A Revelation Invitation

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty…And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12-14,16 ESV)

I find this scene to be one of the most fascinating though grotesque scenes in Revelation. Hollywood script writers couldn’t come up with a spectacle so riveting and revolting. I can’t take my mind’s eye off the visuals. Evil oozes from the pages. Fear stirs from hell’s foreboding depths. Perverse troubles bubble to the surface.

As a matter of interpretation we recognize a collaboration between the various forces of Evil. We spot Satan in the dragon, the power behind imperial Rome. We see political, military Rome in the beast who has crushed and devoured every nation who ever resisted it. We identify the Roman civil authorities, the pagan clergy, as the false prophet who through their propaganda deceive the nations enticing the masses to give their allegiance in worship of the beast (and coercing that worship when necessary). It describes a dynamic that has played out in the ancient past (e.g. Egypt, Babylon) as well as the recent past (e.g. Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union). Not to mention those frogs.

Bizarrely, John saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. They wield lies, half-truths, misrepresentations, fabrications and exaggerations to manipulate those they rule. They exercise authority that was divinely granted but corruptly applied. Admittedly these menacing monsters can cause great harm. However, their power is built on deception. It appears to be benign and at times even good. However, their foundation is shaky, their power is fragile and their claims are a sham.

As graphic a representation of evil as this is, Christians must be wary of being seduced. These powers don’t present themselves as the face of evil. They perform signs convincing enough to elicit loyalty from the people who believe their allegiance will be rewarded. To our benefit John has ripped off the mask. Because of the coming showdown on the great day of God the Almighty, we are wise not to become entangled in their affairs. He tells us these three monsters are gathering their forces at Armageddon (Mountain of Meggido) in an attempt to exert even more power over the earth. Throughout Israel’s history decisive battles were fought in the region of Meggido (Deborah vs Sisera, Gideon vs the Midianites, Elijah vs Ahab’s prophets of Baal). John reminds Christians that God intercedes on behalf of his people when they are opposed and outnumbered by seemingly invincible foes. In Rome the saints were facing a nation with the mightiest military the world had ever known. But they remembered what God had done when other kings had gathered at Meggido. This will be illustrated more clearly later in Revelation. Let’s just say for now that this confrontation won’t end well for Rome.

O God, the Almighty, I look to you for rescue. I am helpless in the face of my enemies except with your intervention. The powers that have assembled to accomplish their own wicked purposes don’t realize how easily you can and will foil their intrigues, their evil plots. The prospect of facing a terrifying enemy is overwhelming until I turn my eyes upon you. You are sovereign over all nations and their feeble undertakings. You promise victory to your people, not through human means but by your power and strength. Amen.