The kings coming from the rising sun are identified

The sixth one poured out his bowl on the great river Eu·phraʹtes,+ and its water was dried up+ to prepare the way for the kings+ from the rising of the sun – Revelation 16:12

Who are the "kings coming from the rising sun" described in Revelation 16:12?

The question might seem silly or too simple.

All Jehovah's Witnesses, or nearly all, have learned that the kings from the rising sun are Jehovah and His Son Christ.

The book "Revelation its climax" in this regard says …

This is also bad news for Babylon the Great!

21 At the height of the splendor of ancient Babylon, the copious waters of the Euphrates were a fundamental element of its defensive system. In 539 a.E.V. those waters dried up when their course was diverted by the Persian leader Cyrus. This allowed Cyrus the Persian and Darius the Medus, the kings coming from the "rising sun" (ie from the east), to enter and conquer Babylon. At the crucial moment the Euphrates failed as a defense of that great city. (Isaiah 44: 27-45: 7; Jeremiah 51:36) Something similar must happen to modern Babylon, the world system of false religion.

22 Babylon the Great "sits on many waters". According to Revelation 17: 1, 15, these symbolize "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues", multitudes of followers whom it considers a protection. But the "waters" are drying up! In Western Europe, where it once exerted great influence, hundreds of millions of people are now openly without religion. In some countries, for many years a policy has been stubbornly aimed at eradicating the influence of religion. In these countries the masses did not rise in its defense. Likewise, when the time comes when Babylon the Great will have to be destroyed, the decreasing number of her followers will turn out to be no protection for her. (Revelation 17:16) Although boasting of having billions of followers, Babylon the Great will find herself helpless before the "kings coming from the rising sun".

23 Who are these kings? In 539 a.E.V. they were Darius the Medus and Cyrus the Persian, who were employed by Jehovah to conquer the ancient city of Babylon. On this day of the Lord, the false religious system of Babylon the Great will be equally destroyed by human rulers. But once again it will be a divine judgment. Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, the "kings coming from the rising sun," will have to put the "thought" of turning against Babylon the Great and completely destroying it in the hearts of human rulers. (Revelation 17:16, 17) The pouring of the sixth cup publicly proclaims that this judgment is about to be performed! (paragraphs 20 to 23, pages 229-230 of the Italian edition).

Are the Almighty God and His Son Christ the "kings coming from the rising sun"?

However, some questions arise.

Let us admit that Cyrus and Darius represent Jehovah and Christ (even if it seems a somewhat risky parallel) and we admit that we can skip the action of the United Nations * (see footnote) because of what Revelation 17: 17 says.

"Preparing the way" means creating the conditions to pass.

Also wanting to assert that instead of referring to the passage we refer to something else (how to carry out a destruction) "preparing the way" always means "creating the favorable conditions for doing something".

It is clear that if we talk about Cyrus and Darius, they, being simple human beings, really needed someone to prepare the way because if they could not divert the Euphrates River they would never cross the borders of Babylon.

Can we say the same about Jehovah and Christ?

Do they need someone to "prepare the way for them" in order to cross or defeat anyone?

Obviously not - Isaiah 40:15

It is also reasonable to believe that the angel in charge of pouring the cup on the Euphrates River to prepare the way for Jehovah and Christ as to simplify them things?

The current explanation in effect says that Jehovah and Christ will destroy Babylon the Great, by which time the people (represented by the water of the river) does not protect you anymore.

But does God Almighty and His Son Christ really need to weaken the defensive walls of Babylon the Great in order to destroy it?

Moreover, if indeed Babylon the Great loses the love of her lovers, is not the strange reaction that kings and traders show immediately after its destruction? - compare Revelation 18: 9-19

The official explanation states "The reaction of nations may seem surprising if we take into account the fact that Babylon was destroyed by the symbolic ten horns of the scarlet wild beast. (Revelation 17:16) But once Babylon, the" kings of earth "will clearly show how useful it was to keep the people quiet and subservient" (Chapter 37, paragraph 2).

So Babylon the Great had lost the love of her lovers, had not lost it or regained it after its destruction? - Compare Revelation 18: 7

Moreover, the nations were not aware even before this nation "was useful for them to keep the people quiet and subservient"? **

Let us reflect on the words of Revelation 17:15 which identify the waters as "peoples and crowds and nations and languages".

If the waters are people, and these are placed to protect a nation, they can lower themselves in two different ways.

Either these people lose interest in that nation (ie they do not protect it any more and then it would really mean that its lovers got fed up with her) or those people simply are gone - compare Revelation 9: 13-15 (see also Jeremiah 50: 35-38; 51:36, 37)

Furthermore, in the basic writing of this article the water of the Euphrates river only dries up when the angel pours his cup.

This means that up until a moment before the river bed was normally swollen.

These reflections should cast a shadow over all those disquisitions that would wish for Babylon the Great to lose more and more consensus and that this is an indication of its imminent destruction.

If the angel did not pour the sixth cup of God's wrath on the Euphrates River, water would not dry up at all.

