“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”.
Revelation 16:12
Kings of the East (Rev. 16)
The kings of the east, in Rev. 16:12, are the Kings of heaven (Father and Son). They are called kings of the east because that is the direction from which heavenly beings approach the earth. Note the following:
- Jesus’ second coming will be from the east. “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27).
- God’s glory comes from the east. “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east” (Ezekiel 43:2).
- Revelation’s sealing angel comes from the east. “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God” (Revelation 7:2).
- The sun, symbolizing Jesus, rises in the east. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2).
The Euphrates
The Euphrates in Rev. 16:12, represents the people over whom mystical Babylon holds sway; the drying up of its waters, the withdrawal of their support from Babylon; the kings of the east, Christ and the Father; and Armageddon, the last battle of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, fought out on the battlefield of this earth. Thus, the withdrawal of human support from mystical Babylon is seen as the removal of the last barrier to her ultimate defeat and punishment.
Jesus declared, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven”.
Mark 14:62
Until His second coming, let the believers watch and pray that they may be ready. But they are not to wait for the Lord’s return in idle expectancy. While waiting and watching they are to cleanse their hearts and lives by obedience to the truth through God’s grace and also share the truth with others.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
