Introduction

There seems to be confusion in the prophetic community about the true mission of the kings of the East, and this short article will attempt to offer a Scripturally sound interpretation for these kings and their objective at the end of the Tribulation.

Within this article are several other past articles that the reader should absolutely familiarize themselves with. With those articles as a foundation, this article will make the most amount of sense.

Do the Kings of the East Field a 200-Million-Man Army?

In short, the answer is no. In fact, I would be taken aback if there will be more than 200-million combined forces of the armies of the world at the end of the Tribulation.

Consider the end of the Tribulation conditions as given in Isaiah 24:

“Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left“ (Isaiah 24:6). (emphasis mine)

In Do the Kings of the East Field a 200-Million-Man Army? we attempt to clearly and concisely point out the numerous problems with this popular interpretation and scenario. A brief summary for a few of the points we make in this article would be as follows:

1. The only similarity between the sixth trumpet and the sixth vial is the great river Euphrates.
2. The entities in the sixth trumpet judgment are clearly a fallen angel/demonic horde.
3. The 200-million number is associated with these fallen angel/demonic horde, figuratively described as “horsemen.” If these were real “horsemen,” there would need to be 200-million horses. There aren’t even 30 million horses in the world today, let alone after the devastating effects of the Tribulation. Again, these aren’t human or human-inspired agents – they are a fallen angel/demonic troop, just like the entities in the fifth trumpet judgment.
4. Why are we trying to combine the sixth trumpet judgment and the sixth vial judgment with each other? The fact is, these are two entirely different judgments, at entirely different times, separated by up to three and one-half plus years.

Again, if you haven’t read this article, I highly recommend that you do.

Are the Kings of the East Coming to Battle Against a Human Agent?

There are no indicators, whatsoever, that the kings of the East have any intention of going to battle against any earthly foe.

While it is clear that they are heading to the land of Israel, there would be no Israelis present in the Holy Land as Antichrist will have killed many, with a remnant that followed Christ’s command to flee into the mountains at the Abomination of Desolation at the midway point of the Tribulation.

There is also zero Scriptural support that the kings of the East are coming to Israel to battle Antichrist and his forces.

What is the Significance of the Kings of the East?

In order to find out the answer to this question, we have to, as always, consider context. Let’s look at this passage of Scripture.

“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).

The significance of the kings of the East, in context, is that a dried-up Euphrates prepares their way to the Holy Land. This would include any nation east to northeast of the Euphrates River.

But why are they headed to Israel, and who has sent for them?

“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. For they 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” (Revelation 16:13-14).

There is a reason why these frog-like spirits emanating from the mouths of Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet are needed to communicate with the “kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” and this answer can be found in my article The Mark of the Beasts and expanded even more in The Parable of the Fig Tree.

Suffice it to say, the kings of the East are on their way – at the instigating of these spirits coming out of Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet – in an attempt to defeat the soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords. (In reality, though, it’s really the Lord who is gathering the nations together and using these evil spirits in order to accomplish His will as His Son prepares to return to earth, destroy His enemies, and inaugurate His glorious Millennial Kingdom.)

This is the only reason the kings of the East are coming. They are not there for anything other than uniting forces with what remains of the world’s nations who are still under allegiance to Satan and the Antichrist. There is absolutely no hint, whatsoever, that they are going to the Holy Land for any other reason than the Lord’s Second Coming.

If one suggests that the kings of the East were coming to fight with the other nations that have gathered in Israel – which is implied nowhere in Scripture – then, by them destroying each other, there would be virtually no enemies for Christ to defeat at His Second Coming.

If another were to suggest that they may be fighting for control of Jerusalem, well, the Antichrist will already have control of Jerusalem ever since he committed the Abomination of Desolation in the third Temple’s Holy of Holies in the middle of the Tribulation. And ever since then, and very likely earlier, the kings of the earth have pledged unrepentant loyalty to Antichrist and his economic and worship Mark of The Beast system. They are all united in purpose and intent.

The kings of the East and the armies of the world are gathered together to battle the Lord and Him only.

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16).

