Revelation Chapter 16

Three Unclean Spirits Like Frogs

The Apostle John, typifying the Lord’s tarrying saints at the end of the age, whose eyes are anointed with the eye salve of understanding, saw an unclean spirit come forth out of the mouth of each of the three symbolic beings mentioned in Verse 13 (the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet). All three unclean spirits resembled “frogs,” and presumably they were alike in other respects too. For John to describe them as “spirits,” they must have lacked substance or solidity of form, appearing ethereal in nature. He also possibly noted that an exterior fungus, slime, or mud was associated with this manifestation, thereby prompting him to describe them as “UNCLEAN spirits.”

Even more important, John identified them as demoniac in origin: “they are the spirits of devils” (Verse 14). This analogy was further confirmed when John saw various supernatural “miracles” performed at their behest—miracles that he does not specify and perhaps was not authorized to disclose. But it appears that these unclean spirits were related to Rev 13:13; 2 Thess 2:9–11; and Matt 24:24.

In this scene the unclean frog like spirits represent a prevailing false doctrine of satanic origin, diabolically clever and temporarily successful in gaining popular worldwide support. Sometimes a slang expression is used to describe a person who cannot be trusted in his dealings with others; viz., a “slimy” individual, one who is chronically evil and habitually devious and underhanded. When the Holy Spirit uses a frog to represent certain doctrines or teachings, one can be assured the application will fit well.

A frog has a very wise look even though it does not know much.

Although but a small creature, a frog puffs itself up until it almost bursts with the effort to be somebody.

And lastly 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.

When these characteristics are applied to the picture given in the Divine Word, the prophetic lesson is that the civil power (the dragon), Papacy (the Beast), and the federation of Protestant churches (such as the World Council of Churches, i.e., the false prophet) will send forth the same message from the pulpit, over the air waves, and in the news media. The spirit will be boastful, and an air of superior knowledge and wisdom will be assumed.

All three agencies will foretell dire results to follow any failure to obey their commands or any resistance to ecumenism or their decrees as to what is best for the community at large. However, conflicting the opinions and the creeds, the differences will be ignored in the general proposition that nothing ancient or time-honored must be disturbed, investigated, or repudiated.

Political parties will unitedly declare, “If any change should come, it would mean disaster!” “Stand pat!” will be the order in Church and State, and the people will be moved by fear.

This croaking of the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet will arouse the kings of the earth (the leaders of the people) and figuratively gather them to “Armageddon.” The croaking will consist of dire warnings and the battle cry of alarm, yet not knowing, in reality, what to do, those doing the croaking will but hasten the nations onward to the battle of Armageddon. Any persons or teachings in conflict with these boastful and unscriptural claims will be branded as everything vile.

The nobler sentiments of some will be strangled by the philosophy of the spirit that spoke through Caiaphas, the high priest, respecting the Lord Jesus Christ (John 11:50; 18:14). As Caiaphas declared it expedient to commit a crime in violation of justice, both human and divine, in order to be rid of Jesus, one individual, and his teachings, so the prevailing opinion will approve of and consider expedient, for self-protection, every violation of principle in order to be rid of the few dissenting feet members of the body of Christ.

According to prophecy, earth’s “kings” (Verse 14) will unite. Ecclesiastical kings and princes, with their retinue of clergy and faithful adherents, will be gathered in solid phalanx—Protestant and Catholic. Political kings and princes, senators, and all in high places, with their supporters, will fall in line on the same side. Financial kings and merchant princes, and all whom they can influence by the most gigantic power ever yet exercised in the world, will join with the others. However, God’s side of that battle will be the people’s side, and that very nondescript host, THE PEOPLE, will be considered the opposing force by earth’s leaders.

For a time, the majority of the poor and the middle class will prefer peace at almost any price. The masses have no sympathy for anarchy, for they truly realize that the worst form of government is better than no government at all. They therefore will be submissive at first.

Many noble people in this great army will assume an attitude contrary to their preference. For a while 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, unwittingly, for the prevention of the new order that God has decreed, the due time for which is at hand. Even those who may be God’s people usually do not stop to consider whether it is His will that things should continue as they have been for the past six-thousand-plus years. The Bible says that such is not God’s will, but that there is to be a great overturning and a new order is coming in.

For a brief time, these combined forces of Armageddon will triumph. Free speech, free mails, and other liberties that have come to be the very breath of the masses will be ruthlessly shut off under the plea of necessity, the pretext of the glory of God, the commands of the nominal Church, etc. The safety valve will be sat upon, and thus the sound of escaping steam will cease to annoy earth’s kings and all will seem to be serene— until the “great earthquake” takes place. In symbolic language an “earthquake” signifies social explosion, and Holy Writ declares that none like it ever before occurred (Rev. 16:18,19; Matt. 24:21).

Deliverance

The very thing the “kings” seek to avert by their union and federation will be the very thing they hasten. Other Scriptures assert that God, represented by Messiah, will be on the side of the masses. However, it must be stated in no uncertain terms that the Lord’s saints are not to be in this battle at all. Although longing at heart for Messiah’s Kingdom and the glorious Year of Jubilee and restitution, which the Kingdom will inaugurate, true Christians must patiently and un-murmuringly abide the Lord’s time.

At the very close of Armageddon will come “Jacob’s trouble” in the Holy Land (Jer. 30:7). Then Messiah’s Kingdom will begin to be manifested. Thenceforth, in the Land of Promise, Israel will rise from the ashes of the past to the grandeur of prophecy. Through divinely appointed princes, the Ancient Worthies (Hebrews 11; Psa. 45:16), the all-powerful but invisible Kingdom of Messiah will begin to roll away the curse of death and to uplift mankind. At last, will be fulfilled the promise “in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8).

Continued with next post.