ACC ~ Revelation 16 v12

THE WAY TO WAR IS MADE EASY. OECUMENIUS: The sixth angel made the Euphrates River passable, perhaps by drying up some of its tributaries, so that the crossing of it would be easy for the many kings who by the work of the devil and the allowance of God were gathered together for war against each other. For … the Lord said that there would also be wars near the time of the consummation. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.12-16.

CHRIST IS COMING FOR THE JUDGMENT. PRIMASIUS: [The waters dried up to prepare the way for the coming king from the east], that is, for Christ, concerning whom we read, “Behold a man, whose name is East,” for him who is coming a way is prepared so that he might judge. Moreover, in the name of the river, Euphrates, as in the sea, the rivers, the springs of water, the sun and the throne of the beast, over all of which the angels are said to have poured out their bowls, those peoples who are impure are indicated. And its waters were made dry, it says. This means that these peoples will possess nothing which is green or living within themselves, for what they have will be fit for the fire of the approaching judgment. Just as it said above that the crop was witheredin its ripeness and that the vintage was harvested, so in this passage it says metaphorically that the water of the river had become dry so that nothing at all living remained in it, but rather that everything was to be destroyed by the fire of divine judgment, by which either the wicked are consumed as straw or the saints are made approved as gold. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.12.

FROM THE REGION OF THE SCYTHIANS OR FROM EAST PERSIA. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: Perhaps by divine providence the Euphrates River will diminish in size and provide passage to the kings of the nations for their wars of destruction against each other and the rest of humankind. According to what is adduced in subsequent portions of the Revelation, we think that the mention of Gog and Magog suggests that these kings will arise out of the region of the Scythians. But it is also possible that the antichrist, coming out of the eastern regions of Persia, where the Hebrew tribe of Dan resides, will cross the Euphrates with other kings or with strong men who have received a royal name, and [they will] inflict upon humankind either bodily death to some on account of their faith and perseverance or spiritual death to others because of their cowardice and faintheartedness. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 16.12.

Rev