Sixth Vial Poured on Great River Euphrates

“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).

There can be no question that the great river Euphrates is used in this sixth plague as a symbol. There will be suggested to the mind of the student of the Apocalyptic visions almost immediately the use of this symbol in the sixth trumpet vision; and at once the question arises, Is there not some correspondence or connection between the two. In considering the sixth trumpet the river Euphrates was interpreted to represent that which bound or held in check for a time, the four angels — the Turkish-Ottoman forces in their invasion of the Eastern or Greek Christendom. In this sixth plague symbol it is represented as something that stands in the way of or hinders what is termed the coming of the kings of the east, or the kings from the sunrising (Diaglott), and the exercise of their office work.

Before attempting to make an application of what is meant in the vision by the drying up of the great river Euphrates, may we not find the key to the correct interpretation in the discovery of who are meant by the kings of the sunrising? There is a general disposition on the part of expositors who wrote in the first half of the Nineteenth Century to apply these kings from the sunrising to peoples living in the eastern parts of Europe and Asia, and the drying up of the river Euphrates to the removal of those obstacles that stand in the way of their conversion to Christianity. Mr. Elliott thus expresses this thought: “What then so signal a removal of obstructions to the Christianization of a great part of the East as the drying up of the flood of the Turkman host and power? What so notable a preparation of the way for princes and peoples from the East, like the Magi from the sunrising of old, to come to the Christian temple [Church] and enter, and worship?”

Mr. Barnes, in summing up his conclusions concerning this matter expresses a similar thought: “All that is fairly implied in the language used here is, that the kings of the east would be converted to the true religion, or that they were at the time referred to in a state of readiness to be converted if there were no hindrance or obstruction. There was some hindrance or obstruction to their conversion; that is, as explained, from the Turkish power; in other words they would be converted to the true faith if it were not for the influence of that power.”

Those who see that the fulfillment of these plagues must occur in connection with the very closing events of the age, and that they portray the judgments on those powers that stand in the way of the establishment of the Kingdom of Christ and his saints, have no difficulty in identifying these kings from the sunrising as the glorified kings and priests who are to reign with Christ in the great work of blessing all nations — all the peoples of the earth. Thus Mr. Russell sets forth the matter:

“‘The drying up’ is ‘to prepare the way of the kings from the sunrising.’ These kings we understand to be the saints — those who, with Christ, will be ‘kings and priests’ to reign over the earth (Revelation 5:10). They come, not to the sunrising, but from the sunrising. They come bringing light with them. This is a beautiful symbol of how ‘the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.’ They bring with them light, liberty, and joy to the groaning creation, for ‘the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings [beams].’ The object of all these changes is to prepare mankind for the rule of righteousness — the Kingdom really of God’s appointment, which is to take the place of these which Antichrist has attempted to authorize.”

Bearing in mind that this heavenly Kingdom is to have an earthly phase, may it not be proper to apply the symbol to this aspect of the Kingdom also? The earthly or human aspect of the Kingdom for the blessing of all the families of the earth, we understand, will be made up of the Old Testament saints, worthy ones, who will be raised from the dead. The place from which they will exert their influence will be Jerusalem and the land of Palestine, which until quite recently has been in possession of the Turkish-Ottoman Empire.

Understanding these kings from the sunrising to represent the two classes of the Kingdom, we ask, Is it not reasonable to apply the symbol of the drying up of the great river Euphrates, to the removal of those powers and influences that obstruct or hinder the establishment of the Kingdom of God in both its heavenly, and its earthly aspects? A careful examination of the Scriptures in which the great river Euphrates is used as a symbol gives support to this double application. In Isaiah 8:7, the Euphrates is used as a symbol of the king of Assyria and his armies, and the overflowing of its banks, to those armies desolating the land of Judah, as we read: “The Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river [Euphrates] strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: and he shall pass through Judah.”

