Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
Revelation 16:12
THE SIXTH VIAL.
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up. The angel of the
sixth trumpet is connected with the river Euphrates (Revelation 9:14).
There a movement is symbolized which ends in the overthrow of the
Eastern Roman Empire, the old Roman world power. Here a movement is
probably signified which will work to the same end in the case of the
Roman dominion revived in the Papal world power. The river Euphrates
was the seat of the great city which once oppressed Israel and carried
God's people into captivity. It was taken by Cyrus, God's chosen
agent, and the means employed was the drying up of the Euphrates. Cyrus
turned the river, which ran through the city, unto new channels, dried
up the old bed, then marched in this bed under the walls where they
crossed the river on arches, and took the city. In some way the drying
up of the Euphrates shall overthrow, or tend to overthrow, spiritual
Babylon. Possibly this may be accomplished by the exhaustion of the
resources of that power. The nations which once supplied them have been
falling away.
That the way might of the kings of the east might be
prepared. In the infancy of the Christ, the wise men of the
East, also called kings in the Psalms, came to offer homage to
the kingly child. The prophecy implies that when this obstacle
is removed, the way of the inhabitants shall be opened. The
drying up of the Euphrates will, in some manner, open the way
for those that are signified to come to Christ, as those of the
old did to the manger.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Revelation 16:14
Revelation 16:20
Revelation 19:21
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
E-mail this page
