This item may seem a bit obscure and convoluted, and many differing interpretations have been put forward for these events. These are events mentioned primarily in the Revelation of John but also seemingly related to some of prophecies of Daniel. They pertain to military forces at the end of the age and reflect judgments of God included in the seal (Revelation 6:1-17 & 8:1-50) and vial (Revelation 6:1-21) judgments from the Revelation. There are debates over whether these verses are speaking of the same army at two different time points versus two different armies, whether these armies are referring to humans or to demonic hordes (there are clearly demonic forces involved in these conflicts), and whether the Euphrates River is being spoken of literally. Nevertheless, until the 20th century, there had never been a human army large enough to realistically consider a literal interpretation of these verses, but China achieved that milestone during the second half of the 20th century. As far back as 1965, China has boasted that is has a man and woman militia numbering two hundred million (Time, May 21, 1965, page 35),1 which matches exactly the staggering numbers of Revelation 9 (written near the end of the first century AD/nearly 2000 years ago). Even though we lack clarity about whether the two passages/judgments are discussing the same military force, the “kings of the East” in relation to a literal Euphrates River would again seem to be pointing to the nation of China (see Revelation 16 for these proclamations). With the rise of China toward superpower status during the late 20th century 2-5 (which some would say may have been purposefully stimulated and aided by global “political” forces), then a literal interpretation of these prophetic verses has now become plausible for the first time in recorded human history. Notably, China has a stated goal of world domination over the next half century,6, 7 and strong ties to the symbolism of the dragon (a symbolic creature typically associated with Satan in the Bible).8-10 Interestingly, scientists have also been reporting in recent years that the Euphrates River is showing signs of “drying up,” which again eerily hints at literal events which were predicted 2000-2500 years ago in Daniel and the Revelation.11-13 This has also revealed previously unknown caves and structures, some of which are thought to reflect much older civilizations.14
In summary, these prophecies are notable at the present time for a few reasons: 1) The size of the army is staggering and would be excessively large for the armies of the Ancient Near East at the time John was writing the Revelation (actually, the number of soldiers described would have greatly exceeded the population of the known world at the time it was written), 2) The Kings of the East were also not a world power at the time these Jewish manuscripts were written, and were not venturing frequently into the region of Israel.15, 16 And, 3) the emergence of China as a superpower2-7 and the climatic changes affecting the Euphrates River seem to have coalesced during the current age (i.e., late 20th century).11-13
Finally, we will unpack these prophecies a little further and also offer some links to what other biblical scholars have proffered over the years in this area.
In the Book of Revelation, as part of the seventh seal judgment, there are seven trumpet soundings. When the 6th trumpet is blown by an angel, the apostle John states that the angel who sounds the horn is to “Let the four angels loose that have been chained at the big river Euphrates.” (Revelation 9:13-14). It is written that these angels (presumably fallen) have been kept ready for that hour and day and month and year. They were let loose so they could kill one-third part of all men that were living (Revelation 9:15). The army that they lead is said to comprise 200 million soldiers on horses (Revelation 9:16). This is just one of the many judgments that plague humankind during the tribulation of the 70th week of Daniel. At a later time point in the book of Revelation (Revelation 16:12-16), which also appears to reflect a later stage of “end time events” during the 6th vial judgment, John indicates that the “Kings of the East” cross a dried up Euphrates River apparently to join part of a world-wide gathering of armies of the “whole world” in order that they might participate in “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” It is not entirely clear whether this is the same 200 million soldier army mentioned in the Revelation 9, although some scholars assume this is the case. Regardless, for those scholars who take a literalist interpretation of these scriptures, it has been noted that the Euphrates River forms a border for the promised land of Israel as well as a boundary for the former Roman Empire (which was one of Daniel’s prophesied kingdoms of the earth). Therefore, it would appear that we are being told that forces (kings) of the East may be moving against Israel, and that they will come to the Valley of Megiddo. While they appear to show up to confront the antichrist figure, they may well be drawn into the conflict with God (i.e., Battle of Armageddon).
As stated, it is not entirely clear that these two judgments are referring to the same army each time (i.e., the 200 million force of Revelation 9 and the “Kings of the East” of Revelation 16). Authors such as Hal Lindsay and John F. Walvoord, past President of Dallas Theological Seminary,17, 18 have suggested that these are indeed the same armies, yet many theories have been put forward over the years. A careful reading of the text suggests that these specifics are related to two separate instances separated by time (which of itself does not rule-out that each judgment uses the same army). Of note, however, the 200 million horseman number is associated with an army that appears to be released from the great abyss, which could imply that it is actually some type of demonic hoard or at least an army driven by such fallen spirits. During both judgments, demonic influence is described as actively at work.
Revelation 9:13-21:
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
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)
Related articles to review:
1) John F. Walvoord, past President of Dallas Theological Seminary, wrote an article on the prophetic topics of the Kings of the East and the 200 million solider army (https://bible.org/seriespage/12-kings-east-oriental-confederacy).
References
1. Red China: Firecracker no. 2. TIME 1965 May 21, 1965.
2. Harrison V, Palumbo D. China anniversary: How the country became the world’s ‘economic miracle’ [online]. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49806247.
3. Baumann MO, Haug S, Weinlich S. From developing country to superpower? China, power shifts and the United Nations development pillar. Global Policy 2024;15:51-81.
4. Service CR. China’s economic rise: History, trends, challenges, and implications for the United States 2019.
5. Grosse R, Gamso J, Nelson RC. China’s rise, world order, and the implications for international business. Management International Review 2021;61:1-26.
6. Mauldin J. China’s grant plan to take over the world. Forbes 2019 November 12, 2019.
7. Brands H, Sullivan J. China has two paths to global domination. Foreign Policy 2020.
8. Wilson JK. Powerful form and potent symbol: The dragon in Asia. The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 1990;77:286-323.
9. Zhang DC. The image of the dragon as a symbol of the Chinese emperor, and its depiction in the Beijin ancient observatory. The Role of Animals and Mythological Ceatures in Global Cultures 2022:165-187.
10. Oldridge D. The Devil: A very short introduction. UK: Oxford, 2012.
11. Ryan M. The Euphrates River, at the ‘Cradle of Civilization,’ is drying up [online]. Available at: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/euphrates-river.htm. Accessed July 27, 2024.
12. Souleiman D, Hackman A. ‘Desert’: Drying Euphrates threatens disaster in Syria [online]. Available at: https://phys.org/news/2021-08-euphrates-threatens-disaster-syria.html. Accessed July 27, 2024.
13. Hasan M, Moody A, Benninger L, Hedlund H. How war, drought, and dam management impact water supply in the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Ambio 2019;48:264-279.
14. Recker J. Drought in Iraq reveals 3,400-year-old city. Smithsonian Magazine 2022.
15. Wald SS. Encounters between Chinese and Jewish civilizations. Education About Asia 2018;23:15-18.
16. Shai A. China and Israel: Chinese, Jews; Beijing, Jerusalem (1890-2018): Academic Studies Press, 2019.
17. Walvoord JF. The kings of the East: The oriental confederacy [online]. Available at: https://bible.org/seriespage/12-kings-east-oriental-confederacy. Accessed July 27, 2024.
18. Lindsey H. The late great planet earth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1970.