Episode notes
This podcast provides a continuing explanation of the sixth Vial Plague, John describes in Revelation 16:14-16. These verses describe the three evil spirits like frogs that come out of the mouth of the Dragon (Satan), the Beast (Cain), and the False Prophet (Judas) in Revelation 16:13. In verse 14, John tells us that this unholy trinity “are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
In this verse, the kings of the earth and of the whole world refer to the unembodied and disembodied spirit sons of perdition who rule like kings over the earth with great power and dominion. Isaiah 24:21 refers to them as the hosts of the high ones, reflecting their pride and their spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12) The unholy trinity gathers all unembodied and disembodied spirit sons of perdition to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. This is Spiritual Armageddon. The name of this battle or war is derived from the fact that Christ will personally be involved as a combatant in this battle between the hosts of hell and the hosts of heaven. (Rev 19:11-14)
In Revelation 16:15, Christ speaks, saying: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” This is an expression that Christ will come suddenly and unexpectedly to those who are unprepared even on the eve of the seventh Vial Plague when the Second Coming will occur. The blessedness expressed in this verse is the third of seven beatitudes in the Book of Revelation. Those who watch and head this exhortation will keep their garments clean and white representing their worthiness to survive the final plagues of the seventh Vial Plague. Those who fail to heed this exhortation will not retain their garments of righteousness. They will be ashamed and destroyed at the Second Coming.
Finally, in Revelation 16:16 John identifies Armageddon (Har Megiddo: the mountain of Megiddo) as the location of Spiritual Armageddon. The name may be used symbolically based on the many decisive battles of the past that have occurred in this location. Even if the name is symbolic, there will be a literal decisive battle during the seventh Vial Plague when the hosts of heaven will defeat all spirit sons of perdition.