and in other
ways. Since the Lord returns for the church before the
Tribulation, this means His coming for us must be drawing
nearer every day. This along with the nature of our future
with Him should likewise motivate us to putting on the Lord
Jesus Christ that we might be fully clothed with His life
and glorious character.