In another Scripture the river Nile is used in the same way. In this case the application is to Egypt. It reads: “Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers? Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof” (Jeremiah 46:7,8). The context shows that the armies of Egypt are overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar at the river Euphrates. Mr. Lowth commenting on this Scripture says: “The Prophet describes by way of vision the march of the Egyptian army, coming on like a flood … which expressions allude to the overflowing of the river Nile.”

The drying up of a river, then, in accordance with the symbolical use of a river in these Scriptures would represent the taking away or removing of the power and influence of an empire or kingdom, or removing that which supports its source of wealth and power. In a literal sense we have this illustrated in the drying up of the main stream of the great river Euphrates to allow the king of Persia, Cyrus and his armies, to enter and capture the great city of Babylon. It would seem, then, that the kings from the sunrising represent the two phases of the Kingdom. The drying up of the great river Euphrates has its application to the removal of those obstructions of every kind that stand in the way, or are opposed to the joint-heirs of the heavenly Kingdom, as well as the earthly representatives of the same, occupying their divinely appointed stations.

We ask, then, What has stood in the way, or what still stands in the way of the establishment of the earthly phase of the Kingdom? We answer, The ownership and occupancy of Jerusalem and the Holy Land by the Gentiles. For nearly thirteen centuries with the exception of a brief period of about ten years, the great Ottoman or Turkish Empire held possession of Jerusalem and the land of Palestine. In 1917, a very significant date in symbolic time prophecy, this Turkish power was forced to deliver over the government of that land to England — an event most remarkable in connection with the fulfillment of the prediction of the drying up of the Euphrates.

This, however, does not complete the fulfillment of the symbol in even its earthly aspect. The complete drying up of the great river Euphrates, would be accomplished only in the Jews’ gaining complete possession of their land under a government of their own. This would require that even England, a friendly power to the Jews, would have to relinquish its governmental authority in that land. Furthermore, there would be required the removal of all those obstacles in the land itself, that is, the removal of the peoples now living in the land; either their removal or their cessation of opposition to the ownership and rulership of the Jews over Palestine. When all these things have come to pass, the way will be prepared for the earthly phase of the Kingdom of God; the Old Testament worthies will be resurrected from the dead, and take their divinely appointed places in connection with the blessing of all the families of the earth, the dead as well as the living.

We next inquire, What is it that stands in the way of the kings of the sunrising, those who will be the heavenly, spiritual rulers, taking full control of earth’s affairs? In considering this we will need to apply the other use of the symbol of the drying up of the great river Euphrates. This is the one suggested by the literal drying up of that river in connection with the overthrow of literal Babylon.

“Literal Babylon was built upon the river Euphrates. Its wealth, supplies, and sustenance came largely from this source. It had immense walls and strong gates over the river. Within the city, in bondage, were Israelites, God’s covenant people, and to overthrow Babylon and deliver these, God appointed Cyrus the Median General (Isaiah 45:1-5, Daniel 5:30,31). He, coming to this strong city, did not attack it directly, but, by digging another channel for the waters of the river, he dried up the old channel, through which he marched his army under the gates and captured the city.

“That this historic fact is used as the basis of a symbol in Revelation, none can question. Babylon and her fall are frequently mentioned, and here the drying up of the Euphrates adds to the correspondence. While ‘Babylon’ is used as a general name for the entire nominal Church, it is used and is specially applicable to that portion of it called ‘the Mother of Harlots.’

“This sixth plague, or form of evil, is upon Babylon, the Mother, and while other systems have channels, or rivers, her system is built upon the ‘Great River.’ ‘And in her forehead was the name written, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth.’ (Revelation 17:5). Following the literal, and applying it to the symbol, we reason that the waters of this great river represent the people who, by their influence and money, support Papacy — from which Babylon the Great draws her revenues. And to this agrees the explanation by the angel: ‘The waters which thou sawest where the harlot sitteth are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues’ (Revelation 17:15).

“The millions of Papacy’s subjects are of every tongue and clime, and this symbol shows that a disaffection is to spring up between the subjects and the Church authorities which will turn aside her support and ‘dry up’ her revenues, and thus speedily lead to Babylon’s complete destruction. ‘The drying up’ will probably require years for its accomplishment.”

