“And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs” (Revelation 16:13 ESV).
Jesus spent a considerable amount of time expelling evil spirits during His earthly ministry. But here in Revelation 16:13, we see the opposite response from His adversaries. In this instance, the unholy trio that comprised the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet sent forth three evil spirits.
To the author of Revelation, these spirits bore the appearance of frogs. This may be a subtle reference to the cold-blooded nature of frogs, or it may bear some relation to the plague referenced in the Old Testament book of Exodus when the entire nation of Egypt was overrun by them. However, this plague was far more serious than anything the Egyptians experienced, for these frogs possessed the capability to perform miraculous signs…
“These miracle-working demons conferred with all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great coming Judgment Day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14 TLB).
While these world leaders seemingly acted of their own volition in making this decision, our text from Revelation 16:14 lifts the veil on the demonic influence behind that choice. These rulers presumably mobilized their forces in anticipation of a great military triumph, but will soon discover that they had been led to their own destruction. Such is the case with those who are similarly deceived.
This should prompt us to remember Jesus’ characterization of the devil: “…He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). These passages remind us that spiritual deception is a legitimate concern, and especially so for those who foolishly dismiss the possibility of such things.
This might explain why we find an unexpected aside from Jesus in the midst of this passage…
“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed” (Revelation 16:15 NLT).
Much like a homeowner who happens upon the unexpected presence of a burglar, Jesus is certain to appear unexpectedly in the lives of those who fail to look for Him. In fact, Jesus offered a parable that addressed that very subject, and we’ll consider that parable in our next study.