Chapter Thirty-Two -God's Anger Brought to a Finish

The River Euphrates Dried Up

The sixth trumpet blast heralded the releasing of  "the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates."  (Revelation 9:14)  Historically, Babylon was the great city that sat on the river Euphrates. And in 1919 the release of the symbolic four angels accompanied a significant fall of Babylon the Great. ( Revelation 14:8) it is noteworthy, then, that the sixth bowl of God's anger also involves the river Euphrates:  "And the sixth one poured out his bowl upon the great river, Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun." (Revelation 16:12)  This too is bad news for Babylon the Great!

In ancient Babylon's heyday, the abundance of waters of the Euphrates were a major part of her defense system.  In 539 B.C.E. those waters dried up when they were diverted from their course b  the Persian leader Cyrus.  Thus, the way was open for Cyrus the Persian and Darius the Mede, the kings from "the rising sun" (that is, the east), to enter Babylon and conquer it.  In the  hour of crisis, the river Euphrates failed in the defense of that great city.  (Isaiah 44:2745:7; Jeremiah 51:36)  Something familiar  is due to happen to modern Babylon, the worldwide system of false religion. 

Babylon the Great "sits on many waters." According to Revelation 17:1, 15, these symbolic  "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues"-hordes of adherents that she has regarded as a protection.  But the "waters" are drying up!  In Western Europe, where formerly she had great influence, hundreds of millions have openly ignored religion. In some Easter European lands, there is a declared policy to destroy the influence of religion.  The masses in those lands have not risen up on  her behalf. Similarly, when the time comes for Babylon the Great to be destroyed, the dwindling number of her adherents will prove to be no protection at all.  (Revelation 17:16)  Though she claims a membership of thousands of millions.  Babylon the Great will find herself defenseless against "the kings from the rising of the sun." 

Who are these kings?  In 539 B.C.E. they were Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian, who were used by Jehovah to conquer the ancient city of Babylon. In this the Lord's day, the false religious system of Babylon the Great will also be destroyed by human rulers. But again, this will be a divine judgment. Jehovah God and Jesus Christ "the kings from the rising of the sun," will have put into the hearts of human rulers the "thought" to turn on Babylon the Great and destroy her utterly .  (Revelation 17:16, 17) The pouring out of the sixth bowl proclaims publicly that this judgment is about to be executed!

These first six bowls of Jehovah's anger carry a sobering message.  God's earthly servants, supported by the angels, have been busy publicizing their contents on an earth-wide scale. In this way, due warning has been served on all sectors of Satan's world system, and Jehovah has provided individuals an opportunity to turn to righteousness and keep living.  (Ezekiel 33:14-16)  Still, one more bowl of God's anger remains. But before tell us about it, Revelation reveals how Satan and his earthly agents are trying to counteract the publicizing of Jehovah's judgments. 

Next time: Chapter Thirty-Two -God's Anger Brought to a Finish -The Gathering of Armageddon

From the book of Revelations