BIBLE DIGEST - Number 71 June 1997
THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS LIKE FROGS
(Revelation 16:13-14)
By Allon Maxwell
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"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) In order to identify these three Unclean spirits, we will first need to get past the barrier of the "Demons are Fallen Angels" theory. Whatever the "devils" in this passage are ("demons" in the Greek) they are not that! Nor does the prophecy say that the three unclean spirits are "frogs" ..... only that they are "like frogs". We should also note that these spirits come out of the mouths of three other identities. They are actually something that is said or taught. (The word "spirit" is often used in this way in the scriptures). It is the influence of these "spirits of demons", which deceives the world to gather the nations to the final great battle of Armageddon. Identifying the "unclean spirits" In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul refers to idols as "demons". This appears to reflect the language of the belief mentioned by Josephus. Josephus tells us that one common view of the day, was that demons are actually the earthbound spirits of dead evil men, who wander the earth seeking and sometimes finding, another human body to replace the one lost in death. Of course, this theory cannot be true, for contrary to popular theology, the Bible makes it quite plain that the dead are really dead, with no conscious existence at all. However this information from Josephus does perhaps throw some light on the subject, allowing for a much more intellectually satisfying speculation than the "fallen angel theory". In a few places, the Bible does take note of the mistaken pagan belief that the dead go on living in another plane. For instance, the Apostle Paul refers to idols as "demons". This reflects the language of the belief mentioned by Josephus. The idols are of course, the product of mythology surrounding the deeds of long dead men and women, who over a period of time, eventually came to be deified and worshipped. It seems very likely that when the phrase "spirits of demons" is used in Revelation 16:13-14, that John is talking about a similar thing. It might not be an unreasonable speculation to regard this passage as a reference to such long dead men as Mohammed (The False Prophet?) Karl Marx & Voltaire (Representing the "Pagan Dragon"?) and many mainstream "Church Fathers", (representing the "Christian" Roman Empire "Beast"?) whose words (spirits) still influence the actions of the living in our generation, breeding hatred in the hearts of men who live without Jesus. A very significant proportion of the politics and religion of the world is controlled by the spiritual descendants of these men. It may well be their lasting influence, about which the Apostle John speaks, which, in the prelude to Armageddon, will be accompanied by miraculous signs, manifested in ways yet to be revealed. Why are these "spirits of demons" like frogs? Alas ..... ignorance forbids an answer! ..... but perhaps that is something that will become clear when those of us who are alive when it all happens, NEED to identify the particular demonic forces which drive the events. PLEASE NOTE This is NOT an interpretation of prophecy set in concrete! It is merely a speculation (made prayerfully) about some events, which may already have begun, but which remain to be completed in the future, when Armageddon actually arrives. For further information about "Demons", refer to Bible Digest No 11 (March 1992). |