To the Hebrews the term east had a much more extensive signification than with us, to whom its only distinction is that it is the point of the sun’s rising.  But beyond this, it was to the Jews the cardinal point of the compass to which they naturally looked first.  Their temple was built toward the east, its principal entrance being in that direction.  The most powerful and enlightened kingdoms of the world lay to the east of Judea, and they included them all under the general term, sons or children of the East (Orientals) and kings of the East, comprehending not only Arabia and the lands of Moab and Ammon, but also Armenia, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Chaldea.  Travelers from these countries would all enter Judea from the east, and they were considered Orientals.  These nations were also distinguished for their proficiency in science and learning.  The Magi, or wise men of the East, came to worship the infant Jesus at Jerusalem.  They were eminent in the science of astrology, which was considered the greatest science of that day.  The East, therefore, was looked to for wise men; and it is a noticeable fact that the pathway of science, of literature, and of empire has ever been from that direction, so as to have passed into a proverb, “westward the star of empire holds its way.”  “The kings of the East,” then, employed as a symbol of this sixth vial, is not intended to signify any persons literally from that quarter of the earth, but represents the bringing in of knowledge and understanding.  Thank God that we live in the time when the defenses of spiritual Babylon have been broken through and when light and knowledge on the Word of God has reached the hearts of many redeemed souls held in bondage there!  And like the Israelites of old, when Cyrus, entered the ancient Babylon through the dry river-bed of the Euphrates, they have come out with rejoicing and made their way to Zion again.  Halleluiah!  That the spiritual downfall of Babylon is a real plague to sectarians there can be no doubt, and it is plainly declared to be such in chap. 18:8, where the same event is described.

At the very time when the defenses of Babylon are thrown down, the three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon (Paganism), and out of the mouth of the beast (Romanism), and out of the mouth of the false prophet (Protestantism), to gather together all the wicked powers throughout “the whole world” for that last great day of God Almighty.[13] There is no analagous object to which a spirit can be made a symbol; therefore we must regard them as being literally spirits of devils, here appearing under their own appropriate title.  Their mission is to form a confederation of all the gigantic powers of wickedness, slimy and loathsome as the animal to which they are likened, and to array themselves against the cause of Christ.

[Footnote 13:  I do not suppose that these three unclean spirits should be limited in their operations to Paganism, Romanism, and Protestantism; for that leaves out Mohammedanism, which is neither Pagan, Roman, nor Protestant, yet is certainly “false prophecy”; and the three spirits were to gather the “whole world.”]