Otherwise, someone will be able to find a scripture where it says that the water goes down "about his business" and the bowl of God's only serves to give "the final blow."

Nowhere, however, is there any indication of this.

Moreover, if it were people who were tired of Babylon the Great (as the lowering of the waters is currently being interpreted), what good is it for God to put his thought into their hearts? - see Revelation 17:17

If it is people who get tired of their lover, they would not destroy it of their own free will?

Do we have to suppose that this direct action by God only serves to speed up the times?

It does not seem so.

As the Lord himself said: “Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself comes to ruin, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26  In the same way, if Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand?” - Matthew 12:25, 26

Babylon the Great is a fundamental part of the system of Satan for which he, as the ruler of the world, would have no interest in bringing down or even just watching while the waters are lowering.

If it were for Satan, Babylon the Great would last forever but they will lower themselves exclusively because of God's will and against all expectations.

Not by chance, in fact, the cup of the previous wrath (the fifth) is poured on the throne of the wild beast and it is said that it is obscured.

This means that now, these kings, at least for a while will no longer have control over it - Revelation 16:10

Here, then, that the reaction of kings and traders becomes absolutely logical.

They have never ceased to love her but for a reason that they will not be able to explain themselves, during an hour of madness, they will turn into their assassins.

The lowering of the waters, therefore, means that now the people present near the great Euphrates River (who could be there for protection of the borders as for any other reason) are gone.

If we look at the order of events described in chapter 16 of Revelation it seems to be so.

Verse 12 speaks of the sixth cup of the wrath of God which dries up the great Euphrates River and soon afterwards, in verses 13 and 14, are seen "coming out of the mouth of the dragon and the mouth of the wild beast and the mouth of the false prophet three impure expressions inspired [that seemed] similar to frogs (...) and go to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them to the war of the great day of God Almighty. "

If we cling to official understanding, does not it seem that something is missing between verse 12 and verse 13?

If the drying up of the Euphrates about the loss of love against Babylon the Great, after this event you should not see the king's attack and then destroy it and then, only after, see the gathering to Armageddon?

Where did the missing verse go?

Or ... why is this episode not even mentioned?

Even the theory of the book written in "non-chronological" order here lapses because we are not talking about what is written before or after; there would simply be a whole piece missing!

Piece, among other things, to which two chapters will be dedicated later (see the article "who establishes the correct interpretation?").

This makes it clear that the topic is too important to have been "skipped".

The answer is always simpler than the questions would allow you to imagine.

There is no "missing piece" between verses 12 and 13 and no "complicated time play" because the lowering of waters simply indicates the elimination of those people.

If the waters mean "peoples, crowds, nations and languages" these peoples, crowds, nations and languages now we are gone.

Babylon the Great, therefore, has already been destroyed and that is why the next action of the rulers of the world is to prepare for the battle of Armageddon.

As we have seen in previous articles, in fact, the destruction of Babylon the Great is a prelude to the war of Armageddon and not to the great tribulation.

Now, going back to the question "who are the kings coming from the rising sun", how many chances are there that they are Jehovah and Christ, since there are no more people?

Let's think about it for a moment.

Before the water went down for those who had a problem entering that city?

Would any armies placed to protect a nation be a problem for any spiritual creature or for other human beings? - compare Isaiah 8: 7

It is evident that it is human beings who need someone to prepare the way for them and a nation without several inhabitants has no barriers or impediments of any kind.

Are these kings therefore human beings?

And if they are human beings ... who are they?

They are human beings the kings from the rising sun?

From what we have learned, it is now easy to link the scriptures.

We have seen that the gathering to Israel will be literal (that we treated in the article entitled "The appointed times of the nations").

We also saw that the ingathering will take place shortly before the war of Armageddon ( "Next stop: Israel").

By doing two plus two it will be easy to understand who these kings are, but let us see if the Scriptures give us reason to believe that the understanding is correct.

Let's see what Isaiah 60: 1-3 tells us.

 “Arise, O woman,+ shed light, for your light has come. The glory of Jehovah shines on you.+  2  For look! darkness will cover the earthAnd thick gloom the nations;But on you Jehovah will shine,And on you his glory will be seen.  3  Nations will go to your light+And kings+ to your shining splendor”.

Speaking of the period in which there would have been "thick darkness" on the national groups (which period?) the woman would have risen and the kings, taken from all the nations, would have come to her luster.

This scripture can not have been fulfilled in the past, is it not?

In fact, the Israelites have never accepted people from other nations in their land as kings.

It can not even be fulfilled in the new world because it speaks of "thick darkness on national groups".

When should it be fulfilled, then?

“Foreigners will build your walls,And their kings will minister to you,+For in my indignation I struck you,But in my favor* I will have mercy on you.+ 11  Your gates will be kept open constantly;+They will not be closed by day or by night,To bring to you the resources of the nations,And their kings will take the lead” - Isaiah 60:10, 11

Isaiah tells us where these kings come from (from nations around the world) and also says that they "will take the directive" in bringing their resources.