We have dealt with “Armageddon” in various articles, but The Valley of Jehoshaphat and ‘Armageddon’ is a must-read in understanding where this last stand of the enemies of God will take place as Christ comes back to earth at His Second Coming. (This article will link you to another very important article on the Hebrew word itself and what “Armageddon” means when broken down in the Hebrew tongue.)

Needless to say, the valley – or hill or mountain – of Megiddo is never mentioned in Scripture as the place of Christ’s return — Jerusalem is. Specifically, the Valley of Jehoshaphat, but Christ’s campaign will be initiated in Bozrah in ancient Edom.

(For more information on this subject, please read A Study of Zechariah 14:1-11.)

From Revelation 16:17-21, we read about the seventh vial and the earthquake of all earthquakes. It is soon after this earthquake, and its destructive aftermath, that the Second Coming of Christ ensues.

These frog-like spirits of devils went to “the kings of the earth [including the kings of the East] and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” and then:

“[John] saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him [Jesus] that sat on the horse, and against his army.

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:19-21). (emphasis mine)

Notice that John “saw the beast [Antichrist], and the kings of the earth [including the kings of the East], and their armies, gathered together to make war” against Christ and “His army.”

Therefore, in context and without dispute, the only reason the kings of the East are crossing a dried-up Euphrates is to join Antichrist and what’s left of the world’s armies in their futile attempt to destroy Christ at His Second Coming. What’s left of the world’s people, great and small, who have taken Antichrist’s Mark of The Beast – and this would include those from the East – will all unite with the world’s depleted forces in their doomed campaign.

God Will Gather the Nations at The Second Coming of Christ

As noted above, even though the frog-like spirits of devils will compel “the kings of the earth [including the kings of the East] and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” it is actually God – by His divine will – that is the real power behind this gathering.

Let’s take a look at some of the numerous passages of Scripture indicating that God will ultimately be the one gathering the nations to Jerusalem and surrounding areas as Christ comes back to earth after the end of the seven-year Tribulation.

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord” (Joel 3:9-11).

“Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood” (Isaiah 34:1-3).

We see in the Holy Scriptures that the LORD is going to gather the nations so that He shall “pour upon them [His] indignation, even all of [His] fierce anger.”

“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy” (Zephaniah 3:8).

Conclusion

In the end, at Christ’s Second Coming, we will be with Him and at His side as He singlehandedly destroys His enemies:

“I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty” (Isaiah 13:3-6).

John saw it as such:

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

“And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords” (Revelation 19:11-16).

What a day that will be!

Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

➢ Email: mab10666@yahoo.com

➢ If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ and are seeking answers about God, Jesus Christ, the gospel, and salvation, please email me at mab10666@yahoo.com for information.

➢ I am still taking questions for the Questions from the Body of Christ series. If you or someone you know has a question pertaining to the Word of God – theology, difficult passages, eschatology, etc. – I would really like to hear from you.

➢ A listing of past articles may be found at my Article Listings on Rapture Ready or my Home Page on FaithWriters.

 

From Paul in 2 Timothy 1:12; “…which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day, what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV, all emphasis mine)

And then Jude 1:24-25; “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy; to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Chris our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time, and now and forever.”

One more. Titus 1:2; “…in hope of eternal life, which God never lies, promised before the ages began.”

The apostle Paul wrote the 2 Timothy and Titus verses. In the beginning, he not only was an unbeliever but was a persecutor of anyone who belonged to “the Way,” which is what the Christian movement was first known as. He would go to the homes of the believers and cause them to be arrested. And because of this, some were even martyred. He was very zealous in what he did because he believed what he was doing was right.

Then, in Acts 9, Paul went to the High Priest of the Sanhedrin, asking for letters to the Synagogues at Damascus to help him locate believers there. On the road to Damascus, Paul had an encounter with Jesus, and his life was forever changed. He continued being zealous in his belief, but now it was for Jesus instead of against Him.

For anyone who believes they have sinned so greatly that they can’t be forgiven, Paul is a great example of someone who repented and even became a great apostle for the Lord. Once he knew the truth, even the possibility of his own death did not make him back down. Our God knows all of our weaknesses and is willing to forgive us and allow us to choose His Son for eternal life.