Waters of Euphrates Drying Up

Still later, in 1910, this same writer taught that this symbol had a much wider significance, and applied to all the nominal Church systems. We quote his words to this effect:

“In Revelation we read of the drying up of the Euphrates River, that the way of the kings of the east may be prepared (Revelation 16:12). This is symbolical, of course. It calls our attention back to the typical Babylon and her fall before Cyrus.

“We are to expect a parallel to this in connection with mystical Babylon — Christendom. In the symbolical language of Revelation, waters symbolize people; hence the turning aside of the ‘waters’ would represent the alienation of the people and the alienation of the people would be indicated by their withholding of financial support.

“Gifts of money to ecclesiastical institutions represent love or fear. The increasing light of modern times has not only decreased love for the creeds of the ‘Dark Ages,’ but it has also decreased fear for their threatenings. As a result neither love nor fear is operating as strongly today as once it did in the minds of the masses. What wonder if the result would be the drying up of the Euphrates and the ultimate collapse of mystic Babylon! The matter is under the control of the antitypical Cyrus of whom it is written, ‘Thus saith the Lord to His anointed [typical], to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places.’ (Isaiah 45:1-3). Thus saith Jehovah, ‘That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers; that saith of Cyrus, he is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure; even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.’ (Isaiah 44:27,28). As the typical Cyrus encouraged and gave liberty to the Jews to return from Babylonian captivity, so the antitypical, our present Lord, will see to the drying up of the Euphrates and also to Israel’s opportunity and encouragement to return to the land of Abraham.”

In a later article, in 1914, under the heading of Waters of Euphrates Drying up, we have another reference to this vision, showing that at that time according to this writer’s understanding, the sixth plague was making rapid strides in its fulfillment, as a few brief extracts from the article will show:

“Germany is being overwhelmed with a deluge of infidelity, unparalleled in its entire history. The Monist Federation is endeavoring to draw together the cultured strata of the people into a solid phalanx against Christianity. The Social Democrats are pushing the general masses into a fanatical hatred of church and state and in the pulpits a Liberalism is spreading, which is almost utterly devoid of the spirit of the Gospel.

“While in believing circles earnest efforts are being put forth for individual salvation, and Mission Work is being done amongst the people, to stem the destructive tide, it becomes more evident every day, that ‘the State Church is doomed in her struggle with infidelity.’

“General strike against the Church is the latest slogan. The ‘No-Creeders’ (Monists) in league with the Socialists, convened mass meetings in Berlin, Brunswick, and Saxony, in which every means of incitation was employed in an appeal toward a secession from the State Church. At these meetings over 1,300 persons signed a declaration announcing their intention to secede from the Church. Four thousand more followed, and according to judicial court-records received toward the end of December, 17,000 secessions took place in December up to the 23rd, and the day after Christmas 8,000 more announced their intention. These are alarming figures!

“To the Socialists the Church Boycott is a political campaign issue. They aim at depriving the Church of her revenues and thus result in her over-burdening the State.”

In the exposition of 1883, Mr. Russell’s thought was that this withdrawal of the support of the people from the Papacy would be caused by her success in conciliating all the kingdoms, both those which she appointed and those appointed and sanctioned by the daughter [Protestant] Churches. “In this she is arraying herself directly on the side of these kingdoms, and in opposition to the increasing desire and effort of the people for liberty.” Concerning this he says:

“Therefore, when present tendencies have produced a closer affiliation of religion and state than has existed for some time, it will result in leading the masses to throw off the yoke of the church as well as the state, since both will be leagued against their cherished ideas of liberty and equality. The support of the people — the waters of the Euphrates — being thus withdrawn, the Babylon Church organization will become weak and helpless, by reason of the drying up of the waters from its channel.”

The correctness of the foregoing application of this symbol in the light of history unveiling prophecy can hardly be questioned. All the signs of our times bearing on this particular matter point to a near completion of this plague. Indeed, when considered in connection with the fulfillment of the five previous plagues the evidence is indisputable.

