Islam and the Kings of the East
By Dr. Ken Matto
Revelation 16:12 (KJV) 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.
For many years the above
verse has been interpreted wrongly in prophecy books but then again tell me what
has been interpreted rightly in prophecy books.
We were told that Revelation 16:12 has to do with China and that the
Chinese army would rise to a total of 200 million men who would then invade
Israel. This would happen at the
battle of Armageddon. When one
looks at a world map we can see that China is definitely in the Far East.
The book of Revelation is written with its focus on the church from the
first coming of Christ to the second coming of Christ.
It focuses on the trials and tribulations the eternal church of Christ
would face during that time period.
Martin Luther knew it well:
"The Book of Revelation is intended as a revelation of things that are to happen
in the future, and especially of tribulations and disasters for the church..."
-Works of Martin Luther, VI, P.481
One of the greatest attacks
on the church in this present century is the incursion of false gospels into the
local assemblies themselves. Radio
and TV ministries are all compromised already but now Satan’s attacks has become
strategic in that he now targets local assemblies.
One of the ways he does is to introduce false teachings into a church on
a minimal level and then there is always someone who will build on those
teachings until they mushroom and another local assembly falls.
One of the greatest scourges
which has come to the west and that includes Canada, the USA, Europe, Africa and
other countries which have allowed this religion to enter its borders is the
false religion of Islam. When one
looks at a world map we would see that Islam had its start in Mecca, Arabia
around 570 A.D. by Muhammed when he was about 40 years old.
Islam has 1.8 billion followers which means that 24% of the world’s
population adheres to this religion.
Islam is also the fastest growing religion in Europe because of
immigration.
The overall number of mosques in the
United States rose
from 1,209 in 2000 to 2,106 in 2010, an increase of 74%.
A 2017 study (Pew Research) says there are 3.45 million Muslims in the
United States and growing at a rate of about 100,000 per year.
When we look at a world map we
will see that Saudi Arabia is clearly east of all Africa, Europe, North and
South America. In Revelation 16:12,
the verse tells us that the Euphrates River was dried up allowing the kings of
the east to be prepared. The
Euphrates River runs through Cappadocia, Syria, Arabia, Chaldea and Mesopotamia
and then empties into the Persian Gulf.
When looking at the book of Revelation, there is a massive amount of
symbolism contained in it. The
Euphrates River drying up means that people on both sides of that river can
cross it unhindered and that is what is in view.
If we apply the prophecy book meaning to it, then we have to ask the
question that since the Euphrates River is so long, then where would that 200
million man army cross? Another
question is where would those countries be able to place 200 million people?
That is a lot of people and it would be impossible to place that many
people in small areas since their objective would be the invasion of Israel.
Now when it talks about the river drying up it is speaking about the
ability to travel unhindered and that is what is happening in our world today.
Muslims are coming into America,
the European nations, and Africa unfettered which means they are moving into
countries without any hindrance.
Poland and Hungary are the only two countries I know of at present which do not
allow Muslim migration into their country and it is interesting that these two
countries have a very low crime rate and their women can go out at night without
the fear of some Muslim stabbing and raping them.
Therefore I believe deeply that the kings of the east are those countries
who are allowing their people to migrate to other countries for the purpose of
spreading Islam. We see the result
of these migrations in that in many European countries where their crime rate
has skyrocketed it is because of the allowance of the devotees of Islam.
We don’t see Christians forcing women to marry at 9 years old or forcing
them to wear a Burka or Hijab. What
has happened in the United States is that Islam has become the most protected
religion in violation of the First Amendment.
They tell us that all Muslims are not terrorists yet all the terrorists
are Muslims. Since this Muslim
migration to the west continues and the time period for this migration is
between the first and second coming of Christ, it falls within the parameters of
Revelation.
Revelation 16:13 (KJV)
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.
John saw three unclean spirits
come out of the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet.
There is an interesting parallel to this event in Revelation.
During the medieval period, three major
caliphates succeeded each other: the Rashidun Caliphate (632–661),
the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)
and the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258).
