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John
sees that the three spirits are described as frogs which come out
of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
And we are told in verse 14 that these three spirits are actually
demons which perform signs and wonders. Their mission will be to
gather together the kings of the world to make war against God.
Satan will probably be hoping that the world’s forces will
help him defeat God.
Coming
Like A Thief. In
the next verse, Jesus tells us that He is coming quickly.
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(“Behold,
I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake
and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked
and men will not see his shame.”) (NASB) Rev. 16:15 |
What
does He mean that He is coming “like a thief?” Some say
that no one can know when Jesus is coming since a thief does not
announce his plan to enter your house and steal. One who did would
be a stupid thief. Years ago our home was robbed by a thief. I wish
the thief had told us he was coming. Then we would have been ready
for him with some policemen!
Jesus
does not mean that His coming will be a surprise to Christians. In 1 Thessalonians
the Apostle Paul was trying to assure the Thessalonians that they will not be
surprised as to the time of Jesus’ coming.
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Now
as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need
of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know
full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a
thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and
safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly
like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not
escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the
day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons
of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness
. . . (NASB) 1 Thess 5:1-5 |
Paul
writes, “But you are not darkness, that the day would overtake
you like a thief.” Christians have already been given signs
about the coming of the end times (Matt. 24:3-14). Paul was encouraging
the Thessalonians to not worry that the Day of the Lord, which starts
with the rapture, would surprise them (1 Thess. 5:1-3; 2 Thess. 2:1-3).
There
will also be no surprise for men and women who will become Christians in the
tribulation. During the Tribulation they will not be surprised about what is
coming next (Rev. 6-20) because Jesus has given us warning signs. They will be
studying their Bibles, but the world will be clueless, except for a few. Yet
they will not know the exact time that Jesus will return to defeat the world
forces.
In
Matthew 24:42 Jesus said this about His Second Coming to His disciples.
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Therefore
be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord
is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house
had known at what time of the night the thief was coming,
he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed
his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must
be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you
do not think He will. (NASB) Matt. 24:42-44 |
This
is what Revelation 16:15 means. The world forces will be surprised.
No army in the world wants to be surprised by the enemy, but Jesus
will surprise them. That is the message.
Seventh
Bowl - Armageddon. The
world’s armies will be gathered to defeat God. The world’s best will
be gathered in the Plain of Megiddo against the divine BEST. They will be waiting
for the greatest war men have ever known - the war at Armageddon.
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And
they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew
is called Har-magedon. (NASB) Rev. 16:16 |
The
war starts when the seventh bowl is poured out on the air.
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