Revelation 16:13

I saw. See on ch. 1:1.

Three unclean spirits. Proponents of both views agree on identifying the “ydragon,” “beast,” and false prophet as modern spiritism, or paganism, the papacy, and apostate Protestantism (cf. chs. 13:4, 14, 15; 19:20; 20:10). The three unclean spirits apparently either symbolize or represent this evil trio of religious powers, which together constitute latter-day “great Babylon” (ch. 16:13, 14, 18, 19; see on chs. 16:19; 17:5).

Like frogs. Perhaps no significance should be attached to this comparison, which probably is intended only to highlight the repulsiveness of the three unclean spirits in the sight of God.

Out of the mouth. The mouth is the instrument of speech. Coming forth from the mouth of the “dragon,” of the “beast,” and of the false prophet, these three unclean spirits represent the policy that this threefold religious union proclaims to the world, spoken of in ch. 17:2 as the wine of Babylon (see on chs. 16:14; 17:2, 6).

Dragon. See on chs. 12:3; 13:1. The first member of this threefold religious union is generally identified either as spiritism or as paganism. Indeed, many pagans worship spirits and practice various forms of spiritism more or less resembling modern spiritism as practiced in Christian lands.

Beast. See on chs. 13:1; 17:3, 8.

False prophet. Apparently to be identified with the second beast of ch. 13:11–17 (see on v. 11), which sponsors the first beast of v. 1–10, and by the miracles he has power to do in presence of the beast (v. 12–14), deceives men into making an “image” to it. Compare chs. 19:20; 20:10.