Historically, the caliphates were polities based in Islam which developed
into multi-ethnic trans-national empires. Out
of these three Caliphates came the beginning of the worldwide spread of Islam.
A Caliphate was a state ruled by an Islamic leader known as a Caliph.
They were considered to be successors to Muhammed, just like the Popes in
Rome are considered, by their devotees, to be the successors to Peter.
Revelation 16:14 (KJV)
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.
We read in verse 14 that
these unclean spirits were devils which went forth to all the kings of the earth
and to the entire world. Their main
objective is deception to keep those who are in the kingdom of Satan right where
they are. Islam teaches that if one
dies in Jihad against infidels they will have seventy virgins waiting for them
in heaven. So they use deception to gain
members and keep them vigilant to fight against any infidels which are mainly
Christians. Satan will be using
these false religions to make sure that he comes against God with as many as he
can.
The first part of this verse
explains exactly what the unclean spirits are. These are the spirits of devils
and by means of miracles, they go out and deceive not only the populations of
the world, but also incites the leaders of the nations around the entire world.
It is through the political governments that Christianity has either been
curtailed or endorsed. In this verse we are seeing that because of the nature of
these miracles as being unclean, this will be a worldwide crusade against true
Christianity. There will be no nation that will not attempt some type of
persecution for the purpose of silencing the Gospel. God will be using this time
of persecution as the precursor for the great battle of God Almighty which will
be Armageddon, the final battle between God and Satan. While the war will be
waged in the spiritual realm, it will also be waged here on earth by the
followers of the beast. The kings of the earth here are linked also to the kings
of the east in verse 12. (Luke 21:20-22
KJV) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the
desolation thereof is nigh. {21} Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the
mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not
them that are in the countries enter thereinto. {22} For these be the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Luke 21:20-22 calls these the days of
vengeance when Satan will try to enact vengeance upon the body of Christ but
instead God will bring vengeance upon the kingdom of Satan for its persecution
of the true believers. Jerusalem, representing the body of believers will
definitely suffer a final persecution just before the return of Christ and we
see those persecutions wherever there is a government run by Islam.
When the U.S. troops were stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the
Gulf war of 1990, a friend of mine who served there told me it was illegal for
U.S. servicemen to bring a Bible to Saudi Arabia.
Now instead of getting into
every detail, I just want to close this article by stating that while the kings
of the east may be speaking of Islam, it may not be the only interpretation but
it definitely is an interpretation.
Never before in history has an eastern religion taken over so many western
countries. Yes we have had
Buddhism, Taosim, Confucius, and Hinduism and other eastern religions come to
the west but never with the murdering vengeance equal to Islam.
Islam has determined to rule the world and the way it is going, if the
Lord does not return soon, then Satan may take over this world and that may be
how he will quash all the Saints.
Revelation 13:7 (KJV)
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome
them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
There is an upside to this
whole spiritual quagmire and that is the kings of the east moving out of their
realms happens right at the end of time and is another indicator that Satan has
been loosed to deceive the nations which comes right at the end of time.
Revelation 20:8 (KJV) And shall go
out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and
Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of
the sea.. There is that little
window of time when Satan will be allowed to deceive the nations and the best
way he can do it is to deluge them with false religions of which Islam is one of
his best tools. Then 2 verses later
in verse 10, it is all over as Satan and his cohorts are sent to the eternal
lake of fire forever.
Summary
I am not stating that what I have given here is the ultimate interpretation of Revelation 16:12 and the following verses. However, it does fit into the timeline of Revelation and Islam did originate in the Middle East and was sent westward by the Imams and Caliphs who are determined to rule the world with Islam as their tool. America started as a Christian nation and now has 3.45 million Muslims within its borders, maybe as high as 8 million. According to Brigette Gabriel, maybe 15-25% might be radicalized meaning that the USA has potentially 517,500 to 862,500 terrorists inside its borders ready to strike on orders. Let that sink in and more and more Muslims are coming into this country every year.