“And you will actually drink the milk of nations,+At the breast of kings you will nurse;+And you will certainly know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior,And the Powerful One of Jacob is your Repurchaser.+ 17  Instead of the copper I will bring in gold,And instead of the iron I will bring in silver,Instead of the wood, copper,And instead of the stones, iron;And I will appoint peace as your overseers. And righteousness as your task assigners” - Isaiah 60:16, 17 (see also the details of Isaiah chapter 62).

Obviously someone could say that these scriptures applied to the Israelites because, among other things, they suggest that these kings come to bow, to serve, not really to govern.

We know that the scriptures also say this.

But is this what Isaiah is talking about?

Let the Bible respond.

“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who escape to the nations—to Tarʹshish,+ Pul, and Lud,+ those who draw the bow, to Tuʹbal and Jaʹvan,+ and to the faraway islands—who have not heard a report about me or seen my glory; and they will proclaim my glory among the nations.+ 20  They will bring all your brothers out of all the nations+ as a gift to Jehovah, on horses, in chariots, in covered wagons, on mules, and on swift camels, up to my holy mountain, Jerusalem,” says Jehovah, “just as when the people of Israel bring their gift in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah.” 21  “I will also take some for the priests and for the Levites,” says Jehovah” - Isaiah 66:19-21

True, this writing can apply to those who "seize the kingdom" or the elect, who are taken from every part of the earth - Matthew 11:12

However, we have also seen that the structure of the post-armageddon Promised Land will in some respects be similar to that of the shadow of things - see Colossians 2:17

Obviously it will be infinitely better (see the article entitled "The temple of Ezekiel's vision is a reality!").

For example, we know that ancient characters such as Abraham, Moses and David will serve as princes in the new world and therefore there will be a sort of hierarchy of theocratic bill even if our only King will always be only Jesus Christ.

Do we have to wait for the end of a thousand years to have superintendents, kings or princes directing the affairs in the country?

This would not make sense.

From what we understand, among those who repopulate Israel at the end of the satanic system, will be chosen "kings", or "majestic" who will take the directive among the people - Nehemiah 10:28, 29

In harmony with this, the chief leaders of the tribes of Israel were called princes and the 68th Psalm says that kings would bring gifts - see Psalm 68: 27-29

Psalm 138: 4 says, "All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Jehovah, for they will have heard the sayings of your mouth" and it is evident that these "kings" can not be those who stand against Jehovah and His Anointed at the battle of Armageddon.

They are kings definitely different.

If we think about it, it's not what we've always been told?

During the Millennial Kingdom and also in the New World some will be chosen to be the "sarim" and will take the directive at various levels.

The difference with this understanding is that no one has told us that some of these people will be chosen already before or during the attainment of the Promised Land *** (also because the literal repopulation of Israel has never been taken into consideration and also the belief that the resurrection would have occurred "during" the millennium made it impossible to understand these scriptures).

Jehovah will somehow choose "kings" among the survivors of the nations to repopulate the land that bears His Name.

The fact that these kings come from the "rising sun" (ie from the east) is a further confirmation of their identity.

In Daniel 11:44, or in the story parallel to the event of Revelation 16:12, it is said that the king of the north will be troubled by the news that will come from the "east and north".

In the article already mentioned, namely the one entitled "Next stop: Israel" we have specifically seen why this king is so perplexed.

He sees the people of God gathered and intent on reaching the Promised Land and behind all this he sees clearly the work of God.

Therefore, the kings coming from the rising sun are not Jehovah and Jesus but they are those people chosen by all the nations of whom Jehovah will be pleased, who will take the directive for their whole spiritual family - Ezekiel 20:40, 41

And of course, unlike the Israelites of the past, they will not forget to have a king over them - 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16

How do you feel about learning this?

Do you hope to be among them?

Footnotes

* In this and other articles the term "United Nations" was used, indicating the scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns described in Revelation.

We know that today it is represented by the United Nations but it is said that in the future this military / political agglomeration will not be called "Congress of the peoples" or in any other way.

** "They were useful for keeping the people quiet and submissive": obviously the official explanation is that Babylon the Great is the world empire of false religion.

We know, however, that their despair is due precisely to the fact that they lose the opportunity to continue with their illicit trafficking.

*** The fact that writing identifies them as kings before actual entry into the Promised Land may suggest that Jehovah has already named them as such.

However, it is not certain that this appointment takes place only a certain period after under the Millennial Kingdom which begins with the destruction of the kings at Armageddon.

As was stated in the article entitled "Next stop: Israel," Babylon the Great could be inhabited again when "the people gathered from all nations" will approach to it to repopulate.

In this case the lowering of the waters described by the sixth cup would have to do with the destruction of the people of the surrounding area.

It is reasonable to conclude that if the destruction of Babylon the Great begins Armageddon (and in this case we would already be in Armageddon) the people of God must be in the area so that all the armies of the world prepare themselves in an attempt to destroy it.