Introduction:

In the Book of Revelation, it is prophesied that the Euphrates River of the Middle East will dry up; and in many areas it is drying up. The Center for International Studies in Washington DC warned that the Euphrates River could run dry by 2040. This is due to declining water levels and droughts. NASA’s (GRACE) satellites collected images of this area in 2013 and found that the Euphrates and Tigris river basins had lost 34 cubic miles of freshwater since 2003. The data shows an alarming rate of decrease in total water storage.

Chapter 16 of Revelation gives these future details whereas God is making preparation for the battle of Armageddon. It is interesting to note that one of the most googled words today is Euphrates. Maybe people are paying attention to what God had said because it will come to pass. Ezekiel 38:8 has become an alarming prophecy as so many were applauded and surprise at the anti-Semitism at the day of Jihad rallies all across this country. A long time from now you will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the land of Israel, which will be enjoying peace after recovering from war and after its people have returned from many lands to the mountains of Israel.

V. The Fifth Bowl (16:10-11).

1. This judgment is directed at the seat of the beast; and his kingdom cast into full darkness (verse 10). This is reminiscent of the fifth trumpet (9:2) and the ninth plague (Exodus 10). There have been several times when unexplained darkness has covered a portion of the earth.

On May 19, 1780, all the New England states were covered with darkness. It is called “the Dark Day,” when all of New England was for several hours plunged into a deep darkness. No one has yet explained how it happened. It may be the same phenomenon that occurred at the crucifixion of Jesus when darkness covered the land for three hours. That was not an eclipse of the sun. It is an unexplained darkness, symbolizing the removal of moral light — light from God.

The fifth bowl judgment will have grave psychological effects, for people will gnaw their tongues for pain (16:10). This psychological pain and the physical pain of the sores will undoubtedly produce suffering beyond the power of words to describe.

VI The Sixth Vial Judgment: (16:12-16)
1. The Euphrates River is the water boundary between the Holy Land and Asia to the east. The kings of the east have been identified in many ways by various commentators and Bible scholars. Though no one knows their precise identity, it is clear they are from the East. We can say that if this battle were to happen in this time period which seems very likely this would be China who has the troops to mass a million man army.

2. The Euphrates River is 1800 miles long and in some places 3600 feet wide. It is thirty feet deep. It runs from north to south. Its headwaters are found at Mount Ararat. That’s where Noah’s ark finally rested. The summit of Mount Ararat is somewhere around seventeen thousand feet. It is snow-capped all year long. The headwaters of the great Euphrates River begin there and they flow downhill all the way to the gulf of the Arabian Sea, clear across the Middle East in what we know as the Fertile Crescent.

3. J. B. Smith states that it is remarkable that this prediction is already being fulfilled for in many areas the Euphrates River is drying up. Here are some facts that support this today.

a. This river is the source of political tension, as Turkey, Syria and Iraq all compete for the use of its waters for irrigation and the generation of hydroelectric power. The following appear in the NY Times July 13, 2010… Turkey has created a program called GAP (South Eastern Anatolian Project). It has established 22 dams and 19 power plants along the Euphrates and Tigris basins. The goal of the project is to help Turkey’s farming and irrigation.
Turkey wants to improve their irrigation, agriculture, and energy production. They have fourteen dams on the Euphrates basin and eight dams on the Tigris basin. The main part of the GAP program is called the Ataturk Dam, which is the third largest in the entire world. It spans almost six thousand feet across the Euphrates River.

Since much of the Euphrates River starts in Turkey, the dam created a great controversy, especially when Turkey opted to fully hold the river in order to fill the reservoir for the dam. Syria and Iraq might pose military action on Turkey if they increase the amount of water they are taking from the river. -Syria is also using too much of the river’s water.

It is obvious the drying up of the Euphrates is not necessary for modern-armies to invade the Holy Land today. However to prepare the way of the kings of the east in the tribulation this may be the fastest viable way for such a large army to get to the valley of Meddigo. The kings are further described in chapter 17 and 18 and we’ll study this in more detail later. The Euphrates becomes both the cradle and grave of man’s civilization.

4. In verse 13 John 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. The ancient Jewish people regarded frogs as unclean and repulsive…The purpose of the evil spirits sent out by the “unholy trinity,” is to gather the nations against Israel and ultimately God. They are demons send to work miracles and deceit.

A special word of comfort is given to the tribulation believers who are still on the earth in verse 15. This should speak to us that we are to occupy until he comes back! -application

5. John returns to describing the events leading to the Battle of Armageddon. In verse 16, it appears that Satan knows the Second Coming of Christ is at hand, so he will gather the military powers of the world to resist Him. From a human viewpoint, it will appear these armies are gathering on their own accord, but it will be satanic powers that draw them together. They are assembled together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Armageddon is literally the Valley of Megiddo.

6. Sixty miles north of Jerusalem, up the Jordan Valley is a mount called Mount Megiddo. The foot of that Mount to the west is the Plain of Megiddo. This valley has been for centuries the site of numerous great conflicts. It is a battlefield of all battlefields and the great gathering for the war of Armageddon is going to be there. The Bible tells us King Josiah died there. It will be the place of the final battle of battles and war of wars. It is not the end of the world. However, it is the end of life as we know it, the end of man’s authority and rule.

The stage is now set, but the actual battle will not take place until 19:11-2 1. Before that is described, there is a parenthesis in chapters 17 and 18 explaining the fall of Babylon. While the demonic spirits are gathering the armies of the world in preparation for Armageddon, there is yet another bowl of wrath to be poured on the earth and we will address this next time.

Conclusion:

Satan is at this point in the future preparing the world gathering the military powers of the world to resist the coming of Christ. He is usurping Gods’ order and design and corrupting His creation, turning evil for good and good for evil. He is making Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto to all people.