Three Impure Spirits like Frogs

“And I 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” (Revelation 16:13).

The beast and the dragon are not new symbols. We have frequently met them in our previous expositions of the Revelation. We have noted that when speaking of the beast as applied to Antichrist, reference is made to that stage or state of the old Roman Empire and the kingdoms that at the present time occupy its territory after it came under the control of Antichrist or Papacy. The Papacy itself, as a combination of a civil and religious government, and as once a head or ruling power over these kingdoms is represented by the beast. While it has lost its temporal authority over all the kingdoms and governments of earth, it continues to claim it, and the great mass of Roman Catholics acknowledge and obey its decrees as more binding than those of human governments. It is, therefore, still Scriptural and proper to call this great power, the beast, and it continues to be thus designated until the central hierarchy at Rome is completely destroyed.

The reference to the dragon symbol in this sixth plague vision is the first since its mention in chapter 13. There it is represented as giving to the beast its throne and authority. This we understand to refer to an official decree of the emperor Justinian, in 533, by which the Roman Bishop was made head over all the churches of Christendom. The central seat of government was at this time located at Constantinople in the East. As this decree of Justinian was issued over two centuries after the Pagan religion had ceased to be the religion of the government, it will be seen from this Scripture that the dragon continues to be the symbol employed to represent the Eastern civil-religious governmental power centered at Constantinople. The form of religion that this government administered while professedly Christian, in reality was nothing but a Paganized form of Christianity. Thus the appropriateness of the dragon symbol.

The dragon, it would seem, continues to symbolize the Paganized-Christian government in the East, at least until the fall of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. This Eastern government is frequently referred to by historians as the Eastern or Greek Empire, for the reason that the territory it controlled was largely that of the ancient Greek Empire. The church systems united to the several governments occupying that territory are at the present time denominated Eastern Christendom and seem still to be described in the Scriptures under the symbol of the “dragon.” This was what Mr. Lord understood was the power represented in the sixth plague symbol as the dragon, as we read: “It is the symbol of the rulers of the Eastern Roman Empire, supporting an apostate church, and arrogating the right of dictating the religion of their subjects.” Applying the symbol of the dragon to the vision of the sixth plague, which he understood at the time he wrote had not met its fulfillment, he says: “At the period of this event, a government is to subsist in Thrace or that vicinity that shall nationalize the religion of that empire as under its last imperial head.” When Constantinople fell, many of those professing the Paganized form of Christianity then prevalent, were forced to relinquish it, and accept the Mohammedan faith. The apostate Christian religion, however, has continued to be held by vast numbers, and in most instances is united to the governments. This combination of civil and religious affairs at the present time is called Eastern Christendom, to distinguish it from Western Christendom.

The false prophet referred to in this vision of the sixth plague is generally understood to refer to the same power as that described in Revelation 13, as the “image of the beast.” This, as we explained when considering that chapter, represents the last stage of the fallen (from favor) Protestant organizations, out from which will then have come all the real, true heirs of the Kingdom.

Briefly summing up the symbols of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet of this vision, we understand the dragon to represent the religious rulers of Eastern Christendom; the beast, the religious rulers of Roman Catholic Christendom; and the false prophet, the Protestant Federation, or a combination of all the Protestant sects.

The significance of these unclean spirits represented as coming out of the mouth of the dragon, etc., is well illustrated by what St. John says of lying spirits (teachings), that had gone forth in his day. The reference seems to be to certain anti-Christian teachings, of which human teachers were the visible propagators (1 John 4:1-3). Their significance may also be illustrated by the vision of Micaiah, in which it appeared that a lying spirit had gone forth, and that it had spoken by the false prophets of king Ahab, to draw him to the battle of Ramoth Gilead (1 Kings 22). Mr. Barnes refers to these unclean spirits thus: “They are not here probably symbols of persons, but of influences or opinions which would spread abroad, and which would characterize the age (period) referred to. The reference is to what the ‘dragon,’ the ‘beast,’ and the ‘false prophet’ would do at that time in opposing the truth, and in preparing the world for the great and final conflict.”