Also, consider Peter, who denied the Lord three times at His trial, yet he also was forgiven and became bold for the word of the Lord.

The Way became even closer to Jesus in Antioch, where disciples there were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:25-26). From the very beginning, followers of Jesus have been hated just as He said we would be. John 16:33; “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus knew what it was like to be hated because of the religious leaders of His day. They looked at Him as being an intruder that was going to ruin their positions of power. Jesus called them out as the hypocrites they were, and as a result, He went to Calvary. It should be noted, He knew exactly where all this would lead as given in John 10:17-18; “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down; and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

His immediate family, except for His mother, of course, did not believe in Him at first. After His resurrection, two of His brothers became firm believers. In his epistle, James calls himself “a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude, or Judas, identifies himself as “a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.”

Jude 1:24-25 verses are credited as being written by Jude, brother of James, brother of Jesus. Both Jude and James were martyred for their belief in their Holy Brother. Jude was killed by an ax, and James was stoned. Yet, after they accepted Jesus as their true Savior, they would not recant even to save their lives.

This brings to mind a song by Daniel W. Whittle in 1883, known as “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” Consider the message of this great hymn.

1.) I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me He hath made known. Nor why unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own.

R.) But I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.

2.) I know now how this saving faith to me He did impart. Nor how believing in His Word wrought peace within my heart. (R)

3.) I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing men of sin, revealing Jesus through the Word, creating faith in Him. (R)

4.) I know not what good or ill may be reserved for me. Of weary days or golden days, before His face I see. (R)

5.) I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noonday fair. Nor if I walk the vale with Him, or meet Him in the air. (R)

Today, we are in a world in which Jesus told us there would be a turning away from the faith. This has become obvious, especially within just the past couple of years. There are evangelical churches that previously were much more Bible-oriented. Today, some are advocating the LGBT, and all the rest of the letters, as somehow now being acceptable to the Lord. Sadly, many of their members are going along with that agenda. Just recently, there was a report of a “drag queen” reading stories to kids from the pulpit of a prominent church. Members who complained were told to accept it or leave.

For true believers throughout the world, our environment is becoming very unfriendly. In some nations, Christians are being martyred for not converting to a man-made religion. In some countries that were at least neutral in the past, laws are being passed that are making it illegal for believers to exercise their faith. In some places, it’s become against the law to educate children that alternative lifestyles are sin. Parents face fines and even imprisonment for breaking those laws.

With all that’s happening, some may say God is being taken by surprise. Actually, the surprise is that God is “allowing” all this to take place to confirm we are at the end of this age and to fulfill His word.

Does anyone really believe our government could change drastically, almost overnight, without God allowing it? He has a timetable that we can only guess what’s next. Yet, He is right on time for prophecy to be fulfilled. To date, all prophecy has been fulfilled with 100% accuracy.

The world is preparing for a new evil leader to come forth. Some groups aren’t even trying to hide this any longer as they are advocating a “new world order.” It will happen just as God said it would, but first, all true believers who have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior will be taken up to meet Him in the air. We will avoid the whole tribulation period just as God promised we would (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). All who will be left behind will face the worst 7-year period of time this world has ever known.

Everyone, All, can make their eternal address to be with Jesus. He prepares a place for all who will receive and accept Him as given in John 14:1-3. Romans 10:9-13 gives the easy-to-understand steps: confess sins and admit we need a Savior; Jesus is that Savior, and the only way to have eternal life in Heaven; All who call on Him will be forgiven and saved.

Romans 8:1 is a genuine promise from our Father given through Paul; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He will be coming soon (Luke 21:28), and it’s definitely not too early to seek Him. Tomorrow could just be too late, as we do not know the day, hour, minute, or second that He will call. Our Father will not force anyone to receive and accept His Son but will accept all who truly call on Him. No one can buy or earn their Salvation, as it’s a gift from Jesus that He paid for with His own lifeblood. He would love for all to be a part of His flock, and that includes all who are reading this. Call today; it will be the very best decision you will ever have made!

Maranatha – Come Quickly, Lord Jesus!

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