As this part of the vision is largely future in its fulfillment, it will be necessary to wait the unfolding of history to determine with certainty what this teaching will be. That which seems most reasonable, and in full harmony with other Scriptures which describe the manner in which the age will end, is thus given by Mr. Russell:

“These three classes will all give forth one kind of teaching, called symbolically unclean spirits (impure, erroneous teaching), like frogs.

“This harmonious teaching in which these can all unite, we believe to be the dogmas of ‘the divine right of kings,’ the ‘authority of the clergy,’ and the claim that mankind is bound to submit to these and be controlled by them. Many of these — kings and clergy — and many of those who will recognize their claims, will doubtless be honest, but will be thus in opposition to God, because they know not that they are in the hour of His judgment and that the time for the displacement of these Antichrists and the governments of their appointing has come. It is a blessed fact that these beastly governments will eventually give place to the Kingdom of God; that the times of the Gentiles will end by being fulfilled; and while this is now due to be understood and appreciated by the saints — those entirely consecrated to God’s Word and will — yet ‘none of the wicked shall understand’; hence they will be found fighting against God and His arrangements.

“Each of these systems will utter the same things, and these utterances will have the effect of gathering the kingdoms of earth together to the great Battle of Armageddon.

“The symbolism of Scripture, rightly understood, is very forceful, and there is always a close resemblance between the symbol itself and the thing symbolized. When the holy Spirit uses a frog to represent certain doctrines or teachings, we may be sure that the application will fit well. While a frog is a small creature, yet it puffs itself up until it almost bursts with the effort to be somebody. A frog has a very wise look, even though it does not know very much. Then a frog croaks whenever it utters a sound. …

“The three most prominent characteristics of a frog, then, are pomposity, an air of superior wisdom and knowledge and a continual croaking. The spirit of all [the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet] will be boastful; an air of superior knowledge and wisdom will be assumed; all will foretell dire results to follow — any failure to obey their counsels. However conflicting the creeds, the differences will be ignored in the general proposition that nothing ancient must be disturbed, or investigated, or repudiated.

“The Divine authority of the Church, and the Divine right of kings, aside from the Church, will not be allowed to conflict; for both will be endorsed. Any persons or teachings in conflict with these boastful, unscriptural claims will be branded as everything vile, at the mouths of the frogs, croaking from pulpits and platforms, and through the religious and secular press. The nobler sentiments of some will be strangled by the philosophy of the same evil spirit which spoke through Caiaphas, the high priest, respecting our Lord Jesus. As Caiaphas declared it expedient to commit a crime in violation of justice, both human and Divine, to be rid of Jesus and his teachings, so this frog-like spirit will approve of any and every violation of principle necessary to self-protection. …

Come Together to Armageddon

“The ecclesiastical kings and princes, with their retinue of clergy and faithful adherents, will be gathered in solid phalanx — Protestant and Catholic. The political kings and princes, senators, and all in high places, with their henchmen and retainers, will follow in line on the same side. The financial kings and merchant princes, and all whom they can influence by the most gigantic power ever yet exercised in the world, will join the same side, according to this prophecy. They do not realize, however, that they are coming to Armageddon; yet strange to say, this is a part of their very cry, ‘Come together to Armageddon!’

“Speaking of our day, our Lord declared, ‘Men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.’ (Luke 21:26). The kings of Europe know not what to do. All sectarianism is being shaken. Many people of God are in perplexity.

“The croaking of the frog spirits, or doctrines, will gather the kings and princes, financial, political, religious, and industrial into one great army. The spirit of fear, inspired by the croaking, will scourge the passions of otherwise good and reasonable men to fury — desperation. In their blind following of these evil spirits, evil doctrines, they will be ready to sacrifice life and everything on what they mistakenly suppose is the altar of Justice, Truth, and Righteousness under a Divine arrangement.

“Many noble people in this great army will assume an attitude quite contrary to their preference. For a time the wheels of liberty and progress will be turned backward, and medieval restraints will be considered necessary for self-preservation — for the maintenance of the present order of things and for the prevention of the new order which God has decreed, the due time for which is at hand. Even those who may be God’s people do not stop to consider whether it is His will that things should continue as they have been for the past six thousand years. The Bible says that such is not God’s will, but that there is to be a great overturning, that a new order is coming in.

“For a brief time, as we understand the Scriptures, these combined forces of Armageddon will triumph. Free speech, free mails, and other liberties which have come to be the very breath of the masses in our day, will be ruthlessly shut off on the plea of necessity, the glory of God, the commands of the Church, etc. The safety-valve will be sat upon, and thus will cease to annoy earth’s kings with the sound of escaping steam; and all will seem to be serene — until the great social explosion described in the Revelation as an earthquake will take place. In symbolic language an earthquake signifies social revolution, and the Scriptural declaration is that none like it ever before occurred (Revelation 16:18,19). See our Lord’s reference to it in Matthew 24:21.”

Events that have occurred since this exposition was given, and especially those transpiring in the world at the present time, all show that this forecast is most reasonable and causes us to have a strong conviction that we are very near the great crisis in human affairs, the great battle of Armageddon that will complete this vision. Let us note further:

“‘And they gathered them together into that place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon’ (verse 16). Armageddon means Mount of Destruction; and this describes what will be the result of this doctrine. It will unite all these systems in one cause as against the masses of the people and their liberties, and the result will be the total destruction of all those erroneous systems of church and state. They shall fall.

“The fifteenth verse is abruptly thrown in as a parenthesis. It reads literally thus: ‘Lo, I come as a thief! Blessed the one watching and keeping the garments of himself; so that not naked he may walk, and they see the shame of him.’ This is very significant. It declares that at the time when this evil doctrine will be apparently uniting all upon the side of law and order — upon the side of kings and clergy — our Lord will then be present, but secretly and unknown except to the watching ones. Only those who are truly his and watching in the light of his Word will not be deceived by this impure teaching, but will realize his presence and the necessity of the foretold fall of all these things, because the rightful King is present to remove these out of the way of his Kingdom.

“The position of this declaration — thrown in disconnectedly — is significant. It teaches that our Lord will be present before the impure teaching begins to gather them to their destruction.”

It will be profitable to the Lord’s consecrated ones to know what Mr. Russell’s thought was concerning the attitude or position the saints should assume when this great battle is fully introduced:

“The Lord’s saints are not to be in this battle at all. God’s consecrated people, longing at heart for Messiah’s Kingdom and the glorious year of Jubilee and Restitution which it will inaugurate, will patiently abide the Lord’s time, and wait unmurmuringly for it. Their lamps trimmed and burning, they will not be in darkness respecting the momentous events of the impending battle; but they will be of good courage, knowing the outcome portrayed in the ‘more sure word of prophecy,’ to which they have done well to ‘take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the Day dawn’ (2 Peter 1:19). …

“The attitude of the people of God should be that of great thankfulness to the Giver of every good. They should make provision for the great storm that is coming and keep very quiet, not unduly interested in the side of either rich or poor. We know in advance that the Lord is on the side of the people. He it is that will fight the Armageddon Battle, and his agency will be that peculiar army — all classes. When this great ‘earthquake’ of social revolution comes, it will not be a mere handful of anarchists, but an uprising of the people to throw off the great power that is strangling them. Selfishness is at the bottom of the whole matter.”

Perilous Times

Watchman, how readest thou touching this hour?
Fearful corruption in places of power;
Presidents, princes, and kings in dismay —
Tragic unfoldings, the news of the day.

Is it the sign of the presence again
Of the Messiah, in person to reign?

Has sin attained to its manhood of power?
Is this its zenith? Is morning the hour?

Jesus is come! O let it be known,
Jehovah’s Anointed now takes the throne;

He takes the helm and the power to command,
He’ll guide affairs on the sea and the land.

Jesus is come! let all the world hear;
“Who’s on the Lord’s side” let him draw near,
Come with your armor, your loins girt about;
Come with your trumpets, and join